The recent annual conference of Catholic Education Administrators enabled leaders of education in the six dioceses, and leaders of NZCEO, NCRS and TCI to meet, discuss their work, and plan tasks for the future.  Bishop Charles Drennan attended the whole conference, and will take back a report to the NZCBC.

Bishop Michael Dooley opened the conference with a reflection on the spiritual formation of Catholic educators.  He spoke of the need for educators to continue their formation and for school leaders to ensure this happens for staff. Spiritual formation, according to Lonergan, is conversion of heart. “The Holy Spirit fills our hearts with love.” He gave four pillars for spiritual development: it is human – balanced, strong, free and able to bear the weight of responsibilities; spiritual – involving a life of prayer and spiritual mentorship; intellectual – gaining wisdom which opens the individual to know God, and having a developing knowledge of theology; pastoral – living by serving in community with a pastoral hear, not simply exercising authority.