Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese REPORT
31 Aug 2012
More than 450 Catholic youth leaders from dioceses, parishes, schools, universities, movements and religious communities across the country have signed on to participate in next month's all important Australia Catholic Youth Ministry Convention (ACYMC).
A further 50 or more are expected to register this weekend to beat the deadline for registration.
A project of the Bishop's Pastoral Commission ACYMC 2012 will be held at the Campbelltown Catholic Club from Friday 21 September until Sunday 23 September and will be hosted by the Diocese of Wollongong.
"Although the Convention is being held in Campbelltown it will be very much a national gathering with youth leaders flying in from every diocese in Australia and from every state and territory," says Malcolm Hart, the Commission's Senior Youth Ministry Projects Officer and chair of the organising committee for ACYMC 2012.
"This is only the second time we have held a Convention for those involved with youth ministry and the response has been overwhelming," he says.
Australia's first ACYMC was held in Melbourne in 2010. Organised by the late much loved Bishop Joe Grech, who was the then Commission's Delegate for Youth, the event maintained and built on the momentum and enthusiasm experienced during World Youth Day 2008 as well as offering support, training and faith formation for youth leaders across the country.
"The feedback from that first Convention was extremely positive and created a wonderful sense of communion among participants no matter where they were based or what type of youth ministry they involved with," says Malcolm. "Whether they were working for parishes or in schools or with working with youth from their religious or ecclesiastical communities, there was a sense of real fellowship. And as well as learning from the inspirational keynote speakers and wide range of workshops that were part of the 2010 convention program, those present also learned from each other."
Malcolm describes the ACYMC 2010 as a "great moment for the youth ministry community in Australia." But he believes this year's event will be even more powerful and life-changing.
Among the broad range of workshops on offer will be two plenary interactive panel discussions and sessions with an opportunity for participants to post comments and questions via live Facebook and Twitter.
Over the past few years cyberspace has increasingly become the method of choice of young people to communicate with friends, post photographs and share their ideas. Young people today communicate by text, Twitter, Facebook or blogs with the Archdiocese of Sydney online site Xt3.com still one of the fastest growing Catholic social networking sites worldwide.
ACYMC 2012 workshops will also explore Youth Ministry in the School Environment, Ministry with Music, Prayer in the Classroom, Indigenous Spirituality, Social Justice, Connecting with Catholic Agencies, Youth Ministry and the New Evangelisation and Mental First Aid.
"Mental First Aid deals with mental health issues," Malcolm says explaining that mental health concerns among young people is something everyone involved with a youth ministry will encounter.
"We wanted to provide resources to recognise mental health difficulties in young people and what to do and where to obtain immediate help for the teenager or young person.
In addition to the workshop the de La Salle Brothers will give a special presentation and talk about Kids Help Line founded by the Brothers which is now in its 20th year of operation.
"They will present research and information obtained from those who access the service and the key issues," Malcolm says pointing out that teenagers are particularly prone to depression, thoughts of suicide and other mental disorders.
Among the keynote speakers will be Sister Hilda Scott, OSB from the Benedictine Abbey at Jamberoo, who is possibly best known to most Australians from her role as mentor to a group of young women on the TV series, The Abbey. Father Christian Fini OM, founder and national coordinator of Oblate Youth Australia and member of the Australian Catholic Youth Council is another of the speakers.
The Bishop of Parramatta, Coordinator of World Youth Day 2008 and Youth Delegate for the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, the Most Rev Anthony Fisher OP will not only be one of the most anticipated speakers at the Convention but will lead spiritual formation for participants.
"He will talk in the context of The Year of Grace and the theme for next year's World Youth Day which is 'Rejoice in the Lord Always,'" Malcolm says adding faith formation at a personal level and empowerment to live as disciples of Christ among participants constitutes one of the most important elements of ACYMC 2012.
Held from 21-23 September at the Campbelltown Catholic Club, the Diocese of Wollongong has arranged for home stay accommodation for many participants arriving from across NSW and interstate. To register and be part of ACYMC 2012 log on to http://youthministry.catholic.org.au/registration/registration.html
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
31 Aug 2012
Bishop Anthony Fisher OP
A further 50 or more are expected to register this weekend to beat the deadline for registration.
A project of the Bishop's Pastoral Commission ACYMC 2012 will be held at the Campbelltown Catholic Club from Friday 21 September until Sunday 23 September and will be hosted by the Diocese of Wollongong.
"Although the Convention is being held in Campbelltown it will be very much a national gathering with youth leaders flying in from every diocese in Australia and from every state and territory," says Malcolm Hart, the Commission's Senior Youth Ministry Projects Officer and chair of the organising committee for ACYMC 2012.
"This is only the second time we have held a Convention for those involved with youth ministry and the response has been overwhelming," he says.
Australia's first ACYMC was held in Melbourne in 2010. Organised by the late much loved Bishop Joe Grech, who was the then Commission's Delegate for Youth, the event maintained and built on the momentum and enthusiasm experienced during World Youth Day 2008 as well as offering support, training and faith formation for youth leaders across the country.
"The feedback from that first Convention was extremely positive and created a wonderful sense of communion among participants no matter where they were based or what type of youth ministry they involved with," says Malcolm. "Whether they were working for parishes or in schools or with working with youth from their religious or ecclesiastical communities, there was a sense of real fellowship. And as well as learning from the inspirational keynote speakers and wide range of workshops that were part of the 2010 convention program, those present also learned from each other."
Malcolm Hart, Senior Youth Ministry Projects Officer
Among the broad range of workshops on offer will be two plenary interactive panel discussions and sessions with an opportunity for participants to post comments and questions via live Facebook and Twitter.
Over the past few years cyberspace has increasingly become the method of choice of young people to communicate with friends, post photographs and share their ideas. Young people today communicate by text, Twitter, Facebook or blogs with the Archdiocese of Sydney online site Xt3.com still one of the fastest growing Catholic social networking sites worldwide.
ACYMC 2012 workshops will also explore Youth Ministry in the School Environment, Ministry with Music, Prayer in the Classroom, Indigenous Spirituality, Social Justice, Connecting with Catholic Agencies, Youth Ministry and the New Evangelisation and Mental First Aid.
"Mental First Aid deals with mental health issues," Malcolm says explaining that mental health concerns among young people is something everyone involved with a youth ministry will encounter.
"We wanted to provide resources to recognise mental health difficulties in young people and what to do and where to obtain immediate help for the teenager or young person.
In addition to the workshop the de La Salle Brothers will give a special presentation and talk about Kids Help Line founded by the Brothers which is now in its 20th year of operation.
The first ACYMC in 2010 a huge success
Among the keynote speakers will be Sister Hilda Scott, OSB from the Benedictine Abbey at Jamberoo, who is possibly best known to most Australians from her role as mentor to a group of young women on the TV series, The Abbey. Father Christian Fini OM, founder and national coordinator of Oblate Youth Australia and member of the Australian Catholic Youth Council is another of the speakers.
The Bishop of Parramatta, Coordinator of World Youth Day 2008 and Youth Delegate for the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, the Most Rev Anthony Fisher OP will not only be one of the most anticipated speakers at the Convention but will lead spiritual formation for participants.
"He will talk in the context of The Year of Grace and the theme for next year's World Youth Day which is 'Rejoice in the Lord Always,'" Malcolm says adding faith formation at a personal level and empowerment to live as disciples of Christ among participants constitutes one of the most important elements of ACYMC 2012.
Held from 21-23 September at the Campbelltown Catholic Club, the Diocese of Wollongong has arranged for home stay accommodation for many participants arriving from across NSW and interstate. To register and be part of ACYMC 2012 log on to http://youthministry.catholic.org.au/registration/registration.html
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
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