ISMAPNG and the shared mission

On 15 January 2019, I had the pleasure of meeting with Ellen Geraghty, the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea: Executive Leader Mission Integration, and with her colleague, Sr Anne McGuire rsm, Ministry Animation Coordinator.

Ellen asked to meet with me as she is keen to explore how other Catholic organisations are dealing with the challenges of mission integration across far-flung states of Australia and with staff from diverse backgrounds.  Ellen’s team are reviewing access to mission formation to ensure that all staff are receiving the type and amount of formation appropriate to their role. This review has found that senior staff access proportionally more formation opportunities than do mid-level and front-line staff. Ellen’s team are looking into whether the middle-level and front-line staff need formation more appropriate to their roles and the length of time they tend to stay with the organisation.

They are also keen to explore the best and most efficient methods of delivering formation. Ellen would like to discuss with Directors of Mission from other Catholic organisations whether there are appropriate possibilities for collaboration on mission formation.

As a result of this meeting I have asked Executive Officers of our member organisations  to provide me with the contact details of their National Directors of Mission (or equivalent) so that I can pass these to Ellen for her to ask their interest in discussing these issues. I also approached Catholic Mission and had a positive response to the possibility of a national Directors of Mission meeting and workshop taking place at the same time and location as the May 2019 Mission: one heart many voices conference.