Dominican Education Conference 2019

Dominican Sisters from Australia and the Solomon Islands joined School Leaders and staffs from Dominican Education Australia (DEA) and Dominican heritage schools across Australia and New Zealand for the biannual Dominican Education Conference held in Invercargill, New Zealand from the 2- 4 October 2019.

The 2019 Theme for the conference was Gifted for the Journey with 160 participants. Keynote speakers, Sr Laurie Brink OP, scripture scholar from the US and Mr Brendan Spillane, a leadership coach from Western Australia, explored how we are each uniquely gifted for the journey as Gospel people for our ministry as educators in Catholic schools in the Dominican tradition. They each provided much food for thought with their presentations. Workshops further enhanced the Conference theme.

A highlight of the Conference was a visit to the Maori Marae  at the Bluff.  Here we were given a traditional welcome close to the site where in 1871, ten Dominican Sisters first arrived in New Zealand from Sion Hill, Dublin.

The Conference Eucharist was celebrated by Bishop Dooley of Dunedin in the Basilica. Students from local Dominican schools in Invercargill performed cultural dances during the presentation of the gifts.

Southland hospitality was in abundance throughout the Conference and many new connections were made and older ones renewed.

We look forward to reconnecting in 2021 in Adelaide.