Ministries
Catholic
Education Office
Professional Development
| The Patrician Brothers
were founded to minister to a contemporary pressing need: education of
the youth. And this is what most Patrician Brothers have been doing since
our foundation in 1808.
However, under the
influence of Vatican II and in the face of the "new" needs of our modern
world, religious congregations have been discerning how they may repsond.
Several of our Brothers
have volunteered to meet other needs within our society: as campus ministers,
a hospital chaplain, a parish worker, and as officers in the Catholic Education
Office.
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| Parramatta
Outreach |
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The Catholic Education Office,
Parramatta, sponsors programs to reach out to Catholic Education systems
with limited access to resources. |
In that context, it was
my privilege, along with professional colleagues from the Office, to visit
Pakistan and Papua New Guinea on a number of occasions in recent years.
In remote outposts there, we conducted a number of development programs
for school principals and senior educators within Catholic education systems.
The Patrician Brothers have already had significant involvement in Catholic
schools in those countries and it was heartening to re-connect with many
who had fond memories of the Patricians. |
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- Aengus
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Aengus attends a wedding
whilst in Pakistan.
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Outreaching in PNG
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 Brother
Aengus Kavanagh has been classroom teacher, College Principal (Fairfield
Patrician Brothers), CEO Regional Director of the Sydney Outer West, Australian
Provincial, and Superior General. When his term of office as Superior General
came to an end he re-entered the Parramatta branch of the Catholic Education
Office. Here Aengus shares a few thoughts with us about his ministry.
"No longer a workforce
but a leaven." This slogan says something to me of the changing role of
Religious in Catholic school education. I work in the Catholic Education
Office, Parramatta. The Office exercises a service and leadership role
in its administration of the Catholic schools in this expanding diocese,
west and north-west of Sydney.
My division, the
Division of Professional Development and Leadership, is mainly concerned
with the provision of inservices and programs to help teachers and school
leaders to continue to grow professionally and personally in the interest
of better service to the young people in their schools. |
| This
is a big challenge in an era of such rapid change in education and in an
era of increasing breakdown in social order, with such negative impact
on schools. Life is very complex these days for people who work in schools
and yet, their role is vital in shaping the future of the children and
youth committed to their care.
I find it rewarding
to be able to help teachers, support staff and school leaders to gain new
insights and skills which will help them to be more confident and to be
effective in their important roles. It is pleasing to see people finding
affirmation in programs they attend and becoming excited when they sense
a release of new potential within themselves.
I also find it pleasing
to work in an environment where a majority of colleagues and clients share
a strong Christian vision of the world and see the Catholic school as a
favoured place for the integration of faith and culture.
Whatever the future
of the Catholic Church in Australia, I am convinced that the principals,
the teachers and the graduates of the Catholic schools will remain a powerful
resource in the emergence of new models of Church.
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Aengus receives an award
for Leadership service in the Parramatta Diocese
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Fourteen years of CEO
service.
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Aengus with his divisional
colleagues.
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Aengus is a main contributor
to the co-ordination of the much respected and popular Elim Program.
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