Theologian Dr Estela Padilla from the Philippines will address the Sisters of the Good Samaritan’s chapter gathering in Sydney next week.
Held every six years, the chapter gathering will run from July 24 to August 4 and will decide the “Statement of Direction” for 2024-2030 as well as elect the new congregational leader and leadership council.
In her keynote address on July 25, titled “Being Ecclesial Women”, Dr Padilla will focus on the challenges of the “signs of the times” as reflected on by the congregation and their theological, spiritual and practical integration.
Dr Padilla was recently appointed by Pope Francis as one of 70 “non-Bishop members” to the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October.
Congregational Leader Sr Patty Fawkner said Dr Padilla’s speech will contribute to the sisters’ discernment process to finalise their Statement of Direction for the next six years.
“Our hope is that with Dr Padilla’s experience working with and empowering communities in Philippine parishes, as well as her contribution as a lay theologian of high standing in the Asian Bishops Conference and Synod, she will challenge us with her deeper and broader perspectives and help us direct our focus to where there is the greatest need, where it is that the cry of the poor and the cry of the earth is sending us as gospel women,” Sr Fawkner said.
Dr Padilla is a Doctor of Theology with more than 40 years of pastoral experience among parishes and dioceses in the Philippines and abroad. She is the Executive Secretary of the Office for Theological Concerns of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC).
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‘Organising hope’ – inspiration from noted Philippine pastoralist at Chapter Gathering of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan (Sisters of the Good Samaritan)
