An Outward Focus and some pleasing “Firsts” – AMPJP in 2024: Executive Director's Report Dec 2024

AMPJP Council and Executive Director

At a recent meeting, Catholic Religious Australia shared with others its recognition that AMPJP has had a much greater engagement than previously, both internally and externally during 2024.

2024 has been a very strong year for AMPJP, and it would be fair to say it has continued on from solid growth in previous years.

A highlight has been the trial of our upgraded events website www.ampjp.org.au/events including all Formation and Leadership events for Catholics in Australia and New Zealand.  This has led to a doubling of our web page views and a significant increase in our email uptake.

Associate Professor Jamie Calder SJ has been key to a significant increase in in-person engagement in AMPJP events.  The number of attenders at the Canonical Stewards’ Wisdom Circles doubled due their wish to experience Jamie’s input. Canonical stewards also really loved the community and sharing.  Evaluation scores were extremely high these gathering and for all of Jamie’s presentations including his keynote that the August Forum.

In developing his paper on the Theology of Canonical Stewards, Jamie not only shared his insights, but gathered in response the contributions of more than 70 canonical stewards and executive officers. This is coalescing into an insightful publication available early next year.   The Formation Committee led by Jennifer Stratton deserve strong praise as well for their part in this achievement.

Susan Pascoe’s contribution has also been prominent in 2024, with her outstanding keynote at the 2024 AMPJP dinner and her leadership of the Inclusive Governance in a Synodal Church Research Project, which will focus on MPJPs as a leading example of lay governance in the Catholic Church.

The Committee of Religious Institute and MPJP School Authorities Australia – CORMSAA tripled the number of participants by expanding the number of its Forums, and through examining key issues such as school funding authorities and the formation of Boards.

Under Frank Malloy’s leadership and in conjunction with Marea Nicholson as the CORMSAA nominee to the National Catholic Education Commission, RI and MPJP schools are now represented on all key NCEC committees and were highly involved in the recent NCEC Forum.

2024 Firsts

One of our most important “Firsts” was having a New New Zealand MPJP, Whanau Mercy Ministries, join AMPJP. And they are already a very valued contributor.

On a similar note, Catholic Healthcare Asia joined our annual Forum for first time.

Our Chair, Moira Najdecki, approached the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and in November AMPJP presented to the Bishops’ plenary meeting for the first time.  Moira focussed her presentation on the new AMPJP Strategic Plan and then the AMPJP executive answered questions from the Bishops.

An Outward Focus

Moira and the Council are gently guiding AMPJP to become a more outward-focussed organisation, in recognition that for many MPJPs their period of birth and consolidation is coming to an end, and it is time for MPJPs to have both a greater voice and a greater responsibility in the Australian Church.

The recent Synod on Synodality proclaimed in its final statement that:

The lay faithful, both men and women, should be given greater opportunities for participation, also exploring new forms of service and ministry in response to the pastoral needs of our time in a spirit of collaboration…

Led by Moira, the current AMPJP Council has evolved new and positive directions to support the work of the Catholic Church’s most comprehensive network of lay-led ministries, Australia’s MPJPs.  In doing so we are gently growing in collaboration with the Bishops and the whole Church, both in Australia and internationally.

I have also greatly enjoyed the growing camaraderie of the AMPJP Executive Officers over the last 12 months. Of the many projects which we have shared, perhaps the most interesting is gathering positive news about the work of the Church which we can share with our colleagues in ministry.

Thankyou for the pleasure of working with so many of you over this last 12 months.  2024 has indeed been a very good year.

Martin Teulan

Wishing you and your family and friends a really holy and very happy Christmas and some time for rest and renewal before the new year!