Few could argue that the Catholic Church has gone ‘off mission’. The tragedies and scandal of clerical child sexual abuse, and the cover-up by bishops, is symptomatic of a deeply ailing church.

The Plenary Council offers an unprecedented opportunity for the People of God to impact lasting and much needed reform to a Church many of us hold dear.

It’s in light of this that we are pleased to announce the publication of a new book Getting Back on Mission: Reforming our Church Together, published in conjunction with Catholics for Renewal.

This timely and crucial book builds on Garratt Publishing’s proud heritage of making ground-breaking calls for Church reform, even well before the Royal Commission; most notably with Bishop Geoffrey Robinson’s Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church: Reclaiming the Spirit of Jesus (all the way back in 2006 )and again with For Christ’s Sake: End Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church ... for Good in 2013.

Catholics for Renewal is a group of committed Catholics that has been advocating Church renewal for a decade. Legions of Catholics have supported its work, which has included surveys, open letters, articles, and public evidence at major government inquiries, including at the Royal Commission. You can learn more of this important group’s work by visiting their website here.

Along with Catholics for Renewal, we believe that the Church will change only if individual Catholics take up the challenge and drive that change. Many reform groups throughout Australia are doing just that.

Getting Back on Mission focuses on Jesus’ mission for the Church; it exposes dysfunctional governance involving a grave lack of accountability and transparency, and the exclusion of the People of God particularly women.

The book builds on the Catholics for Renewal’s submission to the Plenary Council and is a user-friendly resource for all Catholics wishing to engage in the ongoing reform of our Church. Its purpose is twofold; to get the Church ‘back on mission’, and to demonstrate how that can be achieved ‘together’. The reforms proposed are based on sound evidence and analysis. For Catholics wanting genuine renewal of their Church, this roadmap for change is a must-read and an essential companion book for the Plenary Council.

What are prominent Catholics Saying About Getting Back on Mission?

In the book’s foreword, Robert Fitzgerald AM, Former Commission at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, writes (in a personal capacity) 
 

The book has been reviewed by several prominent Catholics in Australia and around the world who share the message of hope for renewal. 
 

What’s in a cover… a message in the imagery

Characterising the book, He Qi’s cover painting After Resurrection depicts Jesus’ disciples – women and men – empowered by their new faith in the Risen Christ, setting out on God’s mission to bring the light of the Gospel to the world. It also suggests today’s disciples searching together for a way to make the Church a true sign of the Kingdom in the 21st century.

Readers are also presented with two photos at the beginning of the inside pages.  These images are sure to jar the faithful and present a clear picture of what type of Church the People of God in Australia may be seeking.

Join us for the book launch

All of us at Garratt Publishing, in partnership with Catholics for Renewal, invite you to the launch of Getting Back on Mission: Reforming our Church Together in Melbourne on Tuesday 17 September.

This important work will be launched officially by Francis Sullivan, former CEO of the Truth Justice and Healing Council, at what is sure to be an important milestone for the future of the Australian Catholic Church.

WHEN: Tuesday 17 September
TIME:  6.30 pm
WHERE:
The Oratory
Newman College
887 Swanston Street
Parkville, Vic 3052

Light refreshments will be provided from 6.30 pm.

To join us, simply email us at rsvp@garrattpublishing.com.au and place Getting Back on Mission Book Launch in the subject line.

A final note…

Getting Back on Mission: Reforming our Church Together is forward-looking and founded on trust in the Spirit – it is about hope. It’s with this in mind, and a desire for transparency the Bishops have so often spoken about, that ensures this book will be a must-read for anyone seeking to make an informed contribution to the Plenary Council.

Getting Back on Mission: Reforming our Church Together is available for pre-order until 30 September 2019 at the special price of $25.00 directly from Garratt Publishing. Click here to buy, or call Garratt Publishing on 1300 650 878.