Copy
View this email in your browser
Newsletter of the Ministry Resource & Community Hub
Edition 21
Our Last Newsletter for 2021
The Alive in the Spirit steering committee would like to thank you for your engagement, support and feedback this year. Alive in the Spirit has grown into something that has accompanied individuals and communities in parish life and we hope that we can continue that in the years to come. 

Message from the Christian Initiation Australia Network (CIAN)
 
It has been a great joy to be part of the organising team for the Alive in the Spirit Conference (AITS). Over the last six months, we have seen many people involved in pastoral ministry be inspired and encouraged in their mission to bring the Good News of Christ to all those they meet.
 
Indeed, in the midst of natural disasters and COVID-19, AITS has been a wellspring of hope for our Catholic communities.
 
CIAN has enjoyed working with the Pastoral Ministry Network and the Oceania Mission Planners Network. May God continue to bless their work abundantly.
 
As we head into 2022, CIAN is here to assist you in the ministry of Christian initiation, especially through the RCIA process. Find out more about CIAN and our resources at https://www.ciannetwork.net/. Join CIAN and you will continue to have access to the five RCIA workshops from AITS.
 
Christmas blessings
 
Max Norden
Sharon Brewer
CIAN Executive Team members
Message from the Mission Planners Network of Oceania

We have been delighted to share in the journey of Alive in the Spirit. As the key pastoral planning body promoting and advocating a culture of planning within the Catholic Church in Oceania, we valued the opportunity to support a conference that spotlighted the efforts of local Australian and New Zealand practitioners in ministry and leadership. While we recognise the richness of international efforts, sometimes we undervalue our practices in the Oceania region promoting church growth which enable dioceses and parishes to advance the mission of Jesus Christ under the guidance of the Spirit.
 
In Australia, we journey through a time of Plenary where we have been called to “Listen to what the Spirit is saying.” Alive in the Spirit offers a chorus of voices, witnessing to many existing fruits of the Spirit, offering sure hope and inspiration to us on the road ahead.  
 
We are thankful for our Pastoral Ministry Network and Christian Initiation Australia Network colleagues for the opportunity to bring this conference experience to life and hope to continue to support future efforts into 2022 and beyond.
 
Planning for Mission is more critical than ever as our pastoral landscape continues to shift and change at an incredible rate, and in many settings, we draw upon less people for mission, with fewer resources. How do we best respond to God’s call to be co-creators, and to be missioning with the Spirit in this time and in this place? We encourage you to reach out to us to seek support in your own efforts to respond to the cry of the earth and the cry of those in need in this time, in this place.
 
Wishing you a holy and joyful Christmas, and every blessing for the coming year.
Message from the Pastoral Ministry Network

“Surprised by joy” is the stirring title of one of C S Lewis’s books, and certainly captures our sentiment of the experience of Alive in the Spirit this year.
 
I don’t think any of us could have envisaged the incredible life, growth, shared wisdom and connectivity that emerged from this conference experience. The mustard seed of the journey began two years ago, in planning for a face-to-face conference, which Covid struck down. Thanks to the courage and vision of our coordinating team, collaborating with Mission Planners and Christian Initiation Australia Network, we pursued an online conference at a time when such conferences were not in vogue. But we could not imagine over one thousand people joining us on the journey, and for the conference to blossom into a fully grown tree of networking and ongoing energy well into the end of this year.
 
Our Pastoral Ministry Network is proud to be able to continue to steward this Spirit-filled venture into 2022. We are an Oceania association, which has evolved from the NSW Association of Pastors and Parish Associates (NAPPA). For over 25 years we have provided a forum for the encouragement and development of collaborative ministry and leadership among all those involved in Catholic pastoral ministry, including ordained, religious and lay pastoral ministers, pastoral councils, catechists, youth ministers, sacramental coordinators, pastoral associates, family ministry, and evangelisation, faith enrichment and social justice teams.
 
We hope you may join us on our journey into 2022. Your wisdom, your energy and passion for Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and our shared mission within our Catholic faith is what fuels our commitment, and if you have a dream, we want to help you bring that to life in and through our network.
 
We give special thanks to the work of Lisa Bright, conference convener, and to the generosity of all those who have contributed to Alive in the Spirit, including our volunteer presenters and sponsors.
 
Let us keep Alive in the Spirit in 2022! Peace and joy to you and yours, and those you serve as we celebrate God with Us in a special way in this Christmas Season.
Join the Pastoral Ministry Network in 2022!
The Pastoral Ministry Network is excited to extend its membership to the whole of Australia and the Oceania region and to keep the Spirit Alive in 2022.

$100 for an individual yearly membership offers the following benefits: 
- Expanding Resource Library (including Alive in the Spirit 2021 Conference Workshops and Keynote Presentations)
- Free Access to 4 x Oceania Pastoral Ministry Webinars in 2022
($20 each for non-members)
- Discussion Forums
- Regular Newsletter
- Member Discount to Alive in the Spirit Conference 2022

$500 for a small group membership offering:
- All of the above 
- 6 Registrations for price of 5
- Free Two-Hour Consultation

Corporate Registrations available upon request. 
Please contact info@pastoralministrynetwork.org to enquire about these options. 

Click here to join today! 
Join Today
The Pastoral Ministry Network is excited to confirm that Alive in the Spirit will continue in 2022 with an online Conference on May 26-28th 2022. Mark your personal and community diaries now as we create an interactive event online and within your parishes and communities. 

BE PART OF THE PLANNING FOR
ALIVE IN THE SPIRIT 2022
You are invited to be a member of the steering committee for Alive in the Spirit 2022. You would be part of a team responsible for sharing the good news about Alive in the Spirit across Australia and Oceania, planning Conference elements and working collaboratively in a fun and faith-filled team. 
If you are interested and keen to find out more, contact Lisa at info@pastoralministrynetwork.org.
 
Would you like to remain on the Alive in the Spirit newsletter list for 2022? 
This will be the last Alive in the Spirit Newsletter for this year. If you have joined the Pastoral Ministry Network, you will receive monthly newsletters containing upcoming events for those in pastoral ministry, highlights from the resource library and news from partners and friends, including news about
Alive in the Spirit. 

Newsletters will come out every few months from this email address informing you about the Alive in the Spirit Conference. If you would like to unsubscribe from this email list, then please click "unsubscribe from this list" below.

It would be great to stay connected with you. 
"God grant you the light in Christmas, which is faith;
the warmth of Christmas, which is love;
the radiance of Christmas, which is purity;
the righteousness of Christmas, which is justice;
the belief in Christmas, which is truth;
the all of Christmas, which is Christ."

Wilda English
Facebook Facebook
Instagram Instagram
Twitter Twitter
Website Website
Copyright © 2021 Alive in the Spirit, All rights reserved.
info@aliveinthespirit.com.au
+61 437 497 526

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.