The bishops have published The Catholic Education of School Age Children

In this document the Bishops discuss a number of problems with faith education and the likely solutions.

It is based in large part on doctoral thesis research by Chris Duthie-Jung of Wellington, Faith Amid Secularity.

The Bishops say that although Catholic schools deliver a sound education, that is not why they exist — that end can be met by state schools. Catholic schools are where the living God should be encountered.

They think young, adult pakeha Catholics (between 18 and 28) see themselves as Catholic, sense the presence of God, believe in basic goodness, but also display a disconnect at the level of faith acting in ordinary life.

For most of them, being Catholic is cultural rather than a commitment. In fact, there seems to be little difference

The Catholic Education of School Age Children covers such things as:

• Non-participation in parish life
• The courage needed to be truly Catholic
• Attendance dues,
• Young Catholics at state schools
• Barriers to Catholic education
• CCD
• The role of the NZ Catholic Education Office.

Source

• NZ Catholic
• Image: Screen Shot NZCBC

Dr Chris Duthie-Jung is to be Head of Partnerships and Director of the National Centre for Religious Studies.

Mrs Anne Kennedy is to be Associate Director National Centre for Religious Studies, Curriculum.

When announcing the appointments, Tuohy said "This is a challenging and exciting time for Catholic education in New Zealand and these appointments signal TCI's commitment to supporting strong Catholic leadership and learning excellence within the Catholic Sector.

"Chris brings rich experience gained at both local and national levels in a wide variety of roles in pastoral ministry, education and theology to this newly established role," she said.

"Anne is well known in Catholic Education having successfully fulfilled key responsibilities, also at local and national levels, across the Catholic School sector."

Kennedy will begin work on 14 October and is to be based in Dunedin.

Duthie-Jung, who will take up his appointment some time in the next two months, is to be based in Wellington.

Anne Kennedy has had extensive experience as a primary teacher and school principal. She was the Coordinator-Editor of the National Primary Religious Education Programme and more recently she has taken up the role of Religious Education Consultant for the Diocese of Dunedin.

She has qualifications in education, theology, and religious education.

Her Master's thesis, awarded with distinction, focused on New Zealand Children's Spirituality. She contributes nationally to teachers' Professional and Academic development in this area, which along with Religious Education is her area of special interest and expertise.

She is married to Tony and has three adult children and four grandchildren.

Duthie-Jung has been a lecturer at The Catholic Institute. He has been involved in a wide range of church ministries in the Palmerston North Diocese and Wellington Archdiocese.

When he was the Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry in the Archdiocese of Wellington, Duthie-Jung was involved in a wide range of youth ministry initiatives at the national level.

He completed a BTh at Otago University and a Masters degree in Religious Studies from the Catholic University of Leuven. In 2012, he was awarded a Doctorate in Ministry from the Sydney College of Divinity. His topic was "Processes of Secularisation and the Catholic Identity of Contemporary Catholic Young Adults."

Chris and Veronika have three children, two boys at St Bernard's College and a daughter at St Peter and Paul School in Lower Hutt.

Source

New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference

However, while there were many shared values, goals and experiences uniting conference participants, their diversity was also highlighted and their thoughts, work methods and beliefs challenged by the thought-provoking and wide range of speakers and workshops.

In his opening address Bishop Peter Cullinane of Palmerston North said ministry to and with young people involves giving and receiving. He compared this to "receptive ecumenism". "In the past, Churches brought to each other an explanation of the things that were important to them. They ‘put out their best china'. In receptive ecumenism they show instead their dirty hands - they ask each other for help with problems they have not successfully resolved. They receive from one another," he said.

Included in the programme are an address from Bishop Peter Cullinane of Palmerston North, three keynote speeches, an interactive workshop which will break open the founding documents of Catholic youth and young adult ministry in New Zealand, and eight other workshops from which participants can choose four.

The keynote speakers are Samuel Clear from Harvest Inroads Australia, who is well-known for his engaging and inspirational presentations on putting Christ's love into action in a broken world; Chris Duthie-Jung who has extensive experience in ministry with young Catholics and is currently completing his PhD on the Catholic identity of Gen Y New Zealanders, and Kitty McKinley, who has been actively involved in youth ministry and development for over 40 years and is the founder of professional youth and social work agency Challenge 2000.

Workshop themes include planning prayer and liturgy; engaging with Maori and Polynesian communities; encouraging youth involvement in parish life; supporting families in their spiritual journeys, and using new media and technology.

The conference will open on Sunday with a Mass celebrated by coadjutor bishop of Palmerston North, Bishop Charles Drennan, which will be followed by a gathering with the parish community. Each day will begin and conclude with prayer, and daily Mass will be offered at lunchtime. Br Kieran Fenn FMS will offer two evening Exegesis and Prayer sessions. The conference will conclude on Wednesday with a Commissioning Mass celebrated by Bishop Cullinane.

National Project Coordinator of the Office for Young People, Sr Helen O'Sullivan RNDM, says the conference will benefit from having a wide range of participants.

"There will be a truly national feel to the conference with registrations having come in from as far North as Auckland and as far South as Dunedin," she says. "The participants are involved in diverse ministries both in the Catholic Church and the wider community and will bring with them a range of perspectives, experiences and energies to share with others who are passionate about youth and young adults.

"My desire is that the conference will give hope to those who have been involved in youth and young adult work for a long time and provide inspiration for those who are newer to this important ministry in the Church".

Source

• New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference
• Image: I was Just Thinking