NZ Catholic Convention - Wellington 19-21 June 2024

I was lucky enough to attend the NZ Catholic Convention in Wellington along with Brenna and Angie as part of my role as the school’s Director of Religious Studies (DRS).  I found it both informative and inspiring by connecting with more than 700 other teachers from across the country, and engaging in some wonderful professional development.  

The conference consisted of a range of keynote speakers, along with some seminars that were led by inspirational teachers and catholic education advisors from across the country.  

Noteworthy keynote speakers were:

Tim Wilson:  Best known for his journalism work in newspapers, radio and television.

He spoke about things that challenge us in life.  He encouraged us to think about failures that we have experienced in life, and how, when managed correctly, creates circumstances in which mind and spirit can mature, and ultimately lead to fortitude.  

Dr Sandra Cullen:  Associate Professor of Religious Education - Dublin City University

She spoke about the curriculum that advises teachers of what they must teach, and suggested that a curriculum was simply a set of stories that one generation chooses to tell the next.  She also suggested, however, that at the heart of every curriculum is the story-teller, and that ‘we teach who we are’.  The support that we get, as teachers, is key to successfully delivering a curriculum that is engaging and meaningful.  

Joe Paprocki: National Consultant for Faith Formation - Loyola Press - USA

Joe encouraged us to think about how we live within the image of God.  He reminded us that a lot of our personality and traits are inherent, therefore people recognise us as “so-and-so’s child” or “so-and-so’s sibling”.  He suggested that, through baptism, we can be easily recognised as being part of God’s family, by how we act, and what we do. 

The convention mass, led by Archbishop Paul Martin, was a really lovely service.  All dioceses across New Zealand were represented by the respective bishops, and two local secondary schools provided an orchestra and singing accompaniment, which was lovely to see.  The new RE curriculum, Tō Tātou Whakapono - Our Faith, was blessed and launched across the country, and there were many opportunities for networking and connecting with other teachers from within the diocese and beyond.  

This conference provided a lot of food-for-thought, and ideas for how to improve our Catholic special character moving forward.  I am grateful for the opportunity to attend such a fabulous event.

Anna Galbraith - DRS