Communicators on a mission
Events
Effective communication in all its forms was championed at the 2024 Australian Catholic Communications Congress held in Sydney from August 28 to 30.
More than 160 people from 18 dioceses across Australia and New Zealand registered to attend the event themes ‘missionary message for the modern world’. Representatives from schools, commissions and other communication-based entities also attended.
The Australian Catholic Communications Congress is a triennial event bringing Catholics together who seek to learn new media and communications skills, network and increase their understanding of good news. Before this year’s event at Rydges North Sydney, the conference was last staged in Brisbane during 2018.
“I am grateful for the dozens of people who contributed to the planning, sponsorship and execution of the Congress, especially Australian Catholic Bishops Conference deputy secretary Jeremy Stuparich who stepped in to lead the team,” said organiser Paul Osborne, Media and Communications Director for the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.
A number of workshops ran across three days, including presentations by the likes of Sr Rose Pacatte, the founding director of the Pauline Center for Media Studies in Los Angeles.
Sr Rose heads the international office in Rome and presented a keynote speech on ‘Breaking the Silence: the Power and Pitfalls of Catholic Communication in the Digital Landscape’ and shared her wisdom on media mindfulness and Catholic journalism.
“A goal without a plan is just a wish,” Sr Rose said during her keynote address.
Sr Rose was particularly passionate about media mindfulness in the media age and made reference to the powerful video imagery of Pope Francis when he delivered a blessing in an empty Saint Peter’s Square during the COVID pandemic in 2020. The powerful imagery was reportedly viewed by more than 11 million people.
“It’s about peaceful co-existence with the digital world,” Sr Rose said.
Meanwhile, Bishop Richard Umbers (an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Sydney and the youngest Latin Catholic bishop in Australia) presented a keynote speech on ‘Creating a Eucharistic Culture’ and spoke about Sydney’s bid to host the 2028 Eucharistic Congress.
Adrian Cropley, founding director of the Centre for Strategic Communication Excellence, presented ‘Creativity with Heart’, a presentation on innovative fundraising for the Sacred Heart Mission in Melbourne.
Tom Finnigan, founder of talkingbrands.ai and co-founder of the Murfin Group, presented his keynote on ‘The ABC of Artificial Intelligence’. Many attendees also appreciated Finnigan’s advice on ‘AI Basics and Ethics’ and ‘AI for Comms and Professionals’.
Masterclasses also covered topics ranging from ‘Building a Communications Plan’ with Michael McVeigh, head of publishing at Jesuit Communications Australia, to a photography session with freelance photographer and writer Fiona Basile.
‘Government Advocacy’ with Cathy Uechtritz, director of government relations for the Archdiocese of Brisbane; ‘Websites that Work’ with Anita Sulentic from Parramatta Diocese, ‘Strategic Planning’ with Monika Lancucki, communications executive for the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne, tips on social media advertising campaigns by Catholic Mission’s Danielle Sullivan, and a report on the Australian media landscape by Medianet were also part of the extensive program.
The Australasian Catholic Press Association (ACPA) Awards cocktail function and a dinner held at NSW Parliament featuring guest speaker Peter Greste were also highlights.
“The feedback from participants has been broadly positive,” Mr Osborne said.
“I am now working through the feedback forms from participants with a view to planning the next Congress (due in 2027) and potentially holding a smaller, targeted communications training event, or events, in 2025.”
Jump to next article
