History

We welcome you to explore our timeline below as APMN was first conceptualised and founded.

2007

On 5-6 June 2007 more than thirty liturgists from around Australia gathered at the Mt Saint Benedict Centre Pennant Hills in Sydney. Hosted by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan and the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, the purpose of the meeting was to imagine and develop ideas about practical and viable initiatives for liturgical education and formation in Australia.

One of the proposals arising in the music focus group led by Angela Gorman (Bendotti) and Paul Mason was the establishment of an Australian network for pastoral musicians.

2009

On 25 July 2009 a group of composers, liturgists and musicians met at Holy Name of Mary Parish in Sydney. Hosted by Fr Kevin Bates and sponsored by Willow Publishing, the purpose of the meeting was to discuss copyright, composer and publisher advocacy and a number of other issues of concern to Australian composers. The meeting resolved to work together to help make a national association a reality, focused on liturgical education, formation and advocacy for Australian composers, publishers and musicians.

An interim working committee was established comprising Justin Ankus – interim Treasurer (NSW), John Burland (NSW), Jen Charadia (NSW), Anne Field (NSW), Angela Gorman – Public Officer (WA), Peter Grant – interim Chair (NSW), Amanda McKenna (NSW), Paul Mason – interim Secretary (NSW), Monica O’Brien (NSW) and Gina Ogilvie (NSW). Jenny O’Brien (SA) was appointed by the Australian Catholic Bishops at the invitation of the interim working committee as the liaison between the National Liturgical Council and the interim working committee.

Members of the working committee met on 16 December 2009 to set out the actions to establish and launch the organisation. They drew interest and support from publishers such as the University of Notre Dame (Pastoral Liturgy journal) and Willow Publishing (As One Voice). The initial seed funding to establish the organisation came with a generous donation of $5,000 from Dr Russell Hardiman, Editor of Pastoral Liturgy Publications.

2010

From early 2010 Angela Gorman, Justin Ankus and Paul Mason began to set up the infrastructure for APMN, registering the organisation in Western Australia as an incorporated association, establishing banking facilities with ANZ, registering the domain name (www.apmn.org.au) and establishing the website presence. A brief presentation was made to the NLC National Conference in Perth 4-7 February 2010 and the association was formally incorporated on 22 February 2010.

2011

On 25 June 2011 at Mary MacKillop Place, North Sydney, a large gathering of composers, musicians, publishers and diocesan personnel attended the inaugural Annual General Meeting of the association to elect its first executive and review its constitution, aims and objects.

APMN at Mary MacKillop Place

The elected inaugural APMN Executive Committee comprised:

APMN at Mary MacKillop Place
  • Justin Ankus – Chairperson (Sydney)
  • Angela Gorman – Vice-Chairperson (Perth)
  • Paul Mason – Secretary and Web Editor (Wollongong)
  • Leanne Piller -Treasurer (Newcastle)
  • Anne Field – Newsletter Editor and Minutes Secretary (Wollongong)
  • Jennifer Charadia (Wollongong)
  • Anne Maree Higgins (Sydney)
  • Fr William Jordan (Melbourne)
  • Michael Mangan (Brisbane)
  • Monica O’Brien (Sydney)

Jenny O’Brien continued as the liaison between the National Liturgical Council and the inaugural APMN executive committee.

Subsequently in October 2011, at the Wollongong Liturgy Festival, the first Annual Report was presented to the second Annual General Meeting, which ratified the constitution and the subscription fees, and confirmed the return of the previously elected executive. At the same meeting the Wollongong Chapter was established as the first regional chapter for the purpose of facilitating the APMN’s aims and objects at parish and diocesan level. October 2011 also saw the first issue of the APMN e-newsletter.

In December 2011 the APMN held its first workshop – on Copyright. In 2012 the Wollongong Chapter, in conjunction with the Diocese of Wollongong, conducted four workshops and events in Wollongong, Varroville, the Southern Highlands and Campbelltown. The national body has continued to organise a national series of workshops on copyright.

2014

On 15-18 January 2014 the APMN held its first national conference, as Platinum sponsor of the “Lift Up Your Hearts” Liturgy Conference in Wollongong on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Vatican II Constitution of the Sacred Liturgy. Hosted by the Diocese of Wollongong and run concurrently with the 2014 National Liturgical Council meeting, the conference attracted over 600 registrations and featured Keynotes by Archbishop Mark Coleridge, Michael Joncas, Dr Clare Johnson and Ms Louise Campbell (NZ). It also featured breakouts on music led by Geoffrey Cox, Jim Clinch, Clare Johnson, Michael Joncas, Bernard Kirkpatrick, James Maher, Michael Mangan, Paul Mason, Amanda McKenna, Patrick Nisbet, Jenny O’Brien, Monica O’Brien, Gina Ogilvie, Angela Quinn, Donrita Reefman, Josie Ryan and Dr Paul Taylor.

2015

The APMN presented its first scholarships at its second national conference, “Songs for the Journey” 1-3 October 2015 in Brisbane. The conference featured keynotes by Marty Haugen, Dr Maeve Heaney VDMF and Rev Dr Richard Leonard SJ. Scholarships have been presented at each subsequent conference.

2017

The third national conference, “Sing for Joy” 5-7 October 2017 in Perth, featured keynotes by David Haas and Professor Clare Johnson. The fourth national conference, “Listen to the Spirit and Sing” 1-3 October 2019 in Melbourne, featured keynotes by Tony Alonso and Diana Macalintal.

2019

The fourth national conference, “Listen to the Spirit and Sing” 1-3 October 2019 in Melbourne, featured keynotes by Tony Alonso and Diana Macalintal.

2023

After the COVID-19 pandemic interuption, almost 500 delegates attended the fifth national conference, “Mystery & Mission: The Art of Liturgical Celebration” 28-30 September 2023 in Brisbane. On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Vatican II Constitution of the Sacred Liturgy, the conference was produced jointly with the National Liturgical Council of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and featured keynotes by Professor Timothy P. O'Malley, Sarah Hart, Rev Dr Tom Elich and Associate Professor Maeve Louise Heaney.

Chairpersons

  • 2011-2012 Justin Ankus
  • 2012-2013 Paul Mason
  • 2013-2014 Paul Mason
  • 2014-2015 Paul Mason
  • 2015-2016 Michael Mangan
  • 2016-2017 Michael Mangan
  • 2017-2018 Michael Mangan
  • 2018-2019 Michael Mangan
  • 2019-2020 Michael Mangan
  • 2020-2021 Michael Mangan
  • 2021-2022 Michael Mangan
  • 2022-2023 Michael Mangan
  • 2023-2024 Michael Mangan

Conference Convenors

  • January 2014 Paul Mason
  • October 2015 Michael Mangan
  • October 2017 Angela Gorman
  • October 2019 Sophy Morley & Michael Mangan
  • October 2023 Clare Schwantes & Michael Mangan