Cardinal John Dew. Getty Images.
Feature
Cardinal John Dew
When I think of young people in the Church I very often go back to the document that came out of the Synod for Oceania in 1998 – an important event for our part of the world with the theme ‘Jesus Christ and the People of Oceania: Walking His Way, Telling His truth, Living His Life.’
The document said the bishops at the Synod wanted young people in the Church to be drawn to the overwhelmingly attractive figure of Jesus and to be challenged by the sublime ideals of the Gospel. I therefore want young people to be fascinated by Jesus and His teachings.
I also want people in the Church not to see young people as a problem to be solved, but as gifts and mysteries of God to be honoured, revered and involved.
Cardinal John wrote the following letter last November to each final-year students in the Archdiocese of Wellington.
By the time you read this letter you will be celebrating the end of study and exams and looking forward to embarking on the next stage of your life as a young adult. Not everyone is a president or a prime minister but each of you is called to be a leader in ordinary everyday life.
I urge you to be a strong faith-filled and visible Catholic witness throughout your life, show leadership; a servant leadership of purpose, influence and partnership. A leader brings hope, ‘a hope that does not disappoint us, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit’ (Romans 5:5).
Pope Francis in his World Youth Day 2014 message said, ‘To be blessed means to be happy. In an age when we are constantly being enticed by vain and empty illusions of happiness, we risk settling for less and ‘thinking small’ when it comes to the meaning of life. Think big instead. Open your hearts. Young people who choose Christ are strong.
They are fed by His Word and they do not need to ‘stuff themselves’ with money, possessions and fleeting pleasure. Have the courage to swim against the tide. Have the courage to be truly happy. Take the joy of the Gospel out into the world.’
Hold fast to this vision. As Livvy Mitchell, Head Girl of St Mary’s College, 2014, said in her end of year speech, ‘Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes time. Vision with action can enhance the world,’ (Joel A Baker).
If there is ever anything I can do to assist you in your faith and life journey, please do not hesitate to make contact with me and be assured of my prayerful support along with those of our Catholic faith community.
Isabella McCafferty and Angela Wyatt
For five summer days in January 2015, Forest Lakes Park, just north of Otaki, was home base for 150 teenagers, adult leaders and 40 volunteers as part of New Zealand’s first Life Teen Summer Camp experience.
Life Teen began as youth ministry in the USA to bring teenagers to Christ in the Eucharist, gathering in a camp environment to form in Catholic faith. As a Eucharist-centred movement Life Teen leads teenagers and their families into a deeper relationship with Jesus and the Church.
The theme ‘inspire’ at the Forest Lakes camp emphasised our lives are stories to be told. Chris Turner, a Youth Minister from the United States, led sessions to challenge teens and adults alike to deepen their faith.
Central to Life Teen Summer Camp programme are the Sacraments. The Eucharist was celebrated both at the opening by Cardinal John Dew and at the closing by Bishop Charles Drennan, Fr Tony Alex and Deacon Nathaniel Brazil.
Daily Mass, Reconciliation, and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament were powerful experiences for many. They set the camp foundation so a truly sacramental experience could be felt throughout each day.
Daily activities included low ropes, team-building activities, a carnival, ‘messy games’, a mud slide, sports, swimming, art activities, small-group discussions, prayer and journaling – all adding to encounter with Jesus Christ. The obstacle course ended at a bonfire with a dance party that moved into worship and Adoration. It illustrated ‘God doesn’t care how ‘messy’ you are, but loves you just as you are’.
Thanks to all those who supported the camp – financial sponsors, prayer support staff, adult leaders, parishes, and teenagers who helped make it happen. And thanks to Life Teen America, and Chris and Molly for their advice and support.
In the words of a young participant, ‘Life Teen Summer Camp was the best – it gave us the place and time where we could experience God’s love and presence, and have so much fun. All the Masses, praise and worship, adoration, disco parties, music, bonfires, games, mud, slides, pools, activities, food, people, Chris’ talks…everything, is something we’ll remember for the rest of our lives’.
The next Life Teen Summer camp will be in 2016.
Isabella McCafferty is Youth and School Ministry Co-ordinator for the Archdiocese of Wellington. Angela Wyatt is a Palmerston North student and part of the Service Crew at Life Teen Summer Camp NZ 2015.
Hearts Aflame, a 10-day Catholic annual summer school open to young adults aged 18–35, has been underway in New Zealand since 1992. It is organised by a team of lay volunteers dedicated to serving, living and sharing the truth and fullness of the Catholic faith in New Zealand. Hearts Aflame 2015, held at Nga Tawa College, Marton, from 2–11 January, featured strong international and local speakers including the Sisters of Life from New York and world-renowned author and speaker Fr Jacques Phillipe.
Hannah and Paul McCardle
We attended Hearts Aflame this year for the first time. We were a bit apprehensive and not sure what to expect. but the friendly, open atmosphere and variety of Catholic ‘treasures’ we participated in made Hearts Aflame a positive and enriching experience for us both.
The first weekend – a retreat led by Fr Jacques Phillipe – enabled us to settle into the rhythm of the summer school and focus on God. Fr Jacques shared amazing insights with us about prayer in faith, hope and love.
He said it is not our emotions or experiences that put us in touch with God; rather it is the act of faith taken when we enter into sincere prayer. What we experience or feel during prayer is a gift.
During the week we reflected on these insights to connect with God as we took part in daily Mass, liturgy of the hours, praise and worship.
We also attended lectures on various topics. It was a blessing to spend time learning about our faith and Church in such a positive environment.
A major
blessing was meeting and talking with many religious. During a casual philosophical discussion with a priest or sister over lunch, it was inspiring to hear how God had called them to their vocations.
We are thankful to have attended Hearts Aflame and would recommend it to any young adult.
Hannah and Paul McCardle are a young married couple involved in leadership at Jesus4Real camps. Our Lady of Fatima, Tawa supported their attendance at Hearts Aflame 2015.
Youth Leadership: Hearts Aflame 2015
Participant Sandra Christine of Palmerston North shares her experience.
Hearts Aflame has been a rich experience for me in all its Catholic fullness. Through it I have a new found reverence and appreciation for the Sacraments of the Church. It has helped me to become more aware of God’s holiness and presence – not just in the Church but in me as well.
My 10 days at Hearts has challenged me to be still in the deepest recesses of my heart and to listen for God’s voice – a skill I practise daily. The key is to be patient with myself and to take my time with God; and delight in being able to spend time with Him – just as you would with a loved one – and in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
Doing this has encouraged me to respond to God’s call me in life. Being around many priests and religious at Hearts, and having the opportunity to talk to them on my own, to question or hear their testimonies and life stories, has inspired me in my own walk with God. And seeing so many young adults who were also prayerfully discerning God’s call for them has helped me realise I’m not alone in my search for truth and meaning.
Hearts has helped me empathise towards others and to listen more than I speak. It has given me the clarity to be the light of Christ towards everyone you meet, whether it’s in the family or work. It is difficult but in the words of Mother Teresa, ‘Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love’.
The Archdiocese of Wellington Young Catholic Leader (YCL) is an annual five-day faith formation and leadership development course for Year-12 student leaders entering their final college year.
Based on Marist Youth Leadership the course was gifted to the Archdiocese by the Marist Fathers in 2004. It includes skills formation, spirituality, and faith perspective. The 2014 programme, held at Forest Lake Campsite 13–17 December, used leadership skills of the Archdiocese’s Young Church Ministries’ team and YCL graduates.
Two members of the 2014 group share their experiences.
Anna Cacace, St Catherine’s College, Kilbirnie: YCL camp was one of the highlights of my summer holidays. We developed leadership skills, explored Catholic teachings, built relationships with leaders from other Catholic schools and enjoyed food that could not go without seconds.
After camp, I developed my own understanding of being a good leader, which is Servant Leadership – to lead and serve. A good leader doesn’t put herself apart from the others; rather she submerges herself with everyone. YCL camp gave me great insight into effective leadership. It was such an eye-opening and challenging week, full of hilarious and reflective moments. I’m truly thankful to have been part of Young Catholic Leaders.
Ally Ringrose, St Marys College, Thorndon: YCL 2014 was the greatest experience and one I will never forget. It was an awesome entrance into Year 13 in preparation for the leadership challenges I will be faced with at school.
The building blocks taught are so relative to what I want to accomplish in my school. Through YCL I gained confidence in my own abilities and the impact I can have in my own school.
Along with the many lessons learned, YCL was the perfect opportunity to meet other young leaders in my area and create a great support network of colleagues who also understand the challenges we face as young leaders.
The leaders had a huge impact on my own self-belief. Through their motivation we saw their faith in us and our goals for the year. Over the five days of camp we accomplished so much. It’s really exciting to think about what we can achieve in a year.
The friends I made on camp I know will be friends for life. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have taken part in and experienced YCL 2014.
Ann D’Souza
Vinnies are the younger members of the Society of St Vincent de Paul. They work with adult Vincentians to support the Society’s mission for human dignity and integrity, to seek to relieve those in need, and work to redress situations that adversely affect people.
In New Zealand there are over 15 Vinnies Youth Conference Co-ordinators. The Conferences aim to develop young people by encouraging them to meet, plan and take responsibility for their outreach activities.
Youth Conferences in secondary schools have junior and senior Vinnies who offer their skills, time and talents to help those in need of clothing and food, or who are lonely or living in poverty. The Conferences are supported by schools’ directors of religious studies, teachers and youth co-ordinators.
Every year more than 150 Vinnies from local secondary Catholic schools are involved in voluntary activities to reach out to community: – helping the homeless, the Soup Kitchen, the elderly, food appeals, the Night Shelter, the annual Caritas Lenten appeal, supporting new refugee children, fund raising for those in third-world countries, and supporting Challenge 2000.
- Vinnies from St Patrick’s College actively supported a classmate who passed away from cancer, through the ‘Relay for Life run’ to raise funds for his family and other cancer patients at Wellington Hospital
- St Mary’s College Vinnies donate baby clothing for pregnancy help organisations and teenage single mother shelter House of Grace.
- Bishop Viard Vinnies make cards for the sick and lonely at the local hospital, collect for the local food bank and help at Vinnies Op shop.
- Chanel College Vinnies fundraise for children to go on school camps. Sacred Heart Vinnies help with card-making, toiletry packages and food collections for the Homeless Women’s Shelter.
- St Bernard’s College Vinnies serve as collectors for Te Omanga Hospice, Catholic Social Services and visit and entertain elderly at local rest homes.
We hope our Vinnies who leave school will continue to serve at their local parishes, or at their universities to continue in the footsteps of Frederic Ozanam who founded the SVDP Conference at university with his group of friends.
Every year we hold national youth formations and we run an annual regional Vinnies Mass to bring together all the Vinnies in our region to celebrate. The next is at St Patrick’s College Kilbirnie in August this year.
Ann D’Souza is Wellington Vinnies Youth Co-ordinator.