The 2022 John Wallis Memorial Lecture – presented from Hobart
This year’s John Wallis Memorial Lecture is now available for viewing online and can be accessed via the following link: https://youtu.be/JeUZg2wVjPk. The lecture proper commences with the introduction of speaker, Dr Elissa Roper, by Patron Clare McShane shortly after the 32 minute point in the recording.
Elissa spoke on the topic of Baptismal Responsibility, a Spirit-led Church for Today’s World.
Elissa’s presentation explored the three themes of Communion, Participation and Mission to envision the call of God’s People to be missionary disciples, guided by the Spirit as we take up our baptismal responsibility. She led the audience on a journey through the key inspirations of Vatican II, emphasising the contrast with Vatican I documents! Through that exploration, Elissa showed how we can, and should, engage today as discerning and evangelising Spirit-filled, joyful People of God, prepared to share that joy with others.
Dr Elissa Roper is an ecclesiologist passionate about renewing the Catholic Church’s understanding of the People of God as baptismal in identity and missionary in discipleship. She is a sessional academic with Australian Catholic University and works for the Sisters of Mercy. Elissa also manages a Program of Theology in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, which offers tertiary theological education for women. She recently spent three weeks touring Papua New Guinea and speaking with bishops, religious sisters, and seminarians. Elissa has served in the areas of parish planning and liturgy, understanding clerical abuse and working for healing, and ecumenical and interfaith relations.
The John Wallis Memorial Lecture was held on 6 October 2022 at the Don Bosco Creative Arts Centre, Guilford Young College, Glenorchy, Tasmania. It was convened by the Tasmanian branch of Highways and Byways. Those present in the centre were complemented by viewers from around Tasmania and Australia.
IMAGE: Dr Elissa Roper