BackCouncil of Australasian Catholics (CAC)
(formerly Australasian Catholic Coalition for Church Reform)
and Garratt Publishing invite you to
THE CHANGING FACE OF CATHOLICISM
Webinar
Thursday 8 October 2026
7:00 pm (AEDT)
There are many different streams in lay Catholicism, represented by various types of formal and informal group activities.
This webinar will provide representatives of a selected range of groups – old and new, big and small – the opportunity to introduce themselves by speaking to their essential principles and driving forces. Some focus outwards and others inwards, some on social justice and/or education ministries; others on dialogue and/or spirituality. They all represent the changing face of modern Catholicism in Australasia.
The panel will feature Margaret Bounader – Association of Ministerial Public Juridic Persons (AMPJP), Denise Playoust – Catalyst for Renewal, Jo Ayers and John Collins – Rongopai Eucharistic Community, John Scoble – St Lucia Spirituality, Petra Ball and Terry McDevitt – Teams of Our Lady, and Mark Gaetani – St Vincent de Paul Society.
John Warhurst will moderate the event.
We look forward to you joining us.
EVENT DETAILS
TIME: 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm AEDT*
WHERE: Via Zoom
COST: Free
REGISTRATION:
Click on the REGISTER HERE button below.
Online registration is essential. Zoom meeting details will be forwarded upon registration.
The presentation will be recorded and made available the week following the session. We will send an email with details on how to access the video once it is available.
SPEAKERS
Margaret Bounader
Association of Ministerial Public Juridic Persons (AMPJP)
Margaret is the inaugural chair of Mercy Ministry Companions and a member of the AMPJP Council. For ten years she worked as an Australian diplomat holding Trade Commissioner positions in Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa and Nigeria.
Denise Playoust
Catalyst for Renewal
Denise is the president of Catalyst for Renewal based in Sydney. She is a retired science teacher and school administrator who in retirement has volunteered as a catechist and Vinnies interviewer among other community activities.
Jo Ayers
Rongopai Eucharistic Community
Josephine is a laywoman who has studied and taught liturgy in parishes, training colleges, and universities. She holds a Masters Degree in Theology from Notre Dame University, Indiana.
John Collins
Rongopai Eucharistic Community
John chairs the coordinating group who serve the community. He is a retired medical specialist in Nephrology and Benedictine Oblate to the World Community of Christian Mediation.
John Scoble
St Lucia Spirituality
John lives with his wife in St Lucia, Brisbane. After growing up in a traditional Catholic family, over the past decade he has questioned and discarded some of his traditional beliefs, instead focusing on the essential elements of Christianity within a cosmic world view. John is the Co-Moderator of St Lucia Spirituality.
Petra Ball and Terry McDevitt
Teams of Our Lady
Petra and Terry are the Responsible Couple for Marriage Teams Oceania (since 2021). They have been members of ‘Teams’ for 25 years. Petra’s career has been within the humanitarian sector with international organisations. Terry’s work has been in health care and, most recently, in humanities and religious education.
Mark Gaetani
St Vincent de Paul Society
Mark joined St Vincent de Paul in 2016 and became Tasmanian State President from 2018 to 2022 and Australia’s National Council President in 2023. Most of his working career was devoted to banking and finance with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
MODERATOR
John Warhurst
John is a director of CAC and the founding chair of Concerned Catholics Canberra Goulburn. He writes for Eureka Street and Flashes of Insight.
*Starting times around Australia and New Zealand
ACT, NSW, TAS, VIC: 7:00 pm
NT: 5:30 pm
QLD: 6:00 pm
SA: 6:30 pm
WA: 4:00 pm
NZ: 9:00 pm
For other international times, see: https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/meeting.html
