Clergy Life and Ministry

About us

In 1992 the Catholic Bishops of Australia established the Australian Council for Clergy Life and Ministry, a National Office, and Diocesan Directors to enhance the Ongoing Formation and Education of Clergy and to ensure their Ongoing Support and Care.

For today...

The Church has ever proved indestructible. Her persecutors have failed to destroy her; in fact, it was during times of persecution that the Church grew more and more; while the persecutors themselves, and those whom the Church would destroy, are the very ones who came to nothing... Again, errors have assailed her; but in fact, the greater the number of errors that have arisen, the more has the truth been made manifest.... Nor has the Church failed before the assaults of demons: for she is like a tower of refuge to all who fight against the Devil. - St Thomas Aquinas

Focus

Labels: Council

focus

The focus for the Council is the spirituality and mission of clergy. We see all clergy as disciples of Jesus, ordained into relationships modeling the 'communio' of the Trinity, under the love and guidance of the Spirit. It is in this light that the Council wishes to exercise leadership with compassion, to address the issues of ambiguity and change, and do this by:

1. Being particularly attentive to the following areas:

Recognizing the grace-filled nature in the ministry and lives of bishops, priests and deacons
Acknowledging in others their profound dignity and ministering to them without compromising the sacredness of their lives
Living and ministering collaboratively always with mutuality and inclusivity
Scrutinising the signs of the times in order to recognize the compelling place of the Gospel in shaping the culture.
Listening to prophetic voices and responding to them with integrity.
Adopting an attitude of "co-responsibility" (ie using language like ‘our parish/our diocese')

2. Utilising the following strategies:

To continue to support the local Diocesan Directors and the national Director
To promote forums on ordained ministry
To encourage prayer and fraternity support groups
To promote ‘home grown' in-services in dioceses
To promote ongoing formation and supervision for clergy
To develop lists of people for retreats and inservice programs
To support the ongoing development of the permanent diaconate in Australia
To support priests from overseas in their pastoral ministry by promoting programs of acculturation, and ongoing mentoring of their ministry, within the Australian presbyterate.

3. Seeking the following outcomes among others:

Celebrating Christian hope in the face of unpredictable difficulties
Imagining a new and creative Church, giving rise to an energetic episcopate, priesthood, and diaconate
Achieving a strong presbyterate with high levels of spiritual and physical health, and with high morale among the clergy
Challenging an excessive and unhealthy 'clerical', 'triumphal', and 'juridical' attitude among clergy
Ensuring greater transparency and accountability.

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Last Updated on Wednesday, 20 May 2009 22:46

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