Fifth Evangelium Conference draws largest crowd

By Josh Low

The fifth and largest Evangelium Conference to date took place this month as 120 people from around Tasmania took part in the one-day event held in Launceston.

Held at both Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School and the Church of the Apostles Parish Pastoral Centre on Saturday 3 August, the conference focused on evangelisation and each person’s role in sharing the Gospel with others.

Attendees heard from keynote speaker Deacon Peter Pellicaan, Executive Director of Evangelisation Brisbane, who presented on ‘Proclaiming the Kerygma’ and ‘Growing as a Missionary Parish’, as well as a personal testimony of faith from Sandy Bay parishioner Max Hodge.

They also participated in workshops offered by the Archdiocese of Hobart’s Director of the Office of Evangelisation and Catechesis, Dr Christine Wood, Sandy Bay Parish Priest Fr Shammi Perera VG, Canberra based lay community leader John Kennedy, missionaries Merin Abraham and Aleena Nelson, and Fr John Joseph Martin LEB.

Canberra-based musician Stephen Kirk guided participants in prayer and song throughout the day, which concluded with Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction, led by Archbishop Julian.

In his keynote address, Deacon Peter discussed the current climate of the Church in Australia today and the challenges of evangelisation.

“The Gospel is as relevant as it ever has been. The person of Jesus encountered for real, continues to change lives anywhere and everywhere right across the world,” he said.

“When people encounter Jesus personally, they come to life in faith. But they’re often not encountering Jesus in our context, which is somewhat of a scandal.”

He added that in the Catholic world there are incredible agencies – large and far reaching, with schools, hospitals, missions and other entities which are beautiful, powerful, and do much for the common good.

“But the question is, are they evangelising? Are they contributing to the mission? Or have they become simply Catholic owned NGOs?” he said.

“There’s this idea that being Catholic is just doing good stuff in the world, but so does Amnesty International, so does the government.

“Looking after poor people, government is on that. Government has got hospitals; government has got schools.

“How are our schools, our hospitals, our agencies different? What makes them Catholic?”

Using the metaphor of apple trees and growing disciples of faith who can then themselves share the Gospel, Deacon Peter emphasised that it is the duty of all Catholics, lay or clergy, to share the faith.

“What is really the fruit of an apple tree? More apple trees!

“When it comes to sharing our faith, when it comes to evangelisation, discipleship and the formation of Catholics, we’re not in the business of just creating apples, we’re in the business of creating apple trees.

“If I’m involved in someone encountering Jesus for the first time, or forming them in faith, whether you’re an individual or a parish, our job is not just to have them depending on us but to grow as the kind of missionary disciples that know Jesus and know our faith well enough that they can go and create more apple trees.

“One of the reasons I’d suggest that we’re in decline, is because people have not been empowered to become apple trees, leaving the job of evangelisation up to the clergy and religious.

Deacon Peter provided six practical steps to take into consideration for evangelisation – prayer, initiating with intention, listening, sharing, introducing and accompaniment.

“Evangelisation is not the proclamation of doctrine, it is introducing people to the source of life, the hope of the world, the way, the truth and the life, the one who takes away the sins of the world, the author of peace, the deliverer of help in the ever-present time and need – He’s a person, and his name is Jesus.”

Launceston parishioner Michelle Smith said the conference was “a wonderful day” and presented things from a perspective she had not previously considered.

“Deacon Peter’s talks in particular were very enlightening,” she said.

“He gave practical ideas on how to approach the subject of faith when people ask me about my faith.

“I’d never actually thought of doing things in that way. It sounded a lot easier and not coming across as sort of a Bible basher.

“Having the workshops and the opportunity to share ideas with others and meet people from other parishes was really good.”

Archbishop Julian said he was encouraged to see how people responded over the day, embracing the vision of becoming missionary disciples of Jesus.

“It was evident they were all inspired by the speakers, the time of prayer and workshops – so many people just uplifted and inspired to live their faith more deeply, particularly wanting to be instruments to bring other people to know Jesus,” he said.