ACPA now has 114 members and this year's Conference was an opportunity for them to come together for 3 days of fellowship, professional development and fun.
The Conference venue was the Marriott Hotel in College Street, near St Mary's Cathedral - overlooking Hyde Park
A beautiful Conference Mass was celebrated in the Crypt of St. Mary's Cathedral at 6.00pm on Thursday 10th September, with Cardinal George Pell presiding, and ACPA's Clergy members concelebrating.
The ACPA Awards for Excellence
were presented by Cardinal Pell at the Conference Dinner at the Marriott Hotel, following Mass. A full list of winners and judges comments is available here.
Guest Speaker for the Dinner was Australia's first Master Chef - Julie Goodwin.
Not only Australia's first Master Chef, Julie is also ACPA's first female guest speaker at a Conference Dinner!
Julie delighted the 140 dinner guests with a moving and entertaining expose of her journey through and to Master Chef 2009. She shared the trials and tribulations - as well as the joys and lessons - of four months away from her beloved family and friends and of 'instant fame'. You can read a bit about this inspiring woman on the Broken Bay Diocese Website http://www.dbb.org.au/news/Pages/TheEssentialIngredient-AFaiththatNourishes.aspx
Five outstanding members of ACPA were honoured for their work and dedication to Catholic Media and the Association by being awarded Life Membership of ACPA - they were....Fr Frank Freeman, Sr Miriam Lorenz, Dr Michael Cositigan, Fr Bob Wilkinson and Mr Pat McCarthy.
Fr Vonhogen rose to prominence in the days surrounding the death of Pope John Paul II as he recorded his thoughts and observations while in St Peter's Square as people prayed for the ailing Pontiff. He would regularly upload his musings on to the Internet, from where tens of thousands of people listened to them.
From that launching pad, Fr Vonhogen has, in addition to parish ministry, developed regular podcasts and is considered among the leaders, if not the leader, in the area of Catholic podcasting.
He is the founder and CEO of Star Quest Production Network, which hosts a number of shows, including his show, The Daily Breakfast, which tens of thousands of people around the world download each day. Fr Roddy delivered the Conference Keynote Address on Tuesday 8th September, enthralling and inspiring delegates and guests with the here and now of 'New Media for New Apostles' as well as the endless possibilities offered to us for Evangelisation by new technologies. Fr Roddy also took part in a Conference session on how those of us engaged in publishing and broader communications can utilise converging technologies in the mission of the Church. An amazingly energetic, inspiring and 'switched on' Pastor, Fr Roddy leaves our shores having given us much food for thought! Have a look at Fr Roddy's website: www.sqpn.com
ACPA gratefully acknowledges and thanks the following generous sponsors
of this year's Conference....
