Stephen McKinley is a Wodonga parishioner with twenty-five years of experience as an educator and Youth Ministry worker. When asked why he put his hand up for the SMPC he replied, “If not me, then who?”
“I like to do things. My faith grows when I’m actively involved in Church life. ‘Faith in action’ grows my faith. When I’m more passive, my faith stagnates; being more involved gives me more drive in the rest of my faith life. It’s very healthy for me,” says Stephen.
“I want to participate in the life of the Church, and I want to actively contribute to building this Church, so there is a place for my kids and grandkids to feel connected to their faith and find a sense of belonging. If someone else takes a seat, that’s great, but I must be willing to, at least, put my hand up.”
Stephen’s strong interest in creating welcoming and engaging spaces within the Church, particularly for youth, is shaped by his professional background and personal life. He has worked as a primary and secondary teacher, a Youth Ministry worker, and has had many conversations with his faith-filled parents – his mother recently completed a doctorate in Theology.
After graduating from university in Melbourne, Stephen worked with Youth Mission Team Australia for four years while also teaching. “It was a wonderful experience working with others and evangelising at rallies and retreats,” he says. “In a way, it was an apprenticeship for me.” He spent ten years on the Stronger Planning Team and was a member of the Youth Advisory Group with Fr Rob Galea.
Stephen has lived in various communities within the Diocese. Born in Bendigo, he moved to Wodonga at age seven. He taught at Sacred Heart College, Yarrawonga, where he was Faith and Ministry Leader, and at St Joseph’s Primary School, Chiltern, as Religious Education Coordinator. He now teaches at Catholic College Wodonga and is involved in both parish and school ministries.
Stephen Reflects on the challenges of keeping young people connected to the Church, he says. “As a teacher it can sometimes feel that, when students graduate from school, they think they’re also graduating from the Catholic Church.”
He points to secularisation, rationalism, and affluence as reasons why young people can become disengaged. “It would be good for people to understand that the Church is fundamentally about a relationship with God; it’s not a rule book.”
Stephen sees amity, passion and authenticity as essential. “We have some amazing priests who minister with energy and passion and who know what they’re talking about; they can speak to the heart of young people in a way that engages them. Fr Rob Galea is a great example of that. In our parish here in Wodonga, Fr DJ Suguitan is doing a great job; he’s closer to the students’ age than mine, so he’s more relatable and can build a better connection. Young people ministering to young people – that’s a key.”
“Community is very relevant. Young people want to belong, to feel known and accepted for who they are. Catholic schools are great places for that. But when you go off to university or work, and leave your family and community, it’s not so easy to find acceptance and belonging."
The importance of creating opportunities is something Stephen says is critical to evangelisation. “Fr Rob Galea created ‘D-Groups’ in parishes and rallies were held once a term. I would take kids to these rallies and a young lady I was teaching became baptised because I was able to invite her to something. We need to create opportunities; create spaces and places for people so we have something to invite people to.”
He recalls a simple but effective initiative from Fr Jake Mudge in Wodonga: a monthly family dinner in the church hall. “We said grace, ate, the kids went off to play, and that was about as theological as it got. But it created community. Then, when we went to Mass on Sunday morning, we knew each other. Parents then felt confident enough to help with the Liturgy, start a Children’s Liturgy, and volunteer on the sacramental team; the fruits of a simple gathering of families to share a meal.”
Stephen shares insights from his mother’s master’s degree research thesis on why some young adults stay with the Church. “Essentially, faith has to be part of your culture. When it’s part of your culture, part of your identity, you stay with the Church. As a family, my wife, kids and I go to Mass together, we pray together, have faith discussions, and they see their Dad going off to help other people. The culture of being a McKinley is this. This is who we are, this is what we do.”
Fr James Mallon's book 'Divine Renovation' has had an impact on Stephen . “In a nutshell, he says we need to go back to our true calling—to evangelise. He took back the Church hall to provide a place where people could come in, develop a sense of community, be formed and be sent out.”
“My relationship with God is very important to me. People need to have an encounter with God. How do we move people towards encounter? The Sacraments are awesome. Most people can’t look at a bit of bread and make the jump to ‘that’s Jesus’, but to come to know and understand who God is and realise the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is a beautiful thing.”
“Our relationship with God is paramount. ‘I came so that they may have life and have it to the full’ – that’s what it’s about.”
Stephen has been a member of the SMPC since its inception. “I’ve enjoyed getting to know the other members. They are all faith-filled people, and hearing their perspectives and life experiences helps me grow in my faith. I would never have had the opportunity to listen to a bishop speak so freely of his thoughts. He’s a very intelligent man, and his ability to articulate his ideas and summarise his hopes for the Church fills me with excitement. Kate Fogarty from CESL is a woman with an amazing brain, and her vision for schools fills me with hope.”
Stephen’s story is a reminder that faith often grows through simple things – sharing a meal, turning up, being part of something. He’s interested in creating space for people to feel welcome and to take a step towards God, whatever that might look like. The Church moves slowly and that’s just the nature of being so global, so big and so longstanding. But we don’t always need big change. Often, it’s the quiet, steady efforts that make the biggest difference – helping others feel at home, building community and keeping the door open. All the things the SMPC is helping us to work on.
