In-Service for Parish Secretaries and Managers
22 May, 2024
On 22nd, 23rd and 24th April, 19 Parish Secretaries and Managers from the width and breadth of the Rockhampton Diocese gathered for the third Parish Administration In-Service after a two-year hiatus. Held at the beautiful accommodation and event centre, “The Haven” at Emu Park, the parish administrators in conjunction with Bishop Michael McCarthy and members of Diocesan staff participated in three days of education.
Hosted by Mr Dean Smith, Director of Diocesan Services, the attendees were able to participate in 14 different presentations over the course of the three days covering multiple aspects of the administration and governance of the Parish. There was also time for prayer and reflection, with a highlight being Bishop Michael leading Mass on the balcony of the MacKillop function hall overlooking the ocean.
On Monday evening, the attendees were fortunate to enjoy dinner with outgoing Diocesan Director of Catholic Education, Miss Leesa Jeffcoat. Leesa gave a light-hearted and heartwarming speech about her 23 years as Director and her experiences working for the Church.
With face-to-face presentations from Diocesan staff as well as external consultants presenting online, the format of the In-Service allowed for a wide variety of topics to be addressed.
Diocesan Services would like to thank The Haven for their hospitality during the event, Creative Cater for their amazing catering, and each of the presenters for their time and effort in not only compiling their presentations but their willingness to assist those doing vital administration work in our parishes.
Going forward, the Administration In-service is envisaged to be an annual event. A major initiative to come from the 2024 event is the Parish Administration Handbook, an online resource for parish administrators, which the Diocese expects to launch in coming weeks.
