Recording of Synodality in Oceania Webinar 18 Sept 2024

Garratt Publicity
09/04/2024

SYNODALITY IN OCEANIA

Wednesday 18 September 2024

Presented by Australasian Catholic Coalition for Church Reform, Spirit Unbounded and Garratt Publishing

What does ‘becoming a synodal church’ mean in our region of Oceania?

The opportunities and challenges in our region, with its diverse cultures, social structures and histories, not least of which is the impact of climate change on our unique environment, are critical issues for us all.

In the lead up to the second session on Synodality in October 2024, we heard from four people from our region – one from each of the four Bishops’ Conferences of Oceania – on how they envisage synodality happening in their region. Two are official delegates to the Synod on Synodality, and all have been closely involved in the writing of documents collating responses from our areas.

The panel of speakers – who made for a stimulating and informative synodal forum – included:

Fr Victor Roche SVD, National Director of Pontifical Mission Societies for PNG and Solomon Islands
Kelly Paget, Chancellor and Head of Mission, Diocese of Broken Bay, Australia
Susan Sela, Director, Pacific Technical and Further Education, University of the South Pacific, Fiji
Manuel Beazley, Vicar for Māori, Diocese of Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand

Christina Reymer will moderated the event.

The webinar was recorded and is available to view below.

SPEAKERS

Fr Victor Roche SVD
Victor is a Divine Word Missionary serving in Papua New Guinea for the past 43 years. He served as the General Secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (PNGSI) for 8 years and is now the National Director of Pontifical Mission Societies for PNG and SI. Victor was the Coordinator of Synodal Process in PNGSI and attended the FCBCO meetings on Synodality in Melbourne and Fiji in 2023.

Kelly Paget
Kelly has ministered in the areas of Catholic education and youth ministry throughout her working career. Her current role as Head of Mission, and Chancellor of the Diocese of Broken Bay supports and engages the broader mission of the Church. She has held noteworthy national positions throughout her vocation, including serving on the Steering Committee and Chairing the Encounter Committee for two Australian Catholic Youth Festivals. She was also a member of the Steering Committee and Chaired the Liturgy and Prayer Sub-Committee for the Australian Plenary Council. Kelly was amongst five Australians chosen personally by Pope Francis to participate as a non-bishop Member in the Synod of Bishops in Rome. Kelly consistently draws upon her family life experiences as a wife and mother to ground her ministry in the Broken Bay.

Susan Sela
Susan is the Director, Pacific Technical and Further Education, at the University of the South Pacific. This role has taken her to the 12 member countries of the University – Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Nauru, Kiribati, Niue, Marshall Islands, Cook Islands, Tokelau, Fiji, and Tuvalu. Susan belongs to the Immaculate Conception Parish, Lami (a little town outside of Suva) where she works as one of the Parish Pastoral Council leaders. In January 2023 Susan was part of the Discernment Writing group that worked to put together the Oceania response to the Continental Document. In February, she co-chaired the week-long Federation of Catholic Bishop’s Conferences of Oceania with Fr Asaeli Raass SVD, and in July of 2023 was invited by Pope Francis to be a non-bishop member the Synod of Bishops meeting in October 2023 and 2024.

Manuel Beazley
Manuel is the Vicar for Māori in the Diocese of Auckland. He sits on the Diocesan Lead Team and the NZCBC Rōpū Māori, an advisory group to the NZ Catholic Bishop’s Conference. He has almost 25 years of ministry experience, having served as Director for Catholic Youth Ministry for the Diocese and Pastoral Assistant for the parish of St John the Evangelist in Ōtara, South Auckland as well as governance experience on Marae boards, school boards and NGOs. Manuel was named by Pope Francis as one of the non-bishop members of the Synod of Bishops. The experience of the first session of the Assembly was rich personal experience for Manuel, one that he has been actively sharing throughout the Diocese of Auckland and other diocese in New Zealand.

MODERATOR

Christina Reymer
Christina is a founding member of Be the Change Aotearoa New Zealand, Christina describes herself as a cradle Catholic, and first-generation Kiwi, born to Dutch immigrants to New Zealand. Professionally, she has worked in education and community development both in New Zealand and throughout the Pacific including five years in Papua New Guinea, and ten years as Director of Mahitahi, the New Zealand Catholic Volunteer agency.

RESPONDER

Dr Elissa Roper
Elissa is an Australian theologian in the areas of ecclesiology and synodality. She has a passion for renewing the Catholic Church’s understanding of the People of God as baptismal in identity, and missionary in discipleship. Elissa manages a Program of Theology in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands; offering tertiary theological education for women. Elissa has served in the areas of parish planning and liturgy, understanding clerical abuse and working for healing, and ecumenical and interfaith relations.

FURTHER READING

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LEADERSHIP IN A SYNODAL CHURCH
Anne Benjamin & Charles Burford