Episodes
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Fifth Sunday of Easter - John 15:1-8 - 'The vine grower and the vine’ Roberta Hamilton is the Anglican Vicar of Yarrawonga, Diocese of Wangaratta. She has previously ministered in both the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn and the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne. Roberta is passionate about the Kingdom of God and its outworking in the lives of all around her. She cares deeply about social justice and has had a particular emphasis on the treatment of refugees.
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Fourth Sunday of Easter - John 10:11-18
Naomi is a trawloolway woman with Jewish German & Irish heritage. She is a proud aunty, sister and daughter along with being a kinship carer. She is a historian and theologian. She works at Australian Catholic University and NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community. NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community is an internationallearning community of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Elders, community, and students. Naomi worked previously for the University of Divinity as Indigenous Theologies Project Officer and more recently she was the inaugural First People’s Co-ordinator of the University’s newly created School of Indigenous Studies. She holds a Bachelor Arts and Bachelor of Teaching, Graduate Certificate Graduate Diploma in Divinity. She recently graduated with a Master of Theological Studies and will begin her PhD studies shortly exploring the idea of decolonizing theological education. Naomi has a commitment and interest in decolonising the disciplines of theology and history and working with people to transform church and society to better times.
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Third Sunday of Easter - Luke 24:35-48 - "The Resurrection for Transformation"
Maureen Gaul currently holds a position with the Identity and Outreach Directorate, Catholic Education Diocese of Cairns, as Leader Formation – Community Engagement. She has been an educator in the Catholic primary school sector throughout her teaching career and has held roles such as Assistant Principal Religious Education and Leader of Learning and Teaching. Her teaching experiences include multi-age classes in a small rural setting, as well as single-stream classes within large schools. She has spent time as a music specialist teacher and worked internationally in the United Kingdom for a short time.
Maureen lives in Far North Queensland, is married, and a mother to four young people who keep her agile. Maureen is connected to her local church community where she has engaged in parish life through various ministries, including leading Eucharistic Services in the absence of an ordained priest, Reading and Music Ministry. She has facilitated faith formation of young members through Children’s Liturgy and coordinated the Parish Sacramental programs. Maureen is currently working towards the attainment of her Master of Theological Studies.
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Second Sunday of Easter - Divine Mercy Sunday - John 20:19-31Tanya Wittwer lives on the lands of the Peramangk people with her songwriter husband, Leigh Newton, two alpacas and four chickens. Their elastic-sided family live within semi-regular Sunday-night-family-meal distance.
Sixty-three years ago Tanya perceived herself as being called to pastoral leadership in her church. When she was twelve she discovered ordination was not possible in the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand. Her subsequent dream of being a ballerina was probably delusional, and God has continued to keep her early calling alive. So she has the broad and shallow working life of one who cannot enter her vocation, having had coordination and management roles in community service, domestic violence prevention, nature conservation, chaplaincy and public health, and academic roles in counselling, community health and theology. Most recently she was holding administrative roles and teaching preaching, pastoral care, and research topics at the Adelaide College of Divinity.
After degrees in arts, education and religious education, Tanya completed a Master of Divinity at Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, and a PhD in homiletics through Flinders Uni.
She has been working with many others towards the ordination of women in the LCANZ church for the past forty or so years, and this effort has intensified in recent years. In late 2022 she edited “unless they are sent”, a collection of writings from the past forty-five years, affirming the ordination of women.
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Easter Sunday - Mark 16: 1-8 - And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Rev Assoc Prof Kylie Crabbe is a Minister of the Word in the Uniting Church and Associate Professor of Biblical and Early Christian Studies in the Institute for Religion and Critical Inquiry at Australian Catholic University. She was in congregational ministry prior to pursuing further academic work. Kylie joined ACU in late 2017 from the University of Oxford, where she undertook her doctorate and was Lecturer in Theology at Trinity College (2015-2017), Instructor in New Testament Greek for the Faculty of Theology and Religion (2016), and Assistant Welfare Dean at Trinity College (2017). She is also a member of ACU’s Gender and Women’s History Research Centre, and Chair of the Board of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy.
Kylie has published and taught widely in New Testament studies and Second Temple Judaism, including her 2019 monograph Luke/Acts and the End of History, and 2021, edited with John M.G. Barclay, The Reception of Jewish Tradition in the Social Imagination of the Early Christians and 2024, edited with David Lincicum, Divine and Human Love in Jewish and Christian Antiquity, forthcoming.
Kylie’s current research focuses on disability in early Christian literature and the contemporary legacy of how biblical passages about disability have been interpreted. She holds a current Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) from the Australian Research Council (2022-2025) for her project ‘Inside Others: Early Christian Protagonists and Their Impairments’ (DE220101054). In this work she is supported by a Project Reference Group of people with lived experience of disability, carers, and advocates.
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Palm Sunday - Mark 14:1-15:47Dr Catherine Playoust is a Roman Catholic laywoman and a biblical scholar. She comes from Sydney and lives in Melbourne, where she teaches at Catholic Theological College within the University of Divinity. Catherine’s research interests include early Jewish and Christian apocalypticism and non-canonical early Christian literature. Among her publications are works on John’s Gospel, gospel infancy traditions, the Acts of Thomas, the Revelation of the Magi, the letters of Paul, and the Letter to the Hebrews.
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Fifth Sunday of Lent - John 12: 20-33
Alison Ryan has worked with young people for all her working life, first in OOSH care and then in different Parish Ministry positions. And over the years those roles expanded to include adult faith formation.
Growing up in the Parramatta Diocese she calls St Anthony’s Parish Toongabbie her home. Now, working for the diocesan Mission Enhancement Team, Alison feels very blessed to serve the communities. She loves every day supporting Parishes and other local Catholic communities in pastoral planning, leadership development, parish renewal and adult faith formation.
Alison had a life changing experience in her 20’s studying the Bible with Jewish Rabbis and Christian scholars in Jerusalem which inspired her love of learning and teaching with the Bible. On her return to Australia, she completed a Bachelor of Theology at the Australian Catholic University, majoring in Biblical Studies and Theatre Studies!
Alison believes that relational ministry is the best resource we have as a Church when doing the work of mission. That it is vital to create spaces in our Church that are welcoming and encouraging, surrounded by authentic communities in safe and inclusive environments.
Alison is a disciple of Jesus, a lifelong learner and she finds joy walking the journey of discipleship with others. She loves talking all things faith and life, and can’t wait to share some of what she has learnt with you all.
Alison acknowledges Bishop Tom Wright and Fr Michael Fallon MSC for their commentaries which helped shape this reflection.
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Fourth Sunday of Lent - John 3:14-21
Born in Carlow, Ireland I had a traditional Irish Roman Catholic up-bringing and education. Having successfully completed an honours Baccalaureate in Arts and Theology (1996) at the Pontifical University, St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, I continued post-graduate studies in Theology and Biblical Studies at the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium (KULeuven, Belgium). There I was awarded a Master’s Degree in Theology and an STL in Sacred Scripture in 1999. In 2000, I successfully completed a Master of Science degree in Family and Sexuality Studies in the Faculty of Medicine of KULeuven, Belgium. Both my PhD and STD were defended at KULeuven in 2014.
In my career I have served a diocesan pastoral worker for the Archdiocese of Armagh in Ireland in a very varied role as well as Adjunct Lecturer and later Lecturer in Biblical Studies at All Hallows College in Dublin, Ireland, as well as Co-ordinator for the Office of Pastoral Renewal and Family Ministry (OPRFM) for the Archdiocese of Armagh. Part of my professional development while in post in Armagh included successfully completing my training as a professional facilitator with the Belgian Institute of Cultural Affairs’ outreach programme in Ireland.
I have worked as Lecturer in for Carlow College, Carlow, Ireland teaching Theology and Biblical Studies. Since August 2016, I have been working as Lecturer in Biblical Studies – teaching both the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures – at the Catholic Institute of Sydney and I am a founding member of the Sydney College of Divinity’s Centre for Gospels Research. Recently I have begun to seek out new opportunities beyond my role at CIS and welcome contact for future collaborations.
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3rd Sunday of Lent - John 2:13-25
Anne Frawley-Mangan is an experienced educator, presenter, pastoral worker, creative director and artist. She specialises in using The Arts to enhance liturgy, prayer and religious education. Anne presents, leads and prepares liturgy locally, nationally and internationally, and taught at Holy Spirit Seminary and Australian Catholic University for many years. She is presently on the Pastoral Team at All Saints Parish, Albany Creek.
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Second Sunday of Lent - Mark 9:2-10
Rev Dr Sarah Agnew, Minister in the Uniting Church in Australia (UCA) is a poet and liturgist, storyteller and biblical scholar.
Though her favourite role in life is ‘Aunt Sarah,’ Sarah also takes joy in her placement with the delightful Christ Church Uniting, Wayville, on Kaurna Land, teaching at Uniting College for Leadership and Theology, and participating in the Network of Biblical Storytellers and their Scholars Seminar (nbsint.org). Sarah composes liturgy and prayers for Words for Worship (MediaCom Education) and her own Pray the Story series, and her poetry collections include Whisper on My Palm (2022) and Hold Them Close (2018). Find more at sarahagnew.com.au
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First Sunday of Lent - Mark 1: 12-15 -Proclaiming the Kin-dom of GodElizabeth Dowling is a Sister of Mercy who lives in Ballarat, Victoria. She has a lifelong commitment to education, working in secondary, tertiary and adult education settings. After completing doctoral studies in 2005, Elizabeth lectured in Biblical Studies at Australian Catholic University for ten years. She has published a monograph, Taking Away the Pound: Women, Theology and the Parable of the Pounds in the Gospel of Luke (London: T&T Clark International, 2007), and many journal articles and book chapters on the gospels, particularly the Gospel of Luke. Currently, she is offering biblical workshops and retreats across the country.
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Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Mark 1:40-45 - Indignant Hearts
Rev Dr Megan Powell du Toit is an ordained Baptist minister. She has been preaching for 25 years. She has worked as an editor, academic and pastor. She is currently the Senior Pastor of Rouse Hill Baptist Church in Sydney. She also co-hosts a podcast With All Due Respect with Anglican minister Rev Dr Michael Jensen, which is part of their broader venture, The WADR Project.
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Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Mark 1:29-39
Vicky Gonzalez Burrows is a mother of a 1 and 3 year old, with two teenage step children living in Whadjuk Noongar country, Perth Western Australia and is married to Ed. She is the Executive Director of Mission and Ethos at MercyCare which is an early learning, community services and aged care organisation in the Mercy spirit.
She is a spiritual director, vice president of Spiritual Care Australia and enjoys singing and dancing and being with friends and family. Prior to working at MercyCare Vicky was Director of Aboriginal Catholic Ministry and lecturing in Social Justice at the University of Notre Dame Australia and has a background in Prison Chaplaincy, youth work and reconciliation. She has completed a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Politics and International Relations and a Masters of theological Studies.
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Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Mark 1:21-28Dawn LaValle Norman is a Senior Research Fellow at Australian Catholic University’s Institute for Religion and Critical Inquiry in Melbourne. She grew up in the US and spent some years in the UK before moving to Australia in 2017. Her research focuses on the role that women play in philosophical conversations, from antiquity up through early Christianity. She is the author of two books and multiple articles about early Christianity. For more information, you can check out her website: www.dawnlavallenorman.com
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Third Sunday of Ordinary Time - Mark 1:14-20
Angela has been active in her faith from a young age. From music ministry as a child, to YCS in her youth and with her own ministry business as an adult, Angela has always had a passion to proclaim the Good News of Christ to others, in whatever means available to her, as God has provided. With background studies in Education, Music and Theology, Angela directs her ministry business Shine Creations, currently in its 23rd year. This ministry has provided music and liturgical consultancy across Western Australia, including work at a diocesan, parish, school and individual level. Angela brings information, enthusiasm, joy and grounded experience to all she does. A musician, vocalist and composer, Angela uses her gifts to draw people to Jesus, predominantly through the celebration of Liturgy. Married to Andrew and mother to Abby and Aaron, Angela is active in her local parish, school and wider community together with her family – offering hospitality at every opportunity.
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Second Sunday in Ordinary Time - John 1:35-42
In recent years Anne Dowliong discovered that she is autistic and has ADHD which made sense of many of her struggles and ways of being in the world. She delights in being an aunt and great aunt.
After many years as a Senior Pastoral Associate and as a Deanery Resource Coordinator Anne is no longer in paid employment. She has a number of roles in the Union of Catholic Apostolate (Pallottine Family) (UAC) in Australia. She’s a member of the Leadership Team of the Association of Pastoral Ministry Leaders – Melbourne and a member of Catalyst for Renewal.
In 1983 Anne began formation with the Mariana Community, an autonomous secular group within the UAC. It was founded in Melbourne in 1957 by lay women who wanted to strive to live a life of love in and for the world.
Her consecration was in 1987 – the year she volunteered at Pallotti College Millgrove.
For many years Anne studied part time while teaching in Catholic Primary Schools, including five years as a Principal, and then ministering as a Pastoral Associate in parishes. Her studies were in education, theology and ministry. 1986 was full-time at the National Pastoral Institute. In 1996 Anne had a different experience of Church, commissioned as Pastoral Leader of two parishes without a resident priest in Townsville Diocese.Anne participates in a group with an exercise physiologist, gardens, reads, barracks for the Magpies and the Cowboys, and on X tries to engage in polite conversation with Rad Trads.
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The Epiphany of the Lord - Matthew 2:1-12Trish is a retired teacher and has been a senior leader in Catholic Education in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania, most recently as Director of Catholic Education Tasmania.
She has a lifelong interest in justice, peace and ecology and in 2022 her book ‘Ecological Spirituality: Caring for our Common Home’ was published by Garratt Publications’. Trish is an active member of Burnie Catholic parish, a life member of Women and the Australian Church (WATAC) and co-founder of ‘Concerned Catholics Tasmania’. She has an ongoing involvement in spiritual formation, adult education and the Tasmanian St Vincent de Paul Society.
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Holy Family - Luke 2:22-40
Marian is married to Michael and has three children and three grandchildren. She is a cradle Anglican whose call to ordained ministry, is associated with her study of Paul’s letters. Marian was a founding member and coordinator of MOW Brisbane and was very engaged in the struggle to change the Anglican church’s attitude towards the ordination of women.
Marian has BA (Psychology) a Dip. Ed (Primary) and a Phd (New Testament). It was when she was a Community Worker in Christchurch New Zealand, that she experienced a growing sense that she was called to respond to the spiritual needs of the community. From that, emerged a vocation to the priesthood.
Marian was ordained priest in Brisbane in 1995, in the third group of women to be ordained in this Diocese. She has served in three Parishes – Rosewood, Toowong and Hamilton - and has held many Diocesan and National positions. Having a Phd has meant that she has also been able to pursue her love of teaching and has taught for over 20 years at St Francis Theological College – the Letters of Paul, Anglican Liturgy, Introduction to the New Testament, The Synoptics and the Johannine Literature.
Now retired from Parish ministry, Marian continues to serve in her local parish and on the Cathedral chapter. Retirement projects include gardening (fruit and vegetables), sewing, learning Italian and minding the grandchildren.
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Fourth Sunday of Advent - Luke 1:26-38
Myree Sam is a proud Sui-Baydham woman from Saibai and a proud fluent speaker of Kalaw Kawaw Ya. In her role as a consultant in Catholic Education Services: First Nations Education, Myree has played a pivotal role in providing equitable education opportunities within the Cairns Diocese. Her responsibilities include fostering cultural responsiveness, supporting First Nations language programs, and collaborating with external stakeholders to achieve synodality, with a focus on community partnership and engagement. She is a member of the Bilingual Education Working Group for the National Catholic Education Commission. Myree holds a Bachelor of Education from Australian Catholic University, majoring in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education.
Translation of text to English (Luke 1:26-38 NRSVCE - Biblegateway.com)
The Birth of Jesus ForetoldIn the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”[a] 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
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Third Sunday of Advent - John 1:6-8, 19-28
Anne McLean grew up and was educated by the Sisters of Mercy and the Sisters of St Joseph in Bathurst. After a time of teaching in the Western suburbs of Sydney, Anne came to Mudgee. She and her late husband, David, cared for and nurtured their 10 children in Mudgee NSW. When their children began school at St Matthews, David and Anne began their involvement in their education. Anne represented parents of children in Catholic schools at local, diocesan, state and National levels. She has been involved in her local Parish, including Sacramental Programs and various other ministries; she was also member of the Diocesan Pastoral Council. It is with humility and hope that she shares her being received ‘Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice’, an honour awarded by the Pope to members of the clergy and laity for service to the Catholic Church.
Born in Coonabarabran, Alice Sullivan RSJ is a Sister of St Joseph living in Bathurst. Alice was a primary school teacher in the Diocese of Bathurst for many years and was also involved in youth ministry with her sister, Maria Sullivan RSJ in the Bathurst diocese. After a 5 year period managing a refuge in Sydney, Alice returned to the Bathurst diocese where for 15 years she was the Pastoral Associate in Mudgee. Alice is now involved as a volunteer in ministries in the Cathedral Parish in Bathurst. While in Mudgee, Anne, Alice and Annie Flynn (inaugural participant and collaborator on the development of the book by the same name) developed a program called “Conversations about Catholics” to assist young families navigating the faith journey in their children’s lives. This program has been shared with many dioceses and has been a resource which seems to help people in this journey. A link to the program is on the Diocese of Bathurst website.
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