AMPJP Executive Officer’s report on February 2021
There might only be 28 days in February but it always feels as full as any other month.
On 02 February 2021, there was an AMPJP Council meeting. The main topics of discussion were: Australian Catholic Safeguarding Ltd, the National Response Protocol, the AMPJP review, and the Light from the Southern Cross‘ proposal for a National Centre for Catholic Leadership and Governance.
On 16 February 2021, I joined a webinar on the document Faithful Stewards of God’s Grace. The webinar was hosted by the Pastoral Ministry Network (formerly known as NAPPA) and the Mission Planners Network of Oceania (MNPO). I recommend reading Faithful Stewards of God’s Grace as it clearly articulates the theological and ecclesial context of lay ministry. There are some obvious parallels between lay people involved in ministry and governance.
18 Feb 2021 saw the launch of celebrations of 200 years of Catholic education in Australia. Catholic Religious Australia and AMPJP published a media release recognising this ocassion.
I was also busy with preparations for the AMPJP Review (which you can read about in a separate post).
From Pope Francis Homily from Ash Wednesday, 2021
Today we lower our heads to receive the ashes.
After Lent we will lower ourselves even more to wash the feet of the brothers.
Lent is a humble descent within us and towards others.
It is understanding that salvation is not a climb for glory, but a lowering of love.
It is making us small.
On this journey, in order not to lose our way,
let us place ourselves in front of the cross of Jesus:
it is the silent chair of God – his intercessory prayer.
We look at his wounds every day.
In those holes we recognize our emptiness, our shortcomings, the wounds of sin,
the blows that have hurt us.
Yet right there we see that God does not point the finger at us,
but opens his hands to us.1 Pt 2.25; Is 53.5).
Let’s kiss them and we will understand that right there,
in the most painful holes of life,
God awaits us with his infinite mercy.
Because there, where we are most vulnerable,
where we are most ashamed,
He came to meet us.
And now that he has come to meet us,
he invites us to return to him,
to rediscover the joy of being loved.
New events listed on the website:
New website content:
The public news section of the AMPJP website now has the following posts:
- Reviewing the AMPJP (posted 24 Feb 2021)
- St Joseph as a model for Lent (posted 24 Feb 2021)
- Gratitude, enthusiasm and confidence – 200 years of Catholic Education (posted 19 Feb 2021)
- Theology and Governance Courses (posted 05 Feb 2021)
- International Day for Human Fraternity (posted 03 Feb 2021)
Updated page content on the AMPJP website:
- List of Religious Institute and Ministerial PJP School Authorities (updated 01 Feb 2021)
Feature photo by Lawrie Hallinan
Pope Francis photo courtesy of Vatican
