2023 Divine Renovation Australasia Conference

Thank you for joining the conference!

Called to More.

10-12 February 2023 • Sydney, Australia

Catholics across Australia and New Zealand are hungry for a Church that's fully alive.

This is why we’re gathering today’s parish leaders to the 2023 Divine Renovation Australasia Conference where you will be inspired, connected, and equipped to lead your parish from maintenance to mission.

With congregations aging, people leaving the Church, and parishes closing, is it enough simply to maintain the models that have worked in the past, or are we being called to do something more?

We get it — change can be difficult.

But through the power of the Holy Spirit, renewal is possible.

This is why we are gathering today’s leaders in mission, evangelisation, and parish renewal to the 2023 Divine Renovation Australasia Conference where you will be inspired, connected, and equipped to move your parish from maintenance to mission.

For inquiries, please email [email protected].

What can I expect from the conference?

Wherever you are in the parish renewal journey, the 2023 Divine Renovation Australasia Conference will be a unique and inspiring experience for Catholics who desire to see their parish come alive.

I'm a priest, deacon, or bishop

Take advantage of the value-packed content streams tailor-made for different types of parishes, wherever you are on the renewal journey.
Connect with your brother priests and be inspired by their from-the-trenches experience of leading renewal in their parish.
Learn principles of parish renewal applicable to parishes of any size or type.
Be equipped with practical tools, best practices, and valuable insights so you can lead your parish further into mission.
Share your experiences on ministry, evangelisation, and mission with others.

I work in a parish

Take time away to work on the parish vs. working in the parish.
Encounter our Lord in the Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, prayer, and worship.
Connect with other people working in ministry, grow in your leadership, learn best practices, and gain new insights on how to better serve the parish community for the purpose of mission.

I'm an active parishioner

Our Conference speakers:

Fr. James Mallon

Parish priest, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish (Dartmouth, NS) • Founder of Divine Renovation Ministry

Fr. Chris Ryan, MGL

Parish Priest, St. Declan's Parish (Penshurst) • Director of the Arete Centre for Missionary Leadership

Fr. Simon Lobo, CC

Parish Priest, Saint Benedict Parish (Halifax, NS)

Dan O'Rourke

President, Divine Renovation Ministry

Paul Donovan

Director of Global Programs & Services, Divine Renovation Ministry

Cathy Kennedy

Evangelisation Coordinator, St. Declan's Parish

Kevin Bailey

Executive Director, Divine Renovation Australasia

Cheryl Surrey

Divine Renovation Relationship Guide, New Zealand

Daniel Ang

Director, Sydney Centre for Evangelisation

Fr. Ken Barker

Founder, Missionaries of God's Love

Fr. John Adams

Parish Priest, St. Peter Chanel Waimakariri

Carly Mulqueen

St. Peter Chanel Parish, Waimakariri

Debbie Riddell

Divine Renovation Leadership Coach

Tomasz Juszczak

Divine Renovation Relationship Guide, NSW

Jacky Krsnik

Senior Leadership Team, St. Declan's Parish

Donna Brennan

Australian Catholic Lead, Alpha in a Catholic Context

Tania Rimac

Alpha Parish Development Coordinator, Archdiocese of Sydney

Barb Conlon

Alpha in a Catholic Context Australia

Mel Dooner

St. Declan's Parish

Angela Yap

St. Declan's Parish

Click here to access the conference schedule and workshops

Register for the 2023 Divine Renovation Australasia Conference today

AUD $185 per person This conference is now sold out

For inquiries, please email [email protected].

Your ticket includes:

Access to all plenaries, workshops and expos at the conference
Afternoon tea and dinner on Friday
Morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner on Saturday
Lunch on Sunday

Conference attendees under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian at all times.

FREE Download

Not quite ready yet? We still want to help you in your desire for renewal in your parish. Download our FREE resource, Three Keys to Unlocking Your Parish so you can take the first steps in moving your parish from maintenance to mission.

Here's what past Conference attendees have said:

"I loved the balance between plenary-workshops and prayer-worship. I felt like I learned a great deal, but also left with the feeling I had been on a retreat."

“The conference was wonderful in every way! The testimonies were unbelievable and inspiring, it was awesome getting to network with so many amazing people from around the world.”

“What a gift to witness the Roman Catholic Church alive in the Spirit - Really brought home the importance of reclaiming our true identity and purpose as church.”

“The plenary sessions were a very positive experience. I also had a powerful Holy Spirit encounter during the Alpha day, which changed my perspective. The sessions themselves were extremely good.”

There's no good reason why yours shouldn't be one of them.

Join us in Sydney this summer for the 2023 Divine Renovation Australasia Conference where you will:

Be inspired and see hope for what’s possible in your own parish
Get connected to a network of parish leaders on fire for the mission of the Church
Be equipped with the tools and insights you need in leading your parish from maintenance to mission

Conference venues

St. Declan’s Parish

92 Penshurst St., Penshurst NSW

St. Declan’s is a thriving parish that has been on the renewal journey with Divine Renovation, located in the suburb of Penshurst in southern Sydney. They have generously opened their doors for the 2023 Divine Renovation Australasia Conference, where attendees will have the opportunity to take a first-hand look at what a missional parish can be like.

Marist Catholic College

65 Victoria Ave., Penshurst NSW

A few minutes’ walk away from St. Declan’s is Marist Catholic College — the site for most of the Conference keynotes and workshops.

Accommodations

There are various accommodation options in the vicinity of St Declan’s and Marist Catholic College. The closest options are:

Mercure in Bankstown

8 Greenfield Parade, Bankstown NSW 2200
Drive time to St. Declan’s Parish: 15 minutes

Meridian Hotel

220 Forest Rd., Hurstville NSW 2220
Drive time to St. Declan’s Parish: 5 minutes

Travelodge Hotel Hurstville Sydney

6/8 Cross St., Hurstville NSW 2220
Drive time to St. Declan’s Parish: 4 minutes

Novotel Sydney Brighton Beach

Corner of Princess Street & The Grand Parade, Brighton-Le-Sands NSW 2216
Drive time to St. Declan’s Parish: 15 minutes

Already registered?

Download the Whova conference app today!

Access the event schedule, session information, network with other attendees, plan meetups, and more with Whova.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this conference for?

This conference is for Catholic clergy, active parishioners, parish volunteers and staff who want more for their parish. There are different content streams that are valuable regardless of where parishes are in the renewal journey.

This is also an opportunity to learn principles of parish renewal, connect with other like-minded parish leaders, and be equipped with practical tools, best practices, and valuable insights to help Catholics move their parish from maintenance to mission.

What's the conference schedule? What are the breakout session topics?

The conference begins at 1 PM on Friday and ends at lunch time on Sunday.

For priests: there is an optional session exclusively for priests on Friday at 10:30 AM — before the main conference begins.

The full conference schedule and programming information are available here. To get the latest conference updates, sign up for our Australasia newsletter.

Should I take someone with me to the conference?

Coming as an individual is absolutely okay — but if possible, we encourage you to consider coming as a group! This allows you to share ideas and actionable steps for your parish.

If you’re a priest, consider taking your parish staff and/or key volunteers with you. If you’re an active parishioner, invite your pastor and other volunteers to come with you.

What's included in the registration

Do I need to know who will attend before I register as a team?

You can confidently register your team using the same name for each ticket, and update it later once you’ve finalized your group.

You will need to update this closer to the conference (we will remind you via email to do this), but you do not need to have the names in your team confirmed in order to book your tickets today.

Can my family join the conference?

While we are unable to provide childcare as part of the conference, you are welcome to bring your family.

They can enjoy the amenities of the hotel (provided you have your accommodations booked there) and the local Sydney area while you experience all that the conference has to offer.

If anyone under 18 is joining the conference, they must be accompanied by the parent/guardian at all times.

Thanks for helping us spread the word! Download this promo pack for graphics, a poster, and copy you can use for your website, newsletter, social media, etc.

Would you consider helping Divine Renovation Ministry offset the cost of the conference and offer a registration fee bursary?

Please send us a note at [email protected] if you would like to sponsor a parish or group to attend the conference.