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Michael spent the greater part of his life as an agnostic. He was baptised into the Catholic Church in 2014. He spent his catechumenate searching for the truth and appreciated the spirit of evangelisation and catechesis in groups such as Catholic Answers Live and Franciscan University Steubenville. In his neophyte year, he established the Bateman Adult Faith Formation Team and his main focus is now Evangelisation Australia. Aside from managing and operating Image Dental in Applecross as principle dentist, he is completing his Masters in Theology from Franciscan University. 

Susan Tan began her journey with Christ relatively late in life. She received baptism at the age of 20. Her relationship with Jesus progressed slowly at first but took big steps when she found herself responsible for the spiritual care and development of her three children. She continues to be the rock on which her family seeks rest. Now, Susan finds herself drawn to discovering more about what her Catholic faith means, and sharing this with others. 

Joe Basilio is a cradle Catholic, a devout husband and father of three who always puts his family first. Joe has always been actively involved in Church ministry from a very young age and continues to give of his time to the Church. He is currently a member of the Parish council, Adult Faith Formation group and the Events committee at his local parish. As a member of Why Be Catholic, he has a passion for confronting moral issues and sharing the message of the gospel in order to lead others to a greater understanding of the fullness of the truth. He is currently an IT service management analyst for a major insurance company here in Perth. 

Joan Louie is actively involved in various church activities. She has been one of our core team members since our first conference in October 2015 with Tim Staples which was a huge success. She was involved in coordinating with different parishes to reach out to the community. Prior to this Joan was in the real estate industry for over 30 years, running her own company. Being a wife, mother and grandmother of five now, she brings her experience and patience which is an asset in our evangelisation team. She is helpful & warm, indeed a people person! 

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Vania Guntoro, a Perth resident, was born into a Catholic family but experienced a profound spiritual awakening in 2019 after a chance encounter with a joyful Franciscan friar visiting the city. This meeting marked the beginning of what Vania considers her true conversion journey.

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St. John Paul II holds a special place in Vania's heart, serving as both a spiritual friend and intercessor. Her favorite book, "St. John Paul the Great: His Five Loves" by Jason Evert, reflects her deep admiration for the late pontiff. To further nurture her faith, Vania regularly listens to the "Abiding Together" podcast.

Outside of her spiritual pursuits, Vania embraces life's simple pleasures. She's an adventurous foodie, always eager to try new cuisines. Candle-making serves as her creative outlet, and she finds great joy in spending quality time with her loved ones.

Vania's life in Perth is a testament to the harmonious blend of faith, creativity, and personal connections, as she continues to grow both spiritually and personally.

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