Teams Oceania Gathering

The 2021 Teams Gathering

A Virtual Gathering of Team Members from all Regions across Oceania

Saturday 18 September 2021 

10am to 4pm AEST

Overview of the Gathering

Theme

Teams Supporting Couples
Connect, Communicate, Commit

The program for the 2021 Gathering reflects the importance of Teams couples and individual members connecting, communicating and then committing to:

  • each other,
  • other members of their Team,
  • their Region, and
  • their Church and their broader community.

Connect, Communicate and Commit will be a constant thread throughout the program.

The Program

A Virtual Program

The 2021 Gathering will be delivered “virtually” due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this presents a great opportunity for many more Team members to participate than would normally be the case when Gatherings are held in a particular Region. 

As a result, we can expect Team members from New Zealand, all Regions in Australia, and the Philippines to join in the 2021 Gathering from convenient locations or from their homes.  Currently individual Regions are deciding the best arrangements for their Region.

A Program Designed to Bring Team Members Together

The program focuses on three issues that are central to our lives in the 2020s:

  • Support for married couples and challenges facing Catholic marriage,
  • A time of upheaval in the world with a focus on young people, their relationships, beliefs and values, and
  • What the next few years might bring to our Catholic faith

A unique feature of Oceania Teams Gatherings has been the opportunity for Team members to meet other Team members from other Regions in Australia and even from Regions in other countries.  This will continue with the 2021 Gathering.

Not only will there be a stimulating, well-informed and thought-provoking range of presenters there will be feedback from individual participants and follow up in “virtual discussion groups”.  In these groups you will be able to meet and exchange views with Team members from across Oceania.   

For a detailed program click here.

Our Speakers for the 2021 Oceania Teams Gathering

Bishop Stephen Lowe

Bishop Stephen Lowe is the Bishop in the Diocese of Hamilton in New Zealand.  Bishop Stephen has been instrumental in the recent expansion of the Teams movement in his Diocese. 

Bishop Stephen will open the Gathering with an address on the value of Teams and the many challenges facing Catholic marriage.

Lara and Tim Kirk

Lara has over 25 years’ experience speaking with young people about marriage and sexuality. She currently manages Marriage, Family and Relationships programs for the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn.  Tim is the CEO and Chief Winemaker at Clonakilla Wines and currently leads the Canberra branch of the Disciples of Jesus, a Catholic lay community. Lara and Tim are trained in Theology and Education.

Lara and Tim will talk about their personal experience of married life and the importance of support for all married couples.

John Warhurst

John Warhurst is an experienced political scientist, with special interests in public policy, political lobbying, election campaigning and church-state relations.

John is Emeritus Professor of Political Science at the Australian National University in Canberra. John is Chair of Concerned Catholics Canberra Goulburn and is a member from the Archdiocese of Canberra-Goulburn for the Plenary Council 2021. He recently served on the Governance Review Project Team for the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.”

Sr Clare Condon

Sister Clare Condon is a former Congregational Leader of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan. She served as leader from September 2005 until September 2017. In 2013, Sr. Clare was awarded a Human Rights Medal by the Australian Human Rights Commission in recognition of the Good Samaritan Sisters’ work with asylum seekers, Indigenous Australians and the victims of domestic violence.

Both John Warhurst and Sr Clare Condon will discuss what the next few years might bring to our Catholic faith and the challenges our Church might face.

Monsignor John Woods

Monsignor John Woods is Parish Priest in North Woden (ACT), Vicar for Education for the Archdiocese of Canberra & Goulburn and a Canon Lawyer who has served on the Marriage Tribunal over many years. Monsignor John is a Chaplain for Teams and continues to prepare couples for marriage.

Monsignor John will present his reflections and insights from the perspective of: Teams Chaplain, Marriage Tribunal, Diocesan Priest & fellow pilgrim

Philomena (Phil)  Billington

Phil retired as Director of Catholic Education in the Sandhurst Diocese in 2014 after 40+ years in Education across 5 dioceses and 4 states.  Phil continues to contribute to the Church and its ministries through Ministry Without Borders in which she works with parishes, church entities and charities as a facilitator and presenter.  Phil continues to be a Spiritual Advisor (Chaplain) in Teams and has facilitated Teams Gatherings. 

Phil will be facilitating our Teams Gathering as well as speaking about the beliefs and values in the relationships of young people as they navigate the changing context of a time of upheaval in the world.