Sr. Philomena Burrell pbvm

Sr. Philomena Burrell pbvm is the Director of the Maranatha Centre for Adult Faith Formation in the Archdiocese of Perth. A member of the Congregation of Presentation Sisters she has over forty years teaching experience and was a member of the Catholic Institute of WA staff teaching at Curtin and Edith Cowan Universities before taking up her present position. Sister has a Bachelor of Arts Degree, a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership and a Graduate Diploma of Ministry

Fr Stephen Astill sj

Fr Stephen Astill sj is a Jesuit priest who enjoys a good conversation, especially on current affairs. He has studied language, education and divinity. In 1992, he went to Nigeria and stayed for 17 years as Chaplain to a large government hospital and College of Medicine in Lagos. There he developed a passion for Scripture, thanks to the students and patients. He held national positions for students and youth, for the Jesuits in Social Justice and the African Jesuit AIDS Network. He has been back in Perth since 2010, working in the Medical School of Notre Dame University, and is also Parish Priest of the East Fremantle Parish.

Mr John Auer

Mr John Auer holds degrees from the Universities of Melbourne, Stanford and Chicago and has been actively involved in the Christian Meditation Community for more than twenty years. He is an experienced spiritual director having studied at the Ignation Spirituality Centre in London, as well as at York (UK). He leads retreats, workshops and days of reflection on the themes of Contemplative and Ignatian Spirituality, and presents for the Christian Meditation Community and Benedictine Community at New Norcia.

Sr. Shelley Barlow rndm

Sr. Jacqueline Jones sja

Sr Jacqueline Jones is a member of the Congregation of Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition. She is a practising Registered Psychologist with a background in General Nursing and is currently completing a Masters Degree in Spirituality through the University of Malta. Apart from her work here in WA Sister has presented workshops in Tunis, Rome and Malta. Her Workshops have significant value for those interested in understanding themselves and/or living in long term relationships.

Dr Michelle Jones

Dr Michelle Jones delights in being immersed in the Church’s theological tradition. She is particularly passionate about the desert spirituality of the early Church and Carmelite spirituality, and is interested in how the wisdom from these contemplative traditions can be lived today. Michelle has a Bachelor of Arts (English Literature and Theology) and a Masters in Theology from the University of Notre Dame Australia. She has a Baccalaureate in Theology and a Licence in Spiritual Theology from the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas (the Angelicum) in Rome and  a Doctorate in Spiritual Theology from the Angelicum.

Fr. Paschal Kearney cssp

Fr. Paschal Kearney cssp is a member of the Congregation ofthe Holy Spirit. He spent thirty four years ministering in Nigeriaand Sierra Leone. His pastoral work was directed mainly to theestablishment of Small Christian Communities. During this time Paschal was a part-time staff member of the National PastoralCentre and for several years was Chairperson of the National Commission for Justice and Peace. After returning to Ireland hewas engaged in retreat work before coming to Western Australia where he was Parish Priest of Albany for six years.

Mrs Jan O’Connor

Mrs Jan O’Connor, a teacher and Principal for many years in Catholic Education, has also worked with the Catechist Service in the area of Adult Faith Education. She holds a Diploma of Teaching, a Bachelor of Education[Rel. Educ.], and a Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies [M] from the Sydney College of Divinity. Jan’s main focus has been the writing and presentation of Scripture courses, the teaching of Sacramental Theology, and Spirituality.

Fr. Joseph Parkinson

Fr. Joseph Parkinson is the Director of the LJ Goody Bioethics Centre. He holds a Licentiate in Moral Theology from the Alphonsian Academy in Rome and a PhD in Moral Theology from NDA. He sits on three Ethics Committees at the department of Health (WA) as well as Ethics committees of St John of God and Mercy Hospitals.

Administration Staff

Mrs. Tracy Stevens

Mr. Bill Bellair