ARCHDIOCESE OF MELBOURNE RELEASE:
 Tuesday 15 May 2012AGAINST the gospel backdrop of the Emmaus story, over 60 Marist school Campus and Youth Ministers, Religious Education Co-ordinators, Directors of Mission and young adults connected with Marist schools gathered at The Hermitage, Mittagong for three days of inspiration, intellectual challenge and sharing of wisdom around the theme of the evangelisation of young people.  Keynote addresses were expertly delivered by Fr Anthony Casamento
CSMA (Director of Identity and Mission at Australian Catholic University), Br
Mark O’Connor FMS (Director of the Office of Evangelisation, Archdiocese of
Melbourne) and Mr Daniel Ang (Pastoral Planning Team, Diocese of Parramatta),
and participants engaged readily with the speakers in lively dialogue. Br João
do Prado FMS (Marist Brothers International Mission Secretariat, Rome) brought a
world perspective to the call to evangelise young people as well as introducing
conference participants to the new Marist Youth Ministry document ‘Evangelisers
in the Midst of Youth' (available at www.champagnat.org).“I was delighted with the broad range of expertise and tangible dynamism within the group that gathered, but even more so by the enthusiasm they displayed in committing to renewing their energy and efforts in the evangelisation of the young people with whom they work,” said Brother Michael Callinan, conference organiser. As part of the conference outcomes, each participant will be arranging a conversation with their school principal based on material personally developed at the conference. “It’s something I’m looking forward to doing,” said Mr Michael Lindsay from St Augustine’s College, Cairns. “We’re already working hard in this area as a school community, but I have a few suggestions for even more effective strategies to be trialled.” Simone Boyd, a conference organising team member and Co-ordinator of the youth movement Remar Australia, was heartened by the participation of young adults in the conference as both presenters and participants: “It’s a unique opportunity for staff ministering in schools to have a range of young people to tell them candidly what works and what doesn’t in terms of their faith journey being encouraged, but to have these same young people participate in their own theological formation with more experienced Catholics brought real substance to the conference,” she said. Marist Schools Australia looks forward to supporting and encouraging local evangelisation initiatives across the country and engaging with parishes and dioceses to promote a Catholic way of living in the world and making Jesus Christ known and loved. Images supplied by Brother Michael Callinan |
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