Catholic Mission’s Mission: One Heart Many Voices conference opened yesterday, with more than 300 participants gathering for the three-day event in Sydney.
The theme for the 2025 conference is: “Choosing Hope. Trust yourself to its leading”. This theme was chosen to connect with the Jubilee Year focus: “Pilgrims of Hope”.
The opening ceremony began with a powerful Welcome to Country led by Isaac Bamblett, a Bundjalung and Wiradjuri man.
“Today, it is important to be here and be spiritually connected. While it’s meaningful to do the Acknowledgment on video, it’s just as important to have someone physically come in and give a deeper spiritual and physical dimension to the moment,” Mr Bamblett said.
The morning continued with prayers and songs, setting the tone for the first keynote session, delivered by Estela Padilla, theologian and member of the Synod on Synodality.
Her address, titled “Searching your hope, trusting to its leading – Why be a Pilgrim of Hope?” explored the spiritual and practical dimensions of hope.
Dr Padilla reflected on the synodal journey between local communities and the universal Church, and how hope emerges through personal, communal, and global experiences, describing hope as something that can take many forms, including a rock and a bridge.
“My first description of hope is light inside of you… this light goes through your cracks of darkness, this light pushed me to breaking free,” Dr Padilla said.
Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Anna Cody, addressed the conference next, speaking on the theme of “Choosing”.
She spoke candidly about the ongoing reality of sexual abuse in Australia, particularly among marginalised groups such as migrants and LGBTQI+ individuals, and emphasised how creating safe spaces for people in distress can spark real change and build a safer future for all.
In the afternoon, participants attended a range of workshops, including a session on applying synodal principles in local Church contexts, led by Broken Bay Diocese chancellor Kelly Paget.
FULL STORY
From Light to Bridge: Voices of Hope Resonate at the Mission one heart many voices Conference (Catholic Mission)
