Symposium

About the symposium

This symposium is for all those who care about the places of Catholic worship, including clergy, parishioners, architects, artists, teachers, liturgists, designers, theology and architecture students, academics and anyone with an interest in architecture, art, artefacts and heritage. It will provide you with an opportunity to consider the history, heritage value, liturgical suitability and merit of Australian Church architecture and art.

Keynote addresses will be presented by British architecture historian, author and heritage expert, Sophie Andreae and leading American liturgical design consultant Richard S. Vosko.

A range of dynamic and engaging local presenters will offer workshops, problem-based learning sessions, case studies and site visits.

The topics to be explored include:

• archaeology as an aid to understanding heritage significance of churches
• refurbishing school chapels
• the commissioning of religious art for churches
• the re-ordering of re-ordered churches
• the place and nature of the confessional space in our churches
• the location and heritage issues relating to the organ and music ministry.

During the symposium, you will have an opportunity to examine current and recent church projects alongside new churches and chapels, with experts in liturgical architecture, art and heritage.

Where Your Treasure is, There Will Your Heart Be Also is a unique and timely event for the Catholic Church in Australia. It will draw you into a deeper understanding of the history and importance of Church architecture and art and their influence on the liturgical experience.

NLAAB is an advisory body established by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference to advise the Bishops Commission for Liturgy and the National Liturgical Council on matters pertaining to architecture and art in Catholic liturgical worship.

The ACU Centre for Liturgy supports, promotes, and enhances the liturgical life of the Catholic Church through tertiary education, research, scholarship and pastoral formation. The Centre offers liturgical education programs from parish-level through to higher degree research, advancing the liturgical apostolate in Australia and beyond.

List of Breakout Sessions (PDF file, 174kb)

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Venue information

We will be pleased to welcome you to ACU’s St Patrick’s Campus at 115 Victoria Parade, North Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065.

Information about the venue, including public transport and parking options, can be found online.

ACU’s St Patrick’s Campus has state-of-the-art facilities and is conveniently located on the fringe of Melbourne’s CBD. The popular Brunswick and Smith Street retail strips, with a variety of cafes, shops and art galleries, are just a short walk away. Some of Melbourne's finest parks, gardens and recreational facilities are also within easy walking distance of the campus.

Refreshment and meals

Your registration includes the following refreshments and meals:

Wednesday, 6th February: Opening reception 

Thursday, 7th February: morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea 

Friday, 8th February: morning tea, lunch

Please arrange your own dinner on Wednesday 6 February and Thursday 7 February, and your own breakfast on Thursday 7 February and Friday 8 February. There are many cafes nearby and on campus, and excellent dining options are available within walking distance or a short tram ride away.

Consider investigating options in Fitzroy, East Melbourne and the CBD.

Accommodation

Symposium delegates are responsible for making their own accommodation arrangements. There are many options within easy walking distance or a short tram ride away from the campus.

We recommend you search for accommodation in Fitzroy, East Melbourne or the CBD.

Symposium schedule

Wednesday, 6th Feb 2019

Thursday, 7th Feb 2019

Friday, 8th Feb 2019

List of Breakout Sessions (PDF file, 174kb)

Keynote speakers and presenters

The National Liturgical Architecture and Art Board and Australian Catholic University will be hosting the symposium “Where your treasure is there will your heart be also” at the ACU Melbourne Campus from February 6 to 8, 2019.

The keynote speakers at the symposium will be Architecture historian and author, Sophie Andreae and liturgical design consultant Richard S. Vosko.

Sophie Andreae (DSG FSA IHBC)

Architecture historian and author Sophie Andreae has been the vice chair of the Patrimony Committee of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Wales since 2002. The committee provides advice and guidance on all aspects of Catholic heritage to dioceses, parish priests and parishioners, as well as acting as the link between the Catholic Church of England and Wales and the secular authorities concerned with heritage and protection.  She has spent her career working to protect historic buildings and promote them to the wider public. She was made a trustee of Historic Royal Palaces in January 2009. She has a background in historic buildings, architecture and conservation and was a member of St Paul’s Cathedral Fabric Advisory Committee for many years. Amongst many projects promoting Catholic heritage, she initiated and oversaw the publication of A Glimpse of Heaven: Catholic Churches of England and Wales (2006) – the first publication on Catholic churches in England and Wales to be published in full colour. 

Richard S. Vosko (Hon. AIA, MA, M.Div, MFA, Ph.D)

Richard S. Vosko is a liturgical designer and consultant for Christian and Jewish congregations. Ordained in 1969 as a Roman Catholic priest for the Diocese of Albany NY, since 1970 Vosko has worked in the area liturgical design throughout the United States and Canada where he has overseen the redesign and renovation of numerous churches, cathedrals and synagogues. Among his 135-plus project portfolio are 15 cathedrals (including the 3000-seat Roman Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, and the new 3500-seat United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas), and many parish churches and chapels.

Vosko is an honorary member of the American Institute of Architects. In 2011, the North American Academy of Liturgy awarded him its highest honour, the Berakah Award, for his scholarship and work in the fields of religion, art and architecture.

Vosko is a frequent writer and speaker on sacred space and the environment for worship and is author of numerous articles and books including the award-winning “God’s House is Our House: Re-imagining the Environment for Worship” (Collegeville: Liturgical, 2006) and Designing Worship Spaces: The Mystery of a Common Vision (Chicago: LTP, 1996). His current book project: “Art and Architecture for Congregational Worship: The Search for A Common Ground” will be published by the Liturgical Press.

Vosko has a Ph.D. and M.F.A. from Syracuse University, an M.A. from the University of Notre Dame, and an M.Div. from Christ the King Seminary, Allegeny NY. In 2017 Vosko was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from St. Bonaventure University.

Workshop presenters

Arthur Andronas

Robert Barden 

Greg Burgess 

Andrew Cichy 

Marcia Clohesy 

Philip Cooper 

Geoffrey Cox 

Robert Cross 

Rosemary Crumlin 

Sing D’Arcy 

Ursula de Jong 

Anthony Doran 

Tom Elich 

Stephen Hackett 

Andrew Kirkbride 

Sandy Law 

Angela McCarthy

Jason McFarland 

Jesse Mowbray 

Brian Nichols 

Brendan Reed 

Dion Seminara 

John Shick 

Peter Slack 

Harry Stephens 

Peter Williams

Register now

Please contact us or call us on (02) 9701 4751 if you have any questions about the symposium.