Prayer is life lived in the presence of God. With Jesus’ friend, we move into ever greater intimacy with the God, who is revealed to us in our own humanity.

In his Apostolic Priorities, Archbishop Mark Coleridge reminds us of the need for our communities to become ‘schools of prayer’. Places where all the baptised can learn to be with Jesus, listen to him and be sent out, empowered by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Gospel. Of course, this includes our youngest disciples! Come and join the Youth and Young Adults Team, and Children and Families Team, of Evangelisation Brisbane for this masterclass as we discover great ways to pray with youth and children so that they too, can learn the ‘art of prayer’. 

We often hear about “mindfulness” today, and it can have certain benefits. The Scriptures and Sacred Tradition speak of the “prayer of quiet” or “prayer of silence” or “mental prayer” as the type of prayer which passes over the threshold of one’s mind to personal encounter with Christ, and has the power to refresh every other kind of prayer. Some insights from great figures of prayer will be used as promptings for discussion. Also, how to deal with the problem/opportunity of distractions.

Prayer is not something we ‘do’ but is to be increasingly something we ‘are’. Drawing on the first chapter of the Gospel of Mark, and the teachings of the doctors of the Church, participants will be invited to explore the interaction between contemplation and action in the midst of our busy lives. The practical element will be twofold: practical formation in how to pray as someone being called into a deep relationship with God, and an experience of how to enter into a faith conversation with others.

Christianity is not a religion of the book, but a religion of the Word, an encounter with the Person of Christ. In this masterclass we will explore how the Word speaks to us in prayer and how we can respond. More especially we will look at the importance of Scripture in prayer. St Jerome famously said that ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ, so it is important to understand how we can read the bible prayerfully in order to grow in friendship and love of Jesus.

This masterclass explores decision making in the Church with insights from the Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Brisbane. Bishop Ken Howell will explore the importance of synodality in the Church and prayerful decision making with reference to Pope Francis’ Jubilee Address of 2015, and his book “Let Us Dream” as well as sharing how his own decision-making processes have been informed by synodal discernment processes. Participants will be invited to consider how decision-making processes currently take place in their local context and how they might be improved by synodal discernment.

A Church following Christ is not about power and control, but about bing united in love and service. Synodality means “walking together”. How can we “walk together”. What are the practical skills, attitudes and goals we can work on in order to walk together? What does this look like in our parish, in our area, in our diocese, and in our country?

Discernment takes time and practice. It requires faith, a deep trust in one another and in God’s Holy Spirit. It is one tool a synodal community has to ensure that every person has an authentic role in the conversation, prayer and decision-making process. There are times in our communities and organisations when using discernment can expand our hearts and minds in a way which can help to ensure that God and Mission are at the center of the decision being made. In this session, we will identify possible time and space for discernment to work well for you in your context and have an opportunity to practice these skills. You will have some time to plan concrete opportunities for your parish community, group or organisation to grow in your practice of synodality using discernment as one of your tools.

“The secret to change is to focus all your energy not fighting the old, but building the new.” Socrates.

To become the missionary Church that God is calling us to requires transformation and a willingness to lean  into the discomfort of change. This masterclass is for both clergy and laity who recognise this era of change that we find ourselves in. It will briefly outline the barriers to change within our parishes, but, more importantly, how leaders can overcome these barriers and courageously lead their parishes with purpose and clarity towards a future full of hope and promise.

This masterclass explores the relationship between leadership and synodality through an examination of the various kinds of ‘power’ utilised by leaders, and how these ‘power bases’ are re-situated through the synodal process to promote healthy leadership in the Church.