Exploring the challenges of living the Gospel leading mission in Australia and globally, the biennial Mission: One Heart, Many Voices conference, which started yesterday (Wednesday, September 1), presents over three days a diverse range of international and local speakers.
Senior Australian of the Year, Aboriginal elder from Nauiyu, renowned artist, activist, writer, and public speaker Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann AM opened the conference with a welcome and opening prayer followed by her address focusing on Dadirri, an inner deep listening and quiet still awareness.
Dr Miriam-Rose invited participants to contemplate what they see, feel, and hear around them. “It is peace in silent awareness. A big part of Dadirri is listening,” Dr Miriam-Rose explained in her keynote address. “Inner deep listening and quiet still awareness, whether you’re happy or sad.”
Also, on the opening day of the conference, a keynote address from Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples. His discussion focused on Fratelli Tutti, global missiology and the spirit of working with “people of goodwill” for a better world and God’s Kingdom. “Justice is not an ideal,” Cardinal Tagle said in his discussion.“Justice is about people. Justice blooms where love is open.”
The Mission: One Heart Many Voices conference also features 30 specialist workshops. Keynote speakers on Day 2 include, social psychologist and researcher and author, Hugh Mackay, and CEO, Australian Catholic Safeguarding Ltd, Ursula Stephens.
Last seen in 2019, this year’s conference will be held from 1-3 September 2021, with an additional day of creativity shaped by young people on 4 September. The conference is a virtual presentation, for the first time.
Catholic Mission is partnering with Catholic Religious Australia to present the conference.
“By opening our hearts and our minds during these few days we hope we will be able to learn how to do mission better, but also what needs to change within ourselves, so we are more open to that challenge of mission,” says Catholic Mission National Director, Fr Brian Lucas.
It is not too late to register for the next three days including the special session for young people on Saturday.
To view the program for the conference visit www.mohmv.com.au
MESSAGE OF THE HOLY FATHER
Fifth Mission: One Heart Many Voices Conference
His Holiness Pope Francis sends cordial greetings and good wishes to all those taking part in the Fifth Mission: One Heart Many Voices Conference in Australia, meeting online from 1-4 September 2021. He prays that this Conference will be an occasion for renewed commitment to the witness of the Gospel, filial love of the Church and to the building of a more charitable, fraternal, just and equitable social order.
At a time when the world faces multifaceted challenges (including the Covid- 19 pandemic and its far-reaching effects on people's lives) and amid the crisis of communal commitment, His Holiness invites the participants and all Christians to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, the bond of unity and love. He trusts that they will develop a spiritual taste for being close to people's lives and discover that this is itself a source of greater joy. (cf. Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, 268). With these sentiments, the Holy Father commends all those taking part in this Conference to the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, and willingly imparts his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of joy and peace in the Lord.
