Soul Food

In this pilot episode of Soul Food, we get to know Raimie, Donnie and Sr Grace! They are from Pastoral Formation – Mission Enhancement Team in the Diocese of Parramatta.

What is pastoral formation?

Why the name Soul Food?

How is pastoral formation trying to offer life & faith food for the whole person?

Listen to the trio from the team share their insights!

On this Soul Food episode, Raimie chats with Donnie. Migrant, dad (recent) and Westie (from Western Sydney) are three words that he uses to describe himself. Hear how these words are interconnected in his life & faith journey.

This Soul Food episode features Raimie’s story. She speaks about influential teachers, seeking peace and seeing herself as a lifelong learner. One recent passion she’s picked up is meditation as a form of prayer. Hear from Raimie’s story about her Catholic friend attending Hillsong and how she integrates practices of faith accompaniment – a style that focuses on ‘proposing’ rather than ‘imposing’.

How can I be less shy about asking questions when it comes to faith?

Donnie, along with conversation partners Kim Chong and Francis O’Callaghan chat about their own experiences as a response to this question.

For over several decades, Len has been engaged in the ministry of spirituality and group facilitation, accompanying others in the journey of life and faith. From ministry in the education spaces with young people, to parishioners of all ages, Len brings an earthy spirituality of accompaniment that meets people where they are at, in the hope of encouraging them to be the best person they can be.

Pastoral Formation has a new team member! From the Antioch movement, youth and young adult ministry, Scripture and study in the Holy Land, Alison Ryan brings a wealth of insight, experience and skill into the areas of pastoral theology and ministry. Learn more about her story and her particular work with pastoral councils of all levels in the Diocese of Parramatta.

Carol loves getting to know other people. She has had both a heart and a lifetime of experience for hospitality, spirituality and faith formation. Carol is also one of the Diocese of Parramatta representatives involved in the Plenary Council in Australia. She traces her council involvement to the common theme of listening to what the Spirit is saying through stories of significant moments in her life.

Often you hear that ‘young people are the future of the Church.’ Through her life experience, Maddy Forde provides an example of a slightly different narrative: that young people have the capacity to be leaders in the Church here and now. Maddy attributes her formative faith leadership development to the youth ministry space. By listening to and being present to the stories of young people, she has discovered the treasured gift of mutual accompaniment. Maddy holds these experiences as influential in developing an openness to uproot, take up ministry roles interstate; and more recently to accepting an international role through the Vatican’s Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life.

I want the Church to be vibrant, alive and full of the Spirit but where do I start?

Donnie, along with conversation partners Kim Chong and Francis O’Callaghan chat about their own experiences as a response to this question.

In this 10th episode special, Donnie and Raimie take time to share and reflect on the SOUL FOOD Podcast journey. They share their recent favourite food, the mission and vision of the work they do as part of Pastoral Formation, and remember the origin of the name ‘SOUL FOOD’. Donnie and Raimie share one of their favourite stories in the past 9 weeks and also some workshops they are offering in the Diocese of Parramatta. Raimie refers to Francis’ story about responsibility with a story of his daughter and gluten-free food (Ep 9 2:50-4:18, 15:43-17:32). Donnie talks about his conversation with Carol particularly about a story that made her weep from someone seeing and naming a beautiful trait in her (Ep 7 04:47-06:38).

How is a person’s character formed? How does becoming more truly human connect with becoming more whole as a Christian? How does being in touch with mind and heart influence the way we respond to others and the world around us? These are some of the questions that Br Aengus ponders, drawing from a lifetime of experience in the space of formation. For him, formation isn’t solely about the imparting of knowledge or facts – sometimes referred to as the ‘what’ of formation. What is equally important in the formative process is the ‘who’ that’s being nurtured.

We’re featuring another special of the Soul Food podcast! It’s the week of the 2nd Assembly of the Plenary Council from 3-9 July in the St Mary’s Cathedral Hall, Sydney, Australia. Raimie and Donnie have collated snippets from conversations with some of the members representing us in the Diocese of Parramatta. What is the plenary process? What are the differences, challenges, positive impact and hopes for the Catholic Church in Australia? What are Raimie and Donnie’s hopes for the Plenary process?

You never know the story of the person sitting next to you until you ask. At the Mission Enhancement team, we have the privilege of knowing James Athanasius Lukere (who happens to sit next to Raimie Caramancion in the office) a fellow team member. He speaks so openly about his experience of struggle for 14 years in a refugee camp in North Sudan. This experience has shaped his hope, passion for life, and faith in God – all of which he brings his Diocese of Parramatta role as a Peace, Justice, Ecology Facilitator.

Acoustic ecologist Gordon Hempton once said, “When we’re truly listening, we also have to anticipate that we might become changed by what we’ve heard.” On the theme of “listening”, Donnie reflects on an experience whilst working from home during Covid lockdown in 2021. He invites some pondering on the learnings from this experience and how listening with “wonder” can translate into everyday conversation.

Meet Jane Sio who shares with us her experience of her Samoan upbringing, navigating family, school and faith. Her story of struggle and encountering community through the Mt Druitt Parish youth group provided space for her to ask real questions on purpose, empowerment of young people and her own personal spiritual journey. At the end of her podcast, Jane talks about a moment at her workplace with a surprising colleague whose conversation and faith moves her to tears. Podcast backstory: Over 125 people around Western Sydney & the Blue Mountains were consulted for what they wanted in a life & faith podcast. Overwhelming feedback showed interest for “people’s stories” and “everyday experiences sparking deep thought.” This is what Pastoral Formation wants to deliver through the episodes on the Soul Food podcast. Come along with the team on this journey of storytelling, listening & discovery! Everyone has a story! For more works by Pastoral Formation, visit www.pfparra.org.au

Patty Andrew is a local wisdom figure who engages with the world with the heart of a curious learner. As recipient & practitioner of an integrative approach to education, she lives her life & faith attentive to the goodness & God-ness in all things.

Why is it so hard to talk about our faith & religion today? Donnie, along with conversation partners Kim Chong and Francis O’Callaghan chat about their own experiences as a response to this question.
Podcast backstory: Over 125 people around Western Sydney & the Blue Mountains were consulted for what they wanted in a life & faith podcast. Overwhelming feedback showed interest for “people’s stories” and “everyday experiences sparking deep thought.” This is what Pastoral Formation wants to deliver through the episodes on the Soul Food podcast. Come along with the team on this journey of storytelling, listening & discovery! Everyone has a story! For more works by Pastoral Formation, visit www.pfparra.org.au

Paul Harris is a man who knows and feels known by a God who is love. It is this relationship that forms his conviction as a gay man to joyfully live a life in faith where all are welcome. For Paul, it is God’s vision that no one is excluded from love – and that all may experience life to the full.
If you’re looking for support services to accompany you as you listen to this podcast, here are some options:
LGBT Counselling Service (QLife) on 1800 184 527
Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) on (02) 9294 1002
Lifeline 13 14 11

James Camden is a young married family man who works as the Head of Mission Engagement in the Diocese of Parramatta. From aspiring lawyer, to journalist, television actor and youth worker, James has found his current expression of professional work through the Church. There’s a theme of ‘legacy’ that he carries through his story, from what his work through Church means for him, to what it means for his children, as well as the future of the Church. What does or can the Church look like in 20-30 years from now?

What does it mean to be called a ‘disciple’ of Jesus? Alison Ryan takes us on a life & faith reflection on what it means to be a disciple – a student. As disciple-students, a Christian is called to learn a particular way of being: to be a student who invites others to become students as well. Students learn. Students fail.

“If I met God face to face now, would God say, ‘I’m proud of you?’“ Kim, Francis & Donnie together ponder the question which was anonymously shared by someone in their mid 20s-40s. Drawing on their own personal experiences on their relationship with God and whether or not such a statement would be said by God. One common theme from their sharing is that perhaps it is the ‘journey’ of engaging with the question of what God would say in a face-to-face experience that says more about ourselves and our relationship with God.

It was from the inspiration of role models and the spirit of accompanying others in need that drew Ailsa Mackinnon to join the Sisters of Mercy. When it comes to formation and human development, she sees that the particular offering of the Sisters of Mercy is the prioritising of meeting people where they are at and empowering women, through education, toward a flourishing of life and service in the wider world. It is this message of empowerment and flourishing that Ailsa regards as timeless priorities for women, enabling them to fully participate in the mission of God’s heart.

How are doubt and uncertainty experienced in the life and faith journey? For Phil D’Rozario, it is this movement from knowing to unknowing that describes his current expression of spirituality. Whilst not disregarding how uncomfortable this space of searching can be, Phil nevertheless describes this drive to seek out meaning and purpose as part of his next steps to rediscovering newness in his life and faith experience.

Joann Loko knows firsthand what it means to lean into the stories of the people around her. As someone who was accompanied herself by community volunteers, she now accompanies the stories and lives of others in a way the empowering way she experienced herself. Her stories offer wisdom for many faith communities and volunteer spaces on the difference that empathy, presence and simple acts of kindness can make. Here’s to trust in each of our own potential to bless those we encounter day-to-day by leaning into the sacred story of their lives!

When you hear the word ‘vulnerability’, do you hear it as a weakness or a strength? From a Christian perspective, Alison observes that vulnerability is precisely how Jesus’ earthly life began and ended. Taking this further, Alison observes that the Jesus story as the salvation of the whole world comes through the upside-down example of an ultimate act of vulnerability on the cross. What’s something of yourself that you can share with someone that you trust as a way of being more mindful of this theme of vulnerability in your life?

How can I be less shy about asking questions when it comes to faith? Donnie, along with conversation partners Kim Chong and Francis O’Callaghan chat about their own experiences as a response to this question.

Why is it so hard to talk about our faith & religion today? Donnie, along with conversation partners Kim Chong and Francis O’Callaghan chat about their own experiences as a response to this question.

I want the Church to be vibrant, alive and full of the Spirit but where do I start? Donnie, along with conversation partners Kim Chong and Francis O’Callaghan chat about their own experiences as a response to this question.