Reimagining Priesthood in the Church of the 21st Century
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May 27, 2024Our parish priest, Fr. Rene Ramirez, will be one of the panelists for an upcoming panel discussion that will delve into the topic of reimagining Priesthood in the Church of the 21st Century. The event is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at the Greg Craven Centre of the Australian Catholic University. The venue is located at Level 7, St. Teresa of Kolkata Building, 115 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, and will commence at 5:00 pm.
The priesthood plays a central role in Roman Catholic faith, with the Priesthood of Christ serving as the foundation for the priesthood of all believers through baptism, as well as the ministerial priesthood of the order of the presbyterate. These are essential elements of the Church's identity. However, there has been no significant study of the Catholic priesthood since the Second Vatican Council, resulting in the proliferation of weak, polarizing, and ideological interpretations of priesthood and the Church.
The event aims to initiate and facilitate a discussion on the ongoing work of a five-year research program seeking to address the fundamental questions, challenges, and theological gaps in Catholic understandings of priesthood. The objective is to conduct a comprehensive study of priesthood that anticipates genuine transformation of ecclesial culture, with a lasting impact on the formation of priests, as well as the structure of Catholic communities and forms of leadership in the future.
The other members of the panel are: Bishop Shane Mackinlay, Dr. Rosemary Canavan, Dr. Christiaan Jacobs-Vandegeer, and Rev. Dr. David Pascoe. The evening will be facilitated by A/Prof. Maeve Louise Heaney.
