BackCouncil of Australasian Catholics (CAC)
(formally Australasian Catholic Coalition for Church Reform)
and Garratt Publishing presented
LITURGY FOR THE MODERN CHURCH
Webinar
Thursday 23 April 2026
Where is liturgy at? How would you devise Liturgy for today’s church?
Experienced liturgists, Carmel Pilcher and Justin Stanwix, explored how Liturgy can be renewed to reflect the modern Church.
Offering fresh insights and suggestions for future directions, they highlighted the current generic nature of most liturgies and the lack of connection to the community. The conversation covered the importance of enculturating the liturgy for everybody, as well as Creation and the Eucharist.
The discussion also revisited the richness of the Eucharist itself – its unifying power, its meaning as sacred supper and heavenly banquet, and the way we should assemble at the supper table.
John Warhurst moderated the event.
A recording of the event is available to view below.
SPEAKERS
Carmel Pilcher
Carmel is a Sister of St Joseph, a Liturgy and Culture Consultant, and Educator based in Sydney, Dharug and Gundungurra country. She has worked extensively in many dioceses across Australia. In recent years, she taught liturgy and sacraments at the Pacific Regional Seminary in Suva, Fiji.
Carmel publishes extensively, both in Australia and overseas. She is currently involved in the liturgy component of the project: Vatican II, Legacy and Mandate, and is a member of the Fellowship of Scholars, based in the USA.
Justin Stanwix
Justin, a deacon in the Diocese of Wollongong, has been involved in liturgy since the Second Vatican Council. He worked with Archbishop Young, the lead Australian Bishop on liturgy at Vatican II, including trials of changes to the Liturgy in parish settings. He also assisted in the First National Liturgical Conference in Hobart in 1968. He speaks and writes regularly on liturgy and synodality. His website is www.assemblyandspace.com.au. He previously worked in commercial legal practice.
MODERATOR
John Warhurst AO
John was the foundation chair of Concerned Catholics Canberra Goulburn and was a member of the Plenary Council. He is now a director of the Council of Australasian Catholics. He writes monthly for Eureka Street and Flashes of Insight about religion and politics, church and society, the Catholic Church, and the struggle for church reform. John is Emeritus Professor of Political Science at the Australian National University.
RECORDING
