Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
10 Oct 2012
More than 20,000 in schools, universities, parishes and local halls across the Australia as well as a further 10,000 - 20,000 at sites in Hong Kong, Zimbawe, New Zealand, Fiji, East Timor, Malta, USA, Singapore, the Philippines and India took part in the Broken Bay Institute's seventh eConference which launched this morning.
Taking "Vatican II: An Event of Grace" as its theme, the eConference was streamed live enabling people no matter where they live to hear leading theologians, scholars and teachers as well as join in panel discussions and q and a forums.
But this year unlike previous years, the eConference was also a big event in the Twitterverse, says Annie Carrett, Communications Manager for the Broken Bay Catholic Diocese and one of the organisers of today's eConference.
Not only were participants using Twitter joining in live conversations at #grace but the Facebook page for the event became a non-stop hub with posts of group photographs of those taking part in towns and cities throughout Australia. The page also had more than 16,342 "likes" with the number growing hour by hour.
Sites ranged from 20 to 200 people at today's event and each had its own facilitator so that after each address, the group could discuss it more fully, have questions answered and not only deepen their faith but their knowledge as well.
Hosted by Mike Bailey from the Archdiocese of Sydney, the eConference opened with the keynote address: Vatican II: A New Relationship with God, given by the Most Rev Michael Putney, Bishop of Townsville and one of the world's leading authorities on ecumenism.
"Half a century on we have an opportunity to examine the teachings of Vatican II in light of the Catholic tradition and in respect of questions that have arisen since," he said and pointed out that tomorrow, 11 October marks the 50th anniversary since the start of the Second Vatican Council in Rome in 1962.
Tomorrow solemn Mass will be held at St Peter's Basilica in Rome to commemorate the half century anniversary of Vatican II and to launch the Year of Faith, during which the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVII has urged every Catholic to study afresh the texts of Vatican II to rediscover and renew their Faith.
And today, thanks to this year's eConference, that was exactly what was happening.
Following the address by Bishop Putney and the ensuing facilitated discussions at each site, Sister Maryanne Confoy, one of the USA's most highly regarded theologians, spoke on "The Baptismal call to Holiness - a call to personal and communal ministry."
For the third 20 minute session of the days six session eConference, Bishop Putney gave a second address, this time expanding on Vatican II and "A new relationship with everyone else."
After lunch, Sr Maryanne once again took the floor to speak on "Baptismal Ministry in the pluralist world."
The final two sessions of the eConference featured Paul Power, CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia who says Vatican II played a vital role in defining his life's work, and Jill Gowdie who leads the Evangelisation and Spiritual Formation for the Catholic Education Office at the Archdiocese of Brisbane.
DVDs of today's eConference will be available from the Broken Hill Institute and will provide an invaluable resource for anyone wishing to deepen their faith and learn more about the history of the Church and Vatican II.
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
10 Oct 2012
Sisters of St Paul de Chartres in Qeensland enjoying today's eConference
Taking "Vatican II: An Event of Grace" as its theme, the eConference was streamed live enabling people no matter where they live to hear leading theologians, scholars and teachers as well as join in panel discussions and q and a forums.
But this year unlike previous years, the eConference was also a big event in the Twitterverse, says Annie Carrett, Communications Manager for the Broken Bay Catholic Diocese and one of the organisers of today's eConference.
Team from Mildura before the start of today's eConference
Sites ranged from 20 to 200 people at today's event and each had its own facilitator so that after each address, the group could discuss it more fully, have questions answered and not only deepen their faith but their knowledge as well.
Hosted by Mike Bailey from the Archdiocese of Sydney, the eConference opened with the keynote address: Vatican II: A New Relationship with God, given by the Most Rev Michael Putney, Bishop of Townsville and one of the world's leading authorities on ecumenism.
"Half a century on we have an opportunity to examine the teachings of Vatican II in light of the Catholic tradition and in respect of questions that have arisen since," he said and pointed out that tomorrow, 11 October marks the 50th anniversary since the start of the Second Vatican Council in Rome in 1962.
A group of Ballina watch as Bishop Putney's keynote address is streamed live
And today, thanks to this year's eConference, that was exactly what was happening.
Following the address by Bishop Putney and the ensuing facilitated discussions at each site, Sister Maryanne Confoy, one of the USA's most highly regarded theologians, spoke on "The Baptismal call to Holiness - a call to personal and communal ministry."
For the third 20 minute session of the days six session eConference, Bishop Putney gave a second address, this time expanding on Vatican II and "A new relationship with everyone else."
Bishop Michael Putney keynote speaker at seventh national eConference
The final two sessions of the eConference featured Paul Power, CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia who says Vatican II played a vital role in defining his life's work, and Jill Gowdie who leads the Evangelisation and Spiritual Formation for the Catholic Education Office at the Archdiocese of Brisbane.
DVDs of today's eConference will be available from the Broken Hill Institute and will provide an invaluable resource for anyone wishing to deepen their faith and learn more about the history of the Church and Vatican II.
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
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