Spirits raised at Lifted 2015 youth retreat
Lifted 2015
James Camden Parra-Matters! Working Together
with our Priests
A significant action of the Diocesan
Pastoral Plan, Faith in our Future, was for
Catholic Youth Parramatta to provide an
annual retreat for young adults
aged 18-35.
Last month, after almost six months
of consultation and preparation, we
welcomed 64 young adults to the
Benedict XVI Retreat Centre in Grose
Vale for a weekend of prayer, formation,
reflection and community building.
Many ministries had shared with us the
struggle of booking venues that require
a minimum number of participants for
catering and accommodation purposes.
Lifted 2015 allowed Catholic Youth
Parramatta to relieve this financial
burden as parishes often had to
meet the shortfall when adequate
numbers weren’t achieved.
The retreat was also an opportunity
to pool the time, energy and wisdom
of some of our best local facilitators,
formators and musicians into
one weekend.
The theme of the weekend encouraged
participants to identify and re-affirm
their source of strength in times of need.
Presentations were made by Rev Chris
De Souza, Delegate of the Diocesan
Administrator, Daniel Ang, Director of
Evangelisation for the Diocese of Broken
Bay, Jesse and Briony Mowbray, long-time
youth formators and various other young
people who shared about their vocation
on an inspiring and robust panel.
Prayer and worship was led throughout
the weekend by tens of talented
volunteers, particularly during a night of
Reconciliation and adoration when we
were joined by a number of priests on the
Saturday evening.
Lifted 2016 is scheduled for 1-3 July
next year.
Last month drew an impressive crowd of 60
youth leaders to hear six priests share their
opinions, insights and stories on how best
we can work together in our ministries.
A highlight was the dialogue that
took place as questions, comments and
concerns were returned in both directions
providing lots for everyone to take away to
their local parishes.
Ultimately, the evening provided an
opportunity to learn of the best youth
ministry practices our priests had witnessed,
and been a part of, while also allowing
them to share honestly on those that hadn’t
worked so well.
The youth leaders of Our Lady of Lourdes
Parish, Seven Hills, provided wonderful
hospitality, music and background
information on their local ministry.
Year 10 students from Cerdon College, Catherine McAuley Westmead and
St Pauls College.
‘Encounter’ Student Leadership
Program Commissioning Mass
After three high-energy training days,
Catholic Youth Parramatta and Catholic
Education Diocese of Parramatta joined Our
Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Greystanes, in
commissioning a group of Year 10 students
from Cerdon College, Catherine McAuley
Westmead and St Pauls College, Greystanes.
This group took part in a pilot program
that invited, challenged and inspired
students to grow in their faith, share it with
their peers and become leading participants
in their school and parish community.
Intentionally they had been reconnected
from their time as primary school peers at
OLQP Primary School and are now being
re-engaged or further engaged into parish
life through the mentorship of key youth
ministry leaders.
Live Jesus in our hearts, forever.
James Camden – Director
Catholic Youth Parramatta
[email protected]
Participants at Lifted 2015.
Encounter Leadership Program.
From left: Fathers Peter Strohmayer OSPPE, Wim Hoekstra, Mick O’Callaghan,
Jolly Chacko MS, Peter Confeggi and Robert Riedling.
Fatima Day: Thursday August 13
Pastoral Care
Accredited Qualifications
Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady: Saturday August 15
Pastoral Care attends in a sustained way
to the emotional and spiritual needs of
people through a ministry of presence,
companionship and support.
Fatima Family Sunday: August 16
August 30: 11am Solemn Mass for Our Lady of Jasna Gora,
Anniversary of the Coronation of the Icon of Our Lady of Mercy at Penrose Park.
Nationally recognised qualifications:
The Main Celebrant for Fatima Day is: Fr Marek Dutkiewicz, osppe,
Prior of the Shrine. Homily by Fr Martin Klein FSSP.
Note: HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION –
devotions to Our Lady following the Solemn Mass at 11am.
CHC41112 Certificate IV in Pastoral Care
Thank you!
The Pauline Fathers and Brothers of Penrose Park would like to thank all our pilgrims for
their help and support over the past years. The first section of the building project (i.e.
the toilet blocks) is well underway, the work will continue in the next couple of months.
We thank you for your continuing financial help and prayers to continue the building of
our Pilgrim Hall, the cost of which is very substantial. May God abundantly bless you all!
91561 NSW Diploma of Ageing
and Pastoral Care
For further information contact:
Holy Family Services
Registered Training Organisation
Tel (02) 9678 8200
email: [email protected]
www.holyfamilyservices.com.au
Pauline Father’s Monastery
Address: 120 Hanging Rock Road, Berrima, NSW, 2577
91448NSW
Phone: 02 4878-9192 Fax: 02 4878-9351 Email: [email protected]
19