Educational Governance

The future governance of Catholic schools has long been a personal passion and commitment of mine for more than twenty years. In 2016 I was invited to be one of the six inaugural Trustees of Dominican Education Australia, a ministerial public juridic person (MPJP) established by the Holy See. DEA is both a civil and canonical entity and has responsibility for the oversight of the governance of six incorporated Dominican educational ministries in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.

The Dominican ideal

is characterised by a commitment to truth,

explored in dialogue,

a vibrant preaching of the Gospel,

a critical appreciation of culture and cultures

and a love of the beautiful.

Our goal in each of our educational ministries

is to foster these values, together with a spirit

of prayer and contemplation,

respect for the dignity and uniqueness

of each person

and the pursuit of excellence.

Dominican Education Australia is one of 13 MPJPs in Australia established by different religious institutes who founded and previously held responsibility for the governance of their schools. DEA was a founding member in 2016 of the Association of Ministerial Public Juridic Persons established. I represent DEA as a Director on the National Council. This is an exciting and supportive network of colleagues across Australia committed to exploring ways to support the Mission of MPJP’s in the broader Church and a lived expression of Pope Francis call to ‘synodality’.

At a state level, DEA is represented at meetings of the South Australian Commission of Catholic Schools (SACCS), and on the Boards of the Federation of Religious Institute and Ministerial PJP Catholic School Authorities in NSW and the ACT (‘the Federation’) and on Catholic Religious Ministerial Public Juridic Persons Victoria (CRMV Ltd) of which I am a Director  Representation on each of these state bodies ensures DEA has a voice for its ministries at a state level alongside each of the Diocesan Education systems.

Formation for Mission is a key priority for those entrusted with responsibility for the governance of Catholic ministries in an increasingly secular and corporatized world in which we operate today.

  Sr Julianna OP

AMPJP Council 2022

Symposium Dinner Retiring Chairs and Trustees