From the 20^th – 21^st April, Parish Secretaries and Managers of our diocese gathered at the Haven, Emu Park, for In-Service on Parish Administration.  The variety of topics covered gives some idea of the wide range of challenges that could be dealt with on any day by those who work the front desk of our parishes.  The purpose of these days was to give in depth training so that these secretaries and managers will be firmly grounded in what the Church wants and why.

Finance, Fundraising, Recording Keeping and Archives, Child Protection, IT Issues, Canon Law and the Sacraments, Copyright of Music and much, much more, even a short spiel on sending items to the diocesan e-newsletter, were just some of the areas covered.  Most of the input was given by the highly competent staff at the Bishop’s Office and was well appreciated by all.

Bishop Michael opened the conference with a talk on the Mission of the Church which gave a clear focus to the work done by the various people within its structures.  On the first evening, Phillip Baumann gave an entertaining after-dinner speech which clearly emphasised the Compassion for People that can be shown in the service of administration.  The text of his speech is given in the link below.