SYNOD ENGAGEMENT TEAM
Most Rev. Tim Norton SVD
Synod Chair
Hi, I'm Bishop Tim Norton SVD and I was ordained as Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Brisbane in the Cathedral. I am a former Australian leader of the Divine Word Missionaries (SVD’s), for whom I was ordained a priest in 1991. Educated at Eastwood Catholic Primary and Marist Brothers Eastwood in Sydney, I completed a Bachelor of Applied Science in Physiotherapy at the Cumberland College of Health Sciences. I used those skills working part-time as a physiotherapist at Pentridge prison while studying in the Divine Word Missionaries seminary in Melbourne.
After I was ordained, I spent my first five years as a priest in Mexico City. In 1997, I returned to Melbourne to study for a postgraduate degree in Spiritual Direction before serving as the SVD’s prefect for theology students and novice and postulant director in Melbourne and Sydney from 1998 to 2004. I then served as leader of the SVD Australian province from 2005-2013. In that role, I also oversaw the Divine Word Missionaries’ work in New Zealand and Thailand. From 2014-2021, I ministered in Nemi, Italy, assisting consecrated women and men in the teachings of interculturality.
I have brought that intense interest in interculturality and the mission of God in the world to the Brisbane Archdiocese, which spans most of southeast Queensland. The Archdiocese takes in more than 90 parishes, from the southern border with New South Wales, north to Hervey Bay and west to Kingaroy and Gatton. The Archdiocese includes Brisbane Catholic Education, with its 146 schools and more than 75,000 students, along with its social services arm Centacare.
My hope for SYNOD24 is that we come together and listen to each other, particularly those whose voices may not have been heard up until this point, in order to move forward in mission as an Archdiocese.
Steph Unger
Synod Executive Officer
Hi, my name is Steph and recently started in two roles in the Archdiocese of Brisbane: Synod Executive Officer in the Episcopal Office and Project Officer for the Inclusion Team in Evangelisation Brisbane. I am mum to a beautiful 4 year old, a Christian singer-songwriter, youth leader and teacher, and have a passion for empowering and inspiring others to be all they have been created to be. Before taking on these two new roles I was an Education Officer: Catholic Identity for Brisbane Catholic Education and spent 6 years working alongside young people, teachers and APsRE in designing, shaping and facilitating the BCE approach to Student Formation and Youth Ministry.
I feel like I have hit the jackpot working with Bishop Tim and the Synod Teams on Synod24 and with the Inclusion Team on the Refugee Sponsorship Initiative. I am surrounded by passionate, faith-filled and hope-filled people and for me that is a real gift.
My hope and prayer for Synod24 is that those who have previously felt disconnected, unheard and/or excluded from the church feel seen, heard, valued and loved.
Paul Jensen
Synod Facilitator
Hi everyone!
I am an immigrant, having migrated to Darwin Australia from PNG and Denmark in 1974. I have been married to Karen for 34 years and we have 3 adult children and 1 grandchild. When I get the chance, I enjoy exercise, mountain bike riding and surfing.
I served as a Minister of the Word with the Uniting Church for 18 years, relinquished my ordination, was received into the Catholic Church in 2011 and ordained a Deacon in November 2023.
I have been registered as a psychologist for 20 years working across diverse psychological settings including with men who have been custodians of corrective services and perpetrated domestic violence. I have also been CEO of 3 not-for-profit organisations and am currently working in two part time roles; as Director of Mission and Formation at Centacare Brisbane and Pastoral Director of the Holy Spirit Seminary Banyo.
I worship at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Coorparoo.
I’m hoping that Synod 2024 will assist us to respond effectively to the 10 decrees and to move forward together with Good News.
Immaculate Vuciri
Synod Facilitator
Hi, my name is Immaculate Vuciri, I am a Uni student studying a Bachelor of Laws/Arts. I like to read, dance and spend time with family and friends. I am passionate about giving others a voice and currently work in student engagement.
My one hope for Synod24 is that it is an eye opener for us as a Catholic community that allows us to take the steps to move forward and build a Christ-centred environment that promotes inclusivity, celebrates diversity, and cultivates hope.
Mary Macuga
Synod Executive Officer
Hi, my name is Mary and I was named the Director of the Catholic Foundation in 2014, overseeing fundraising, communications and marketing for the Archdiocese of Brisbane and Centacare Social Services. I am a Certified Fundraising Executive and am especially passionate about bringing people together to help Catholic parishes, ministries, and agencies expand their capacity to care.
Liliana Ortiz
Synod Engagement Team
Born and raised in Colombia, I am the Multicultural Pastoral Care Project Officer for Evangelisation Brisbane, bringing a wealth of personal experience and a deep faith to my new role.
I have been an active member of the Latin American Catholic Community in Brisbane for over 15 years, serving in various roles throughout this time including as the Coordinator of Evangelisation Ministry.
As a migrant myself, I feel passionate about inclusion and interculturalism. I understand the challenges of starting a new life in a different country including the limitations of not being able to speak the language, not knowing the culture of the new country and not feeling welcome. Because of this, I dream of building a society and Church where we all feel included, have a sense of belonging, and have the same opportunities, regardless of our heritage or background.
My hope for Synod24 is that we are able to come up with concrete actions which will help the integration of the Catholic Cultural Communities with the local parishes and the wider community in the Archdiocese of Brisbane.
Las comunidades culturales católicas nos unimos en oración por el éxito del Sínodo 2024.
Dr Maeve Heaney
Synod Engagement Team
Hi, I am Dr Maeve Heaney, and I am the Director of the Xavier Centre for Theological Formation at Australian Catholic University, and a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Theology and Philosophy. Born in Dublin, Ireland, I am a consecrated missionary of a Catholic Institute for consecrated life, the Verbum Dei Community. I completed my Bachelors in theology at the Instituto Teológico San Pablo Apóstol, in Madrid, affiliated to the Pontifical Urbanian University, and my licentiate and doctorate at the Pontifical Gregorian University, in Rome. During that time, I taught both at the Gregorian and at the Rome Base of the Catholic University of Dallas. I was also Bannan Fellow 2011-2012 at Santa Clara University, California, teaching at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley. As a musician and composer, I interweave the fields of theological aesthetics, spirituality and the arts.
Fr Will Aupito Iuliano
Synod Engagement Team
My name is William Aupito Iuliano. I am a priest of the Archdiocese of Brisbane currently looking after Dutton Park, South Brisbane, and Chaplain to Emmanuel Community. I was born in New Zealand and moved to Melbourne at a young age.
I did all my schooling in Victoria before I joined NET Ministries Australia (National Evangelisation Teams) and served two years in the Cairns diocese. After my time with NET Ministries, I spent a year in Canali House, the discernment house in Brisbane for men considering priesthood, and later joined Holy Spirit Seminary in 2015. My years at the seminary were formative and I made many connections with characters and organisations of the diocese. I was famously ordained just before the snap lockdown of June 2021.
My ministry as priest has been interesting having served in Gympie, Maroochydore and now Dutton Park/South Brisbane all in a short amount of time. I’m hopeful that my experience on the ground, having listened to and responded to different matters within the Parish, can aid in putting together something concrete and exciting for our Archdiocese into the future. I trust in the work that the Holy Spirit is doing and I’m blessed to be part of the process.
Joni McCourt
Synod Engagement Team
Hi, my name is Joni and I am a proud Aboriginal Barrunggum woman ( Dalby /Chinchilla area). My father is Aboriginal.
I am a country girl; I was born and grew up in Central Western Queensland - the small remote town of Muttaburra – the town was named after the aboriginal tribe Iningai People or also known as Mootaburra tribe; an aboriginal word meaning ‘the meeting of waters.’
Our people have a lot to offer our nation, spiritually and culturally. I am so excited that Archbishop has included ‘Engaging anew with First Nations Peoples" as one of his seven priorities. It has given fresh hope with the Endorsement of the Statement of the Heart and the implementation of the RAP, and it is my hope that First Nations Peoples will be fully embraced in the life of the Catholic Church, connecting with First Nations Peoples, and building stronger relationships.
I am ever so grateful to have the opportunity to support the Archdiocese of Brisbane as the Reconciliation Action Plan Project Manager on their journey to engage with parishes, agencies, and communities to continue the role with the implementation of the RAP.
Ravina Waldren
Synod Engagement Team
My name is Ravina and I am a proud Gubbi Gubbi woman based in Meanjin, grounded in prayer, justice, truth and a strong advocate for Reconciliation for First Nations Peoples. I work ecumenically at a grassroots level with Aboriginal Christian Leaders to strengthen and create a foundation of Hope for Christian Unity.
Throughout Synod24 I will strive to be the voice that represents our people and to create a culturally safe space that amplifies the voices of First Nations People. I am also looking forward to encouraging people to have dialogue and to deepen their spiritual connection with their faith.
Eric Robinson
Synod Engagement Team
Hi my name is Eric and I am the Associate Director, Inclusion (Plenary Council Coordinator). With over twenty years’ experience in youth ministry, leadership formation, event management and advocacy, I am dedicated to creating greater pathways of inclusion within the Catholic Church. I am an experienced leader, group facilitator and mentor, with a passion for equity and justice.
I have a lifelong commitment to an inclusive Church that welcomes marginalised groups and champions the many benefits of diversity. I currently lead the Inclusion unit within Evangelisation Brisbane which is tasked with the work of Justice, Ecology and Peace, Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, Multicultural Pastoral Care, driving the Reconciliation Action Plan, coordination of the Refugee Sponsorship initiative and Archdiocesan Laudato Si’ Action Plan.
Having been deeply invested in the Plenary journey since 2018 I am filled with hope for this next step in our synodal journey together. Thousands of people faithfully entered into the process of listening, dialogue and discernment followed by the two general assemblies. To now be at a point where we will hopefully see clear actions aligned with each Plenary decree is welcomed and needed. The Holy Spirit can be the great disrupter, and I don’t expect that to change in the months ahead.
Kym Keady
Synod Engagement Team
My name is Kym and I am the Director of Ignite Youth and a senior leader of the Emmanuel Community in Brisbane. I have 30 years ministry experience working in a variety of settings the Catholic Church; from youth ministry to pastoral care, event planning, leadership formation, women’s ministry and community building. As a counsellor, speaker, theology student, wife, mum and Nana, I am passionate about communicating the gospel in authentic and relevant ways especially to young people.
My driving value is my family, which fuels my ongoing passion to renew the Church for future generations.
One thing I am hopeful about for SYNOD24 is putting vision/dreams into action so we can continue to fulfil our call to renew the Church for generations to come.
Mary To
Synod Engagement Team
Hi, my name is Mary and I come from Vietnam. I am currently a Pastoral Committee member for the Vietnamese Catholic Community Archdiocese of Brisbane. I’m also the Catechist & leader for Vietnamese Eucharist Youth Movement Inala.
I hope and pray that Synod24 will help us to be ready in service of hope, joy and mission of the Risen Christ.
Very Rev. Peter Dillon
Synod Engagement Team
Hi, I'm Fr Peter Dillon and I am the Vicar for Administration. I was ordained in Brisbane on 29 June, 1979 and my first appointment was at St Bernard’s Catholic Parish, Upper Mt Gravatt as Assistant Priest. Since then I have ministered at many Parishes in the Archdiocese including Wavell Heights, Zillmere, Surfers Paradise, Buranda, Southport, Ipswich, Murgon and as Dean at the Cathedral of St Stephen. I have also held leadership positions as the Dean for the Central, South Country and South Coast Deaneries.
I have served the Archdiocese in many ways including as Director of Centacare, on the Council of Priests and a member of the Archdiocesan Development Fund Board. While serving as a member of the National Year of the Family Council, I received an Advance Australia Award for my work with families and communities.
Most recently in 2023, I was appointed as the Vicar for Administration for the Archdiocese of Brisbane overseeing the governance of Agencies including Centacare, Brisbane Catholic Education, Evangelisation Brisbane, Archdiocesan Services and Legal, Governance and Risk within the Archdiocese.
When reflecting about the Synod process I believe that in order to hear what the Holy Spirit has to say to us, we need to stop talking at God for a while, so God can get a word in. It’s only recently that the insights that come with silence have spoken so loudly to us. As difficult as the discipline of silence can be, only when we have practiced it in a world of noise, do we realise what a rich gift silence can be.
SYNOD WRITING TEAM
Fr Ormond Rush
Synod Writing Team
Hi, I am Fr Orm and I am a priest of the diocese of Townsville, Australia, with a doctorate in theology from the Gregorian University, Rome. I taught theology at the former Pius XII Provincial Seminary in Banyo, Australia, from 1991 to 2000, was appointed Dean of the ecumenical consortium, the Brisbane College of Theology, from 1998 to 2001, and President of St Paul’s Theological College, Banyo, from 2001 to 2006. I was elected President of the Australian Catholic Theological Association for three terms from 2007-2010 and currently lectures in theology at the Brisbane campus of ACU.
Alice Carwardine
Synod Writing Team
Hi, my name is Alice and I am the coordinator of Caritas Catholic Earthcare, an organization committed to addressing environmental issues through Catholic social teaching. I hold a Master's degree in theology with a focus in eco-theology, reflecting my passion for the intersection between faith and care for the planet. In 2018, after successfully transitioning to a zero-waste lifestyle, I began sharing my knowledge and experience by running professional development workshops for schools. Currently, I am a member of the Laudato Si' action platform working group, collaborating with the Dicastery for Promoting Human Integral Development to implement Pope Francis's environmental encyclical.
My hope for Synod24 is that the process will help bring others to ecological conversion and a systemic approach to ecological justice within the Brisbane Archdiocese.
Bradley Jarro
Synod Writing Team
I am a very proud descendant of the Bidjara and Ghungalu peoples of Central QLD, with both current and historic family connections to the QLD Aboriginal communities of Cherbourg and Woorabinda. I have worked with Catholic Education since 2006, in a number of teaching and leadership roles, in schools and at a system level across the Brisbane Archdiocese and Rockhampton Diocese. I am currently the Centre Manager of Ngutana-Lui – Brisbane Catholic Education’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Studies Centre in Inala. Throughout the past 6 years, the primary focus of my work has been on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education, not only working across systems to strengthen education, support, cultural identity and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and families, but also ensuring opportunities are available for non-Indigenous peoples, staff and students, to grow in their appreciation, respect, knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and our histories, cultures and spiritualties. It is through this lens, that I hope to ensure the many voices, knowledge, and wisdom of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples throughout the Archdiocese of Brisbane can feature prominently in the Implementation Phase of the Plenary Council, and ensure the Church can become ‘fully what Jesus wants us to be’ and our contributions as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are ‘joyfully received by others within the Church’.
Dr Danielle Anne Lynch
Synod Writing Team
Hi, I am Danielle and I am a theologian, musician, and teacher. My work in systematic theology encompasses Theology, Music, and Songwriting. I also work in Mission, Liturgy, Religious Identity and Culture, Formation, and Religious Education. My book on music and theology God in Sound and Silence: Music as Theology was published in 2018. I have released an album of original songs, Into Silence, and a mass setting, Mass For All Of Us. I hope that Synod24 facilitates an encounter with the Spirit as She moves through our reading of the signs of the times to renew the Gospel for the Archdiocese of Brisbane today.
Samantha Hill
Synod Writing Team
Hi, I'm Sam. Growing up in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle and living in the Archdiocese for the past 5 years, I've been immersed in community engagement and service from an early age. With a background in social outreach, mission formation, family ministry, and youth ministry across church and charity organizations, I'm committed to fostering unity, understanding, and inclusivity.
As we approach Synod24, I envision a spirit-led synod that embraces the future progression of our church while remaining responsive to the needs of our Archdiocese and the broader community.
Deacon Peter Pellicaan PhD
Synod Writing Team
Hi, I am Deacon Peter and I am the Executive Director of Evangelisation Brisbane, the Archdiocesan Agency commissioned to work with, inspire and empower parishes and communities to encounter Jesus and live the joy of the gospel. I am married with five children and have a Bachelor of Ministries, a Graduate Diploma in Education, a Masters in Educational Leadership, and a Ph.D. in theology from the University of Notre Dame Australia. I have over twenty years of experience in leadership in the Church and brings a great deal of enthusiasm to the evangelising mission of the Church.
My hope for Synod24 is that it develops clear and practical outcomes and initiatives through a truly collaborative and synodal process that helps our Church become more like Jesus.
Br Damien Price
Synod Writing Team
Hi, my name is Damien (otherwise known as "Pricey") and I'm a Christian Brother of the Oceania Province. I live in a Brothers' community in Brisbane and was a member of the Plenary Council Writing Team for "Joyful, hope-filled and servant community!".
I have been involved in Youth Ministry for over forty years, was the National Antioch Chaplain, have accompanied young people to three World Youth Days, taught in numerous Catholic Schools in the Edmund Rice tradition and I have written extensively and facilitated Professional Development in the area of Spirituality and Pastoral ministry. My Ph D looked at the meaning making young adults engaged in as they worked with homeless people over an extended period of time.
My hope is that Synod24 will enthuse the people of the Archdiocese with hope for the future and a real sense of the power of the missionary disciple.
Pat Mullins
Synod Writing Team
I am Pat Mullins and I am a solicitor and canon lawyer, who is the Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Brisbane. One hope for Synod24 is that it will empower the lay faithful to full and active participation in the apostolate, which is their right and duty according to both canon law and the authentic magisterium of Vatican II.
Dr Clare Schwantes
Synod Writing Team
Hi, I am Dr Clare Schwantes and I was appointed Director at Liturgy Brisbane in 2023 after fulfilling the role of Editor since 2012. I prepare annual publications such as the Ordo and the Daily Mass Book on behalf of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, as well as Break Open the Word and Praying Together with Young People. I am also responsible for the design and ongoing evolution of the electronic liturgy planning program, Liturgia, which is used widely in schools and parishes around Australia. I have a PhD from the University of Queensland, a Master of Theological Studies (Liturgy), Bachelors of Education and Psychology, and diplomas in Editing and Publishing. I am the Chair of the National Liturgical Council, secretary of the Brisbane Archdiocesan Commission on the Liturgy, a member of the Australian Academy of Liturgy and is on the editorial board of the quarterly journal, Liturgy News. My hope for the Synod is that the decrees of the Plenary Council can now be implemented in visible and actionable ways which promote inclusion, belonging and participation and which build up the missionary work of the Church in the Archdiocese of Brisbane.
Chantale Wilson
Synod Writing Team
Hi, my name is Chantale and I am the Associate Director, Children and Families with Evangelisation Brisbane and has been engaged in work and ministry to children and families for over 30 years. I have qualifications in Early Childhood, Primary and Religious Education and experience in coordinating Catholic children’s ministry in a wide variety of settings. I am dedicated to creating opportunities for children and their parents to encounter Jesus and find their home of faith in the Church.
My hope and prayer for SYNOD24 is that we will be open to the power of the Holy Spirit working in us and through us to ‘make all things new,’ and that this Synod heralds a new springtime in our Archdiocese – a season of life and mission – so that countless others may encounter Jesus and find their home among us.