CRA represents leaders in the Australian Church, who are active in effecting change within the Church and society in a diverse range of areas, some of which are justice, professional standards, education, stewardship and governance.

CRA is a peak body in which male and female religious are in the same organisation. This step by Australian male and female religious to join together in one body is indicative of the deep commitment by Australian religious to work together to further the mission of Christ in Australia, while honouring their own Congregations’ individual charisms.

VISION

To animate Christ’s Gospel through the prophetic voice of religious

MISSION

As the representative body of Religious Institutes and Societies of Apostolic Life in Australia, CRA animates contemporary religious life and gives expression to the prophetic voice of religious by facilitating collaboration and supporting leaders to meet emerging challenges.

VALUES

Attentiveness to the Spirit | Compassion | Service | Inclusivity | Integrity |  Courage

An Ecclesial Community

CRA is an ecclesial community within the universal Church. It is a collaborative and inclusive organisation, encouraging religious to celebrate their diverse charisms in the service of the Gospel and supporting each charism to continue to evolve in new times.

The approach of CRA aligns with Pope Francis’ vision of a synodal Church where everyone listens to and learns from each other, taking shared responsibility for proclaiming the Gospel.

The Voice of Religious

CRA plays a leadership role in the Church at a national level and provides Religious Institutes with a collective voice in the Church and in the community.

It enables Religious Institutes to shape Church responses to developing issues with one voice, unified as disciples of Christ. That voice responds to the pressing social and environmental needs of the age, by endeavouring to bring fullness of life to all, especially to the least, the lost and the last.

The Peak Body

CRA represents Religious Leaders in the Australian Church and in society through its submissions to, and meetings with government, encounters with media, and strategic collaboration with Church and secular bodies.

Member support services are tailored to religious and responsive to the emerging issues of religious, especially in the area of governance, legislation, policies, Vatican edicts, professional standards requirements and more.

Strategic Priorities

CRA’s role is to address issues of importance to religious, to the Church and to society through the lens of the Gospel message and express the prophetic voice of religious. This is grounded in CRA’s Canonical Statutes which state that CRA should prioritise:

leadership and provide support to religious institute leaders, to ensure that religious life in Australia is animated and enriched;

collective advocacy in key areas, such as social and ecological justice and other emerging fields, to support leaders and to influence church and society; and

working in a manner which enables the distinctive charism of religious life to evolve, keeping alive the unique identity and independent prophetic voice of religious life within the Church and beyond.

CRA’s purpose is to fulfill and execute its vision, mission and strategic goals through:

  1. ANIMATION: to animate and enrich religious life and support its continuing evolution through intercongregational connection, stimulating events and thought-provoking content.

  2. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES: to advise, support, provide resources and information to Religious Institutes about current issues.

  3. ADVOCACY & LEADERSHIP: to bring alive a Gospel spirituality that gives expression to the prophetic voice of religious, through advocacy on issues, as the recognised representative of religious nationally.

  4. STRATEGIC COLLABORATION: to represent religious institutes and publicly express their views and voice in dialogue and negotiations with Church, Government and other agencies.

  5. GOVERNANCE & OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY: to operate with transparency and accountability within the framework of civil and canon law.

Download the CRA Strategic Priorities as a PDF here.