More than 350 inspired bishops, priests and youth ministers gathered in Campbelltown, in western Sydney, last month for the Australian Catholic Youth Ministry Convention, reports the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne.
Participants heard some amazing keynote speakers, celebrated Mass together and participated in a wide range of different workshops. A group from the Melbourne Archdiocese travelled together to participate and enjoy the conference, which is one of only a few of its kind that aims to supports Youth Ministry.
One of our first keynote speakers, Sr Hilda Scott OSB, reminded us that “It’s God we’re on about!” and that “God is going to love you if you like it or not.”
With her words of wisdom, one would have thought she would have been a difficult speaker to follow, but Bishop Anthony Fisher OP challenged us as the youth of today and urged us not to, ‘let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.'
The following day, Fr Christian Fini OMI, used an analogy to explain our roles as youth ministers of the Church by using the example of mobile phones and the networks they run on.
He highlighted that Youth Ministry is about providing or improving the quality of the connection between the youth and the Catholic Church saying, “You are not central to Youth Ministry, you are essential to it.”
FULL STORY Australian Catholic Youth Ministry Convention (CAM)