Responding to the Conference across Kildare Ministries 

The firm intention of the conference was always to bring the voice of Kildare Ministries back into the networks and ministries of Kildare Ministries to inform the development of plans and strategies going forward. Since the conference, feedback has been presented to and discussed within each network meeting, and ways forward are beginning to take shape.  

This is the exciting part, the ‘DO’ phase of our theme, 'Encounter, Dream, Do.’ 

Sharing the feedback of the Kildare Ministries Voice across the Kildare Ministries networks is preserving the energy and inspiration of the gathering. We are seeing the feelings and hopes reignited over and over as we share the results of the conference with different working groups and consider ways to bring it forward to help shape our future. In these initial discussions, themes of inclusion, diversity, and a whole-school focus on living justice and peace emerged most strongly.  

Student Seminar at Amberley

At this seminar in June, some Year 12 students from the leadership seminar held in the previous year, chose to be involved again. They were curious about how their thoughts and feelings were received at the conference and revealed their desire to keep in contact with students from other schools as they progress beyond school. This was also a dream that emerged from the conference. 

The student seminar’s great strength is bringing Kildare Ministries students together to recognise and share their common values. It consolidates a broader sense of identity and belonging to each other and in faith and contemplation, something larger than themselves. Asking them to share their thoughts and feelings with the conference delegates validated them and lifted them up to scan future horizons that they may not have fully seen before.  

Four senior students who attended both student seminars (from Marian College, Ararat and Clonard College) have agreed to form a working group to establish a Kildare Ministries Student Alumni. The purpose of the alumni is to keep in touch and keep each other informed of opportunities for volunteering, advocacy and activism. More in this space to come! 

Kildare Ministries First Nations Forum 

Our first ‘First Nations Forum’ was held on July 22 and was attended by representatives of all our schools. The commitment of participants to First Nations Justice became obvious very early as they richly shared their depth of experience, expertise and wonderings with each other. Professor Anne Patel-Gray, as our companion, engaged the group, summing up some of the ideas of her keynote from the conference, elaborating on them and inviting questions and discussion. The interaction flowed easily, and Professor Anne Patel-Gray's enthusiastic encouragement galvanized the group’s resolve. The final strategy session distilled the following questions into statements for review at the next meeting.  

• Learning with Wonder: Learning with Wonder reminds us of the beauty, complexity and fragility of creation – There are many wonders of First Nations culture, knowledge and spirituality. How can we cultivate this wonder in others?  
• Leading with Courage: Working for justice is difficult and complex. Society protects the privileged and moving against the current takes discernment, courage and resilience. How can we offer this kind of courage to others?
• Living with Compassion: Living with Compassion recognizes our common humanity and sacred dignity. What will be the markers of our compassion? Is it demonstrating listening? Demonstrating solidarity? What else? What will our compassion look like to everyone?

All reported the value of the day and stated that they were eagerly awaiting the next network meeting, formally to be called The Kildare Ministries First Nations Network. We are excited about the work and leadership that this group will bring to our whole community. 

Please find here the first social media resource to support and promote the work of this network. 

Kildare Ministries Faith and Learning Leaders Network 

The 2-day Faith and Learning Leaders seminar days in May were very well attended and commenced with discussing the feedback from the conference. It was noted that the feedback shows that there is a strong commitment to integrating Living Justice Living Peace across the curriculum. 

Specifically, we discussed:  

• The integration of what is traditionally placed in the Religious Education curriculum and how mission-content can be spread across the entire curriculum  
• What issues of social justice are already or readily integrated into the curriculum and how these can be expressed in terms of faith and mission  
• Possible metrics for success  
• External resources for Living Justice Living Peace curriculum, most especially, the Kildare Ministries Community Works  

Community Works and School Partnerships 

In June, as part of the response to the conference, the Community Works networking group began to create a Community Works and Schools Program. The group has started to create an embryonic program, one which doesn’t hamper the ability of Community Works to carry out their core work. See below for developing ideas! 

Types of connection:   

• Talks   / panel presentations
• Donations   
• Encounter (e.g. cooking, surf-life saving, soccer, picnics, zoo)   
• Volunteering for work / maintenance    
• Volunteering to provide services such as language teaching and tutoring
• Videos 

Who might be connecting?   

• School based groups (groups within a school such as houses / classes / year levels / all students / staff groups)
• Kildare Ministries groups (students or staff across the schools)    
• Geographic area-based groups (schools within a geographic area)

What other opportunities exist? 

• Cross Ministry Teacher / Professional Programs  
• Promote volunteer opportunities at the Community Works within schools

These initiatives, inspired by our combined Kildare Ministries voice, are just beginning to take shape, and there's even more inspiration to come.

We already have much to celebrate as a community! Through our engagement with one another and our commitment to addressing injustice, we clearly see ourselves as enablers of justice and agents for transforming what is unfair.