Derek and Karen Boylen

Derek is a marriage counsellor and Director of the Centre for Life, Marriage and Family; an agency of the Archdiocese of Perth. He is also a sessional lecturer in the Discipline of Counselling at The University of Notre Dame (Fremantle). Karen is a practicing Speech Pathologist and mum. Together, Derek and Karen have co-ordinated marriage enrichment programs for couples and love sharing their experience of nurturing faith in the home. They have been married 18 years and together they have eight children.

Rev. Dr Charles Waddell

Fr Charles is a priest of the Archdiocese of Perth. He has recently published Jesus Matters (St Paul’s Publications). Fr Charles holds a PhD (USA) and an STL (Rome). He shares his life with a blind dog named Prego.

Mr Joe Tedesco

Though originally schooled in Computer and Information Science, completing a Bachelor of Science degree in 1998, Joe Tedesco turned to theological studies soon after, completing bachelor and masters level degrees in theology from UNDA and Murdoch University. These studies focused on various areas of theology including theological anthropology and biblical theology. While studying, Joe was involved in various ministry programs that allowed him to exercise his passion in faith formation aimed primarily at youth and young adults – presenting various talks and seminars at conferences and in parish settings. More recently, Joe has been involved in teaching introductory level theology at the University of Notre Dame to students of various ages and backgrounds, something he has now been involved in for 10 years. Currently he is also working on a thesis focusing on ‘Wisdom Literature’ and its relationship to moral theology. Along with his wife of 16 years and two young children, his life remains very vibrant and full.

Deacon Greg Lowe (WA Catholic Migrant Refugee Office)

Deacon Gregory Lowe is the inaugural Director of the new Western Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office (WACMRO). WACMRO seeks to promote the acceptance and settlement of migrants and refugees into Australia. It aspires to support migrants and refugees in a manner that upholds their dignity to enable them to feel a sense of welcome and belonging in the parish and broader community. Rev. Gregory was ordained deacon by Archbishop Hickey in 2006 for the Perth Archdiocese. Currently, he is the Parish Deacon in the Innaloo / Karrinyup parish where he conducts baptisms, marriages,
funerals and assists at the Sunday Mass.

Mrs Anita Finneran (Catholic Institute)

Anita is a lecturer at Catholic Institute of WA. She has a great passion and interest for Catholic Social Teaching, having recently been in the position of the role of Justice Educator WA & NT for Caritas Australia. She was also a State Youth Representative and a Trustee for the St Vincent de Paul Society in NSW and, prior to having children, spent a number of weeknights and weekends assisting with Night Patrol, Women’s and Children’s Refuge and Youth Vinnies initiatives, accompanied by her husband.

Anita’s background in education includes working in Catholic secondary schools for the past twenty years as a member of the Executive Team and Religious Education Coordinator. Along with Religious Education, she was also a teacher in English and Drama Studies and Social Justice Coordinator for both Sydney and Parramatta Dioceses.

Mr Joe Tedesco

Though originally schooled in Computer and Information Science, completing a Bachelor of Science degree in 1998, Joe Tedesco turned to theological studies soon after, completing bachelor and masters level degrees in theology from UNDA and Murdoch University. These studies focused on various areas of theology including theological anthropology and biblical theology. While studying, Joe was involved in various ministry programs that allowed him to exercise his passion in faith formation aimed primarily at youth and young adults – presenting various talks and seminars at conferences and in parish settings. More recently, Joe has been involved in teaching introductory level theology at the University of Notre Dame to students of various ages and backgrounds, something he has now been involved in for 10 years. Currently he is also working on a thesis focusing on ‘Wisdom Literature’ and its relationship to moral theology. Along with his wife of 16 years and two young children, his life remains very vibrant and full.

Dr Marco Ceccarelli

Dr Marco Ceccarelli is the Director of the Centre for Faith Enrichment.

Marco is committed to offering people an educational experience that allows them to draw on the richness of the Catholic tradition. He is currently an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Notre Dame Australia and has taught European history and literature at The University of Western Australia. He holds a PhD in History/European studies (Jesuit studies) and an MA in European literature.

Marco is a former Journalist and Assistant Editor for the Archdiocesan Communications Office.

Aboriginal Catholic Ministry

Aboriginal Catholic Ministry promotes the spiritual, cultural and social development of people of Aboriginal descent. Providing pastoral care to Aboriginal people.

Sr. Shelley Barlow, RNDM

Sr Shelley Barlow is a teacher and bridge-builder who has worked in the challenging settings of faith-formation for over twenty years. Shelley’s zest for her work is sparked by her missionary charism as a Sister of Our Lady of the Missions, and by her deep and abiding interest in the universal yearning for wholeness. Shelley has a Bachelor of Theology from Melbourne College of Divinity, and Masters degrees in Pastoral Ministry and Religious Education from Boston College, USA.

Dr Margaret Scharf, OP

Dr Margaret Scharf is a member of the Dominican Sisters of WA and is currently the director of the Dominican Institute for Spirituality. Recently returned to Perth after 17 years in the United States, she is a Retreat guide and spiritual director, including the formation of Spiritual directors, and presenter of adult faith formation programmes to parish groups and school staff. Her past ministries include primary education and administration, Motor Mission, and training of catechists in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands. She has a D.Min in Spiritual Direction (GTF, Indiana), MA in Spirituality (Gonzaga University), M.Ed in Religious Studies (ECU Perth), and a GDA Intercultural Studies-Aboriginal(ECU Perth). With publications in Australia and the USA, she continues to compose liturgical music.

Deacon Greg Lowe (WA Catholic Migrant Refugee Office)

Deacon Gregory Lowe is the inaugural Director of the new Western Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office (WACMRO). WACMRO seeks to promote the acceptance and settlement of migrants and refugees into Australia. It aspires to support migrants and refugees in a manner that upholds their dignity to enable them to feel a sense of welcome and belonging in the parish and broader community. Rev. Gregory was ordained deacon by Archbishop Hickey in 2006 for the Perth Archdiocese. Currently, he is the Parish Deacon in the Innaloo / Karrinyup parish where he conducts baptisms, marriages,
funerals and assists at the Sunday Mass.

Rev. Dr Charles Waddell

Fr Charles is a priest of the Archdiocese of Perth. He has recently published Jesus Matters (St Paul’s Publications). Fr Charles holds a PhD (USA) and an STL (Rome). He shares his life with a blind dog named Prego.

Mr Daniel Ang

Daniel directs the Office for Evangelisation in the Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay, encompassing the youth ministry, adult education, CCD, sacramental and life, marriage and family services of the Diocese.

He is a member of the Executive Committee for the Plenary Council to be held in 2020, and of the Australian Catholic Council for Pastoral Research. Between 2013-2017 he served as member and then Chair of the National Pastoral Planners Network, a professional planning body that promotes and advocates a culture of planning within the Catholic Church in Oceania.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts & Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Sydney and a Master of Divinity from the Sydney College of Divinity, undertaken at the Catholic Institute of Sydney.

Daniel is published in a number of peer reviewed journals in the areas of ecclesiology, spirituality, and contemporary issues of pastoral concern in the life of the Catholic community.