The text from the Book of Revelation was a key motif of the recent Australian Plenary Council (2020-2022). The purpose of the Plenary was to discern - within human limitations - what God is asking of Catholic Australians at the present time.

Beyond the Boundaries is a contribution to that process of discernment. Compiled against a background of growing disillusion with the institutional church, the evident weakening of what was formerly called Christendom and the statistical evidence of serious decline in religion

generally in our country, its purpose is to rediscover the place of religion in our society and how we might engage as faithful Catholic Christians with the wider Australian culture.

Like the first two publications in the series (Call No One Father and We Too: The Laity Speaks), the contributors assume that the empowering of the laity is at the heart of the future of the Australian Catholic Church and listening to the voices of the people in the pews is a key element

in determining that future.

The contributors to Beyond the Boundaries come from a variety of backgrounds, experiences, disciplines and specialisations. They are generally people of faith whose wisdom and insights seek to clarify the issues facing the church in Australia. Their reflections are offered in a spirit of humility - though with some urgency - to help Australian Catholics consider how they are to witness the gospel of Jesus of Nazareth in a new context, with integrity, faithfulness and a genuine openness to what the Spirit is asking of us in our age.