2025 – A “Sign of Maturity” of AMPJP: Executive Director's Report - December 2025

Over the past year, AMPJP has continued to bring together the collective effort of Ministerial PJPs to our shared interests: formation, the theology of lay leadership, the governance of Catholic schools, safeguarding and overseeing the implementation of the Plenary Council.

This flurry of new publications and other activities of AMPJP this year were described by long time AMPJP Council member Sr. Julianna Drobik OP as a “sign of maturity,” and an evolution of which she was proud to be a part in her seven years on Council.

Led by Chair Moira Najdecki and Deputy Liz Vinning, who have both proposed a stronger outward role for AMPJP, the AMPJP Council (pictured)approved several initiatives undertaken to take AMPJP’s work to a new level. AMPJP took up to evidence -based approaches to its work, backed by professional research.

The AMPJP Formation Committee facilitated the writing by Associate Professor Rev. Jamie Calder SJ of Called by Love, Called to the Service of Stewardship: Theological Foundations of Lay Ecclesial Leadership in Ministerial Public Juridic Persons. Jamie (pictured with Formation Chair Jennifer Stratton) argues that MPJPs represent a “sign of the times” in Catholic Church governance. He examines the foundations of authority for lay leadership, the authenticity and legitimacy of lay ecclesial leadership, and the theological identity of MPJPs as small intentional Christian communities called to the stewardship of God’s mission.

The Formation Committee also commissioned NCLS Research to undertake the 2025 Canonical Stewards Survey. This report highlighted the demographics, religious profiles, areas for formation, and top priorities for Ministerial PJPs. Key themes identified in the Survey included Mission and Catholic Identity, Formation, Governance, and Succession. Stewards particularly want to learn more about Canon Law and Governance.

AMPJP became an active partner in the Inclusive Governance in a Synodal Church year one research project, which mapped MPJPs across Anglophone countries. The study explored why religious institutes adopted MPJPs to carry on their ministries, and how well this fits with Synodality.

The Committee of Religious Institute and Ministerial PJP School Authorities Australia (CORMSAA) commissioned Phil Billington to inititate an updated study, the CORMSAA Conversation Paper: Strengthening the Voice of Catholic Education in Australia. – an overview of RI MPJP Education in Australia. This is being updated month-by month as RI MPJPs are becoming represented on state Catholic education commissions, and are also forming Chapters of CORMSAA in each state.

At the recent Mercy Ministry Companion Conference, newly installed Archbishop of Brisbane Shane Mackinlay asked MPJPs what they ”might contribute to the wider Church?” AMPJP’s major contribution in 2025 was to launch the CathEvents website of all Catholic leadership and formation activities Australia-wide. 3,700 emails are sent out week to subscribers with the latest events, while the website is currently receiving over 40,000 page views annually, plus a similar number on social media. One event organiser wrote:

“Another 30 people registered today, most probably because of that (CathEvents) publicity.

Much appreciated”

Stefan Gigacz – Cardijn Institute

One of the KPIs for my work at AMPJP is to make AMPJP and MPJPs better known. To that end I launched a trial of an enhanced AMPJP and personal presence (which the site favours) on LinkedIn. In the six months to Nov 30, 254,412 impressions were recorded on a wide range of topics including many posts or reposts of the work of MPJPs.  These reach perhaps 2.500 Catholic leaders around Australia.

I would also like to thank Lisa Bright and Martin Ofner who, as contractors, have joined the team at AMPJP and are supporting events and finances respectively.

We also thank Sr Julianna and Michael Lee who have recently retired from the AMPJP Council and who have made substantial contributions over many years. Frank Malloy has recently retired after three years as Chair of CORMSAA and has helped the Committee grow in its presence and reputation in the Australian Church.

Finally a thankyou to all the Council members and the members of the Formation Committee and CORMSAA. Every one of you serves as a volunteer in these crucial works of the Church.  The “maturity” of AMPJP is a direct result of the generous gift of your time, talent and dedication to this ministry of the Church.

Thankyou for being part of the life of AMPJP in 2025 and we look forward to sharing with you again in Christ’s Mission in 2026.