Welcome to "Frank's News"  - a community newsletter for our St Francis College friends and supporters.

Contents

In this edition of Frank’s News

• Upcoming Events

• Jonathan Sargeant - Celebrating 30 Years of Service

• St Francis Writing Day

• Liturgy Winter School Returns in 2026

• Clergy Development, Training, and Wellbeing (CDTW)

• Completing my Degree (by Rory Babu)

• Reflection on the Formation Intensive

• Spiritual Direction Program 2026

• How does it make a difference to believe in a Higher Power?

• Roscoe Library Matters

• Preparing Bible Lessons with AYCF

• Young Adults Fortnightly Get‑Together

• MOWATCH Announces 2026 National Conference

• Pointro Campsite: Escape to Tranquility

• Contact Us

Frank’s News Editorial

Welcome to Frank’s News. I write on the Feast of the Annunciation. My day will be bracketed by attending the Mothers’ Union celebration in St John’s Cathedral in the morning and watching the installation of the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally in the evening.  Whenever I attend a Mothers’ Union or GFS event I am reminded of faithful women over the decades who have served the church and the wider community in a variety of ways and continue to do so.  For example, at the recent GFS AGM I heard GFS made a substantial donation to the Anglicare Youth Homelessness Shelter last year as well as funding a chaplain to the Children’s Hospital one day a week, providing bursaries to theological students, and offering grants to parishes for children’s and youth ministry. (GFS-Brisbane-500-grant.pdf). We are also grateful to MU for providing theological students with bursaries to complete Clinical Pastoral Education. Responsibility for ordained ministry formation now sits with the Clergy Development, Training and Wellbeing team who were commissioned at Commencement Service.  More information can be found below under Clergy Development, Training, and Wellbeing (CDTW).

During Lent we heard how the Samaritan woman in John 4 shared the good news of her experience of meeting Jesus with her community, and on Easter Day we will be reminded that women were first witnesses to the resurrection. The Felix Arnott Lecture this year will focus on how we share the good news in our own communities. On St Columba Day (9 June), the Rev’d Dr Elizabeth Smith AM will deliver this annual lecture on the theme: In our own accent: Australian English in worship and mission.  Felix Arnott Lecture 2026 — Saint Francis College. Elizabeth Smith may be best known to many of us through her singable, inclusive-language hymn texts such as God gives us a future.  With more than 35 years of experience in ordained ministry, Elizabeth has served as parish priest in the suburbs of the Diocese of Melbourne and Mission Priest in the regional mining town of Kalgoorlie in the Diocese of Perth. Elizabeth Smith has been a member of the General Synod Liturgy Commission since 1997, and from 2008 to 2015 she was Mission Development Coordinator for the Diocese of Perth, providing resources and training for lay people and clergy in parishes, chaplaincies, schools and agencies.

This year the Rev’d Dr Elizabeth Smith will be keynote speaker for our Liturgy Winter School — Saint Francis College to be held 24-26 June 2026.  Last year about 40 people attended and this year it is another great program for liturgical leaders and assistants. Please note that there is a significant early bird discount if you register before 30 April.  Elizabeth will also offer workshops for smaller groups focussed on preaching and songwriting on 16 June and 20 June respectively. Elizabeth Smith is also the guest speaker for the University of Divinity Brisbane Graduation Ceremony at St John’s Cathedral on Saturday 30 May.

Later in the year, there will be two conferences about Women’s Leadership in the Anglican Church of Australia. The Diocese of Adelaide will host Blessed is She an Australian Anglican clergy women leaders equipping conference from 27-29 August - Blessed is She: Australian Anglican clergy women leaders equipping conference - Guardian. Then later in the year, the Movement for the Ordination of Women Conference theme is “Make No Mistake, God Calls Women!” and this will be held 12-14 November 2026, at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture (Canberra) 2026 Conference Date Claimer | MOWATCH Movement for the Ordination of Women in the Anglican Church.

During these troubled times, let us turn attention to following Jesus on the way of the cross as we journey through Holy Week to the new life of Easter,

Upcoming Events

There’s something for everyone in the weeks ahead. Check out what’s coming up at the College and join us when you can.

• 29 April - Jonathan Sargeant - Celebrating 30 Years of Service

• 23 May - Open Day

• 5 June - St Francis Writing Day

• 9 June - Felix Arnott Lecture with Rev’d Dr Elizabeth Smith

• 16 June - Preaching Master Class with Rev’d Dr Elizabeth Smith AM

• 20 June - Hymn Writing Workshop with Rev’d Dr Elizabeth Smith AM

• 24-27 June - Liturgy Winter School

• 2 July - Accordance Software Training with Rev’d Dr Gregory Jenks

Jonathan Sargeant - Celebrating 30 Years of Service

Join us as we gather to celebrate a remarkable milestone in the life and ministry of Jonathan, who this year marks 30 years of dedicated service. It is rare for a lay person to reach such an achievement, and Jonathan’s faithful, generous, and wide‑ranging contributions over these three decades have enriched our community in many ways.

This event offers an opportunity for colleagues, friends, and members of the wider community to come together to express appreciation, share memories, and acknowledge the impact Jonathan has made throughout his 30 years of lay ministry. As this is a catered event, please ensure that you register.

Registration: Trybooking - 30 Years of Service

St Francis Writing Day

On 5 June, St Francis College is hosting a free Writing Workshop—an opportunity to set aside some focused time for your work. Come for an hour or stay for the whole day, and use the space to make progress on an assignment, a sermon, or whatever you’re creating.

For more information, please visit: St Francis Writing Day — Saint Francis College

Liturgy Winter School Returns in 2026

St Francis College is delighted to welcome our community back for Liturgy Winter School 2026 — a gathering for clergy, liturgical assistants, musicians, ministry leaders, and anyone who cares deeply about the shared life of Anglican worship.

This year’s program is shaped with community at its heart: a space to learn from one another, share stories from parish life, and deepen our collective engagement with the Anglican liturgical tradition. Expect depth, enrichment, and lively conversation as we explore how worship forms us.

Early bird pricing is available until 30 April:

• $150 for non‑stipendiary participants

• $180 for stipendiary participants

Please note that early bird prices will not be available after 30 April, so early registration is recommended.

We are especially pleased to welcome Rev’d Dr Elizabeth Smith AM, who will guide our community through a series of thought‑provoking lectures and workshops, including:

• Liturgical Climate Change: APBA 30 Years On. Reflect on the role of A Prayer Book for Australia in today’s worship ecology and explore how liturgical practice has evolved since its 1995 publication.

• The Rubrics Are Our Friends. Discover how flexibility and creativity can flourish within the responsible use of APBA rubrics.

• Loving the Lectionary. Unpack the depth and rhythm of the Anglican lectionary, and learn how to plan preaching, prayer and music that bring Scripture to life.

• When It’s Not the Eucharist. Explore the wide range of options for non‑Eucharistic worship and how to lead them well in diverse ministry contexts.

The Liturgy Winter School is an invitation for our whole community — clergy, lay leaders, parish volunteers, and curious learners — to gather, grow, and support one another in the ministry of worship.

Links:

• To learn more: Liturgy Winter School — Saint Francis College

• To register immediately: https://www.trybooking.com/DKIBG

Clergy Development, Training, and Wellbeing (CDTW)

The Clergy Development, Training, and Wellbeing (CDTW) Team was commissioned at the start of the St Francis College academic year. The commissioning was celebrated by the Archbishop as part of the Commencement service held in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit. Commissioned members include Michael Stalley (Director, Discernment), Denise Ferguson (Deputy Director, Training), Rebecca McLean (Project Lead, Development & Wellbeing), Chris Bate (Vocations Coordinator), and Erika Williams (Program Coordinator). Stephanie Harris has recently been added to the team as Executive Assistant to the Director, where she will provide administrative support and help coordinate team initiatives. Stephanie will be based at St Francis College four days a week. 

The CDTW team was formed late last year and works together to tend, examine, grow, and support faithful leaders who are missionally imaginative for the Anglican Church of Southern Queensland, to:

• Build strong connections between the Archbishop, Regional Bishops, and those involved in discernment, formation, and development of clergy and leaders;

• Enhance links between seeking, discerning, forming, and development programs within our diocese;

• Review and improve development, discernment, formation, and wellbeing practices to prepare leaders for the church's future needs. 

You can contact the team via email CDTW@anglicanchurchsq.org.au) or by calling 07 3514 7416.  

Discovering Your Call

Every baptised person carries a call from God, sometimes clear, sometimes tentative, sometimes still forming in the quiet places of the heart. Discovering that call is rarely linear. It is a journey of prayer, conversation, and openness to the Spirit’s leading.

If you are beginning to wonder where God might be guiding you, whether into deeper lay ministry or towards ordained ministry, you are not alone. The Church offers a pathway of companionship and reflection to help you explore that possibility.

Read More

Completing My Degree

by Rory Babu

Studying theology remained a long-held dream that I was only able to pursue after coming to Australia, largely due to earlier personal circumstances. The flexibility of studying while working full-time at Anglicare NQ, along with the strong, wraparound support from SFC, was vital in enabling me to progress.

Completing my degree in Theology has been a deeply formative journey, enriching my parish ministry and preparing me to step into a chaplaincy role within my workplace. It has strengthened my ability to offer thoughtful pastoral care, grounded in scripture, reflection, and compassion. My studies have deepened my understanding of faith and equipped me to interpret scripture more faithfully and responsibly. They have also given me greater confidence in preaching, teaching, and providing spiritual guidance, bringing both insight and authenticity to my ministry.

Reflection on the Silent Retreat

by Simon Tinkler

The participants in the Grow* program recently shared in a retreat at the beautiful Santa Teresa Spirituality Centre in Ormiston. Throughout our time together, we were invited into the transformative richness of silence. This stillness was anchored by the rhythm of Morning and Evening Prayer, the quietude of Compline, and the celebration of the Holy Eucharist—providing a communal framework for our reflections. 

The Very Reverend Dr Peter Catt shared deeply meaningful insights, encouraging us to cultivate the value of 'attending'—becoming people who observe and see deeply. Central to this was the practice of statio, the purposeful pause that allows us to be fully present in the moment. Peter highlighted the importance of moving away from the model of the 'singular hero' toward a collaborative, team-based ministry. He noted that a Spiritual Quotient (SQ) emerges as we integrate our collective intellectual (IQ) and emotional (EQ) strengths. We were reminded that our role is not merely to impose our own plans, but to observe where God is already at work and to flow with that divine movement. The experience was marked by gratitude and shared camaraderie.

—

* Grow is the training program for ordained ministry

Spiritual Direction Program 2026

by Lynette Dungan

The SFC Spiritual Direction Program 2026 has started well. Three students graduated in the first semester from the 4-year program in an uplifting Graduation Service held on 7 March. A similar number is expected to graduate in the second semester, and their Graduation Service is scheduled for 26 September.

Five new students began the SFC SD Program. Two of these and one in second year are enrolled in the Grad Dip Spiritual Direction now being offered through the University of Divinity. Student feedback from their first intensive in March was incredibly positive.

The third-year and fourth-year students participated in a combined offering of the unit Embodiment in Spiritual Direction. This is a revised subject to meet the new University Grad Dip requirements and again, all went well. We support and hold in prayer those students preparing their final Integration Papers bringing together their 4-year journey of formation.

How does it make a difference to believe in a Higher Power?

by Jonathan Sargeant

Is there more than just us!? The innerVIVID series tackles this faith question with six new videos, avoiding jargon to produce eye-opening explorations you can share with family and friends without fear of embarrassment. Or watch them yourself as training in how to talk about spirituality in authentic ways that won't induce cringing. We talked to people out-and-about as well as top experts in the field. Some of these answers will shock, surprise, vex and inspire you, sometimes all at once! The FormEdFaith team has done it again with these cutting-edge videos guaranteed to get conversations going!  https://innervivid.au/the-actual-videos/theme7

Roscoe Library Matters

New books!

The collection of Grove Books is more than a pretty addition to the ends of the shelves in the Roscoe Library. These concise booklets (each just 28 pages) cover a diverse range of topics of relevance to the church today. There are currently twelve booklet series: Biblical, Church multiplication, Discipleship, Doctrine, Ethics, Education, Mission and evangelism, Leadership, Pastoral, Spirituality, Worship and Youth, children & family. Each booklet series has a new title each quarter; we’ve just added 35 new booklets to the collection!  

These are just some of the resources that have been added over the past few weeks, but this link will take you to all the items that have been added to the Roscoe Library during 2026. Please remember that if you’re a parishioner, a member of the clergy, or you work in an Anglican school or agency, you’re invited to become a member at no cost. Do join … you’ll be so glad that you did!

Preparing Bible Lessons with AYCF

by Juliet Briner

One of the best things I remember when working as a children’s minister was planning the Bible lesson for Sunday kids Church. I would think about the kids in the group and how this activity would suit this one but not so much this other child so what could I include that would help them connect with the scripture? But to do that you need resources and ideas! One of my roles here at AYCF is to gather as many resources as possible and ideas so you can have them at your fingertips. I send out a bi-monthly newsletter that includes seasonal resource ideas, along with information about children’s and youth ministry conferences, as well as other news and events from around the diocese.

To receive the newsletter, please subscribe here Contact — AYCF

Young Adults Fortnightly Get‑Together

by Jordan Cuskelly

A Young Adults group—created for people aged between eighteen and thirty—is starting a fortnightly get‑together to help young adults connect and build community. It’s ideal for those leaving home to go to university, settling into full‑time work, or simply looking for like‑minded people. These get-togethers will alternate between social nights and worship nights to suit what you’re looking to get out of the YA community!

If you’re interested in joining in, or you are just curious and wanting more details, please contact Jordan - jordan.cuskelly@anglicanchurchsq.org.au.

And don’t forget to follow the Young Adults Instagram page to stay updated on upcoming events and gatherings!

MOWATCH Announces 2026 National Conference: Make No Mistake, God Calls Women!

12–14 November 2026 | Canberra

The Movement for the Ordination of Women has officially announced details for its 2026 national conference, to be held 12–14 November at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture in Canberra. The conference theme, Make No Mistake, God Calls Women!, affirms the equality, dignity, and calling of women—lay and ordained—across the Anglican Church.

This year’s gathering will explore the impact of rising Christian Nationalism on restrictive and theologically unsound views of women in ministry, offering a strong, pro‑women, feminist and ecumenical response rooted in Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience. Participants can look forward to inspiring keynote input, thoughtful theological reflection, practical resourcing, and opportunities to network nationally with others committed to advocating for women’s leadership in the Church.

For more information, please visit 2026 Conference Date Claimer | MOWATCH Movement for the Ordination of Women in the Anglican Church

Pointro Campsite: Escape to Tranquility

Just outside of Boonah and only 90 minutes from Brisbane, Pointro Campsite offers a back to basics camping experience on the banks of Maroon Dam in Queensland. Enjoy spacious sites, firepits, hot showers, and clean toilets — great for fishing, hiking, water sports and much more. Ideal for families, friends, and group retreats. Our bunkhouse sleeps up to 36 and is great for youth camps.

Book now on Hipcamp or email pointro@anglicanchurchsq.org.au for bunkhouse bookings.