HUNDREDS of young people at Emmanuel Community’s Ignite09 conference in Brisbane last week openly showed their desire to be in God’s presence.
They were confident, free and enthusiastic during worship, prayer and adoration at the “Rivers in the desert” gathering held at Clairvaux MacKillop College, Upper Mt Gravatt.
A host of local and interstate guest speakers and contributors made for a dynamic experience from September 24-27, described by Emmanuel Community moderator Shayne Bennett as “the most significant undertaking for Brisbane youth since World Youth Day (last year)”.
At the first daytime rally visiting Missionary of God’s Love priest Fr Chris Ryan, who previously met many of conference participants during the journey of the WYD08 Cross and Icon, spoke of the “desert” presence in the lives of each one of us.
His talk resonated in the theme of every other rally speaker including Missionary of God’s Love Sister Therese Mills, from Canberra, who said she “spent 17 years in the desert”.
“The desert is loneliness … emptiness,” she said.
“I was living two separate lives … going to church and (also) getting ‘trashed’ every weekend.
“(But) you need to be alert to what God is doing (in your life) and let him whisper those words, ‘I love you’.”
These themes of holiness, renewal and mission were carried into almost 70 workshops over the main two days including one called “Educating young people about sexual choices”, given by Jonathon and Karen Doyle, of Choicez Media; another, “Reconciliation: a sacrament of Grace”, given by Holy Spirit Provincial Seminary rector Monsignor Tony Randazzo; and “The God of washing up: ministry at home”, given by Kym Keady and Alan Zamparutti.
Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane presided at Mass at noon on September 25.
“I’m delighted dear young people to be here with you as you seek to come alive with the light of Jesus Christ,” he said.
Archbishop Bathersby said that, when considering the word “Ignite”, his thoughts turned to his “first parish priest … whose one large fault was smoking 90 a cigarettes a day”.
The archbishop also spoke of the importance of being “people of prayer”.
“If we don’t (pray), we forget who we are and what God calls us to do,” he said.
“My office (of archbishop) requires me to recite the Prayer of the Church, (and) words jump out of scripture like they never have before.
“Over the years (you too) will realise how much love God pours into our lives.”
Archbishop Bathersby encouraged all to rediscover “the new world” awaiting them so they may “change the world for the better”.
“I’m delighted to see that new world (among you),” he said.
“Your life can be changed from now on.”
He concluded the homily with a blessing saying, “May God bless your coming together … and your mission in the world.”
The emmanuelworship band provided both lively or more reflective worship depending on the particular theme of the session.
Redcliffe City parish priest Fr Michael McCarthy blessed the water of a font used during the “desert”-themed conference and led the time of Benediction and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on September 26.
Young people were physically and spiritually moved by the Blessed Sacrament being carried around the venue, most constantly on their knees, many bowing progressively and in reflective adoration.
One of the conference organisers Luke Plant said participants spoke of the adoration time, which also included an opportunity for the sacrament of Reconciliation, as their “highlight”.
“For many it was their first experience of adoration … and they found it very personal to encounter Jesus as He was processed around,” Mr Plant said.
The conference’s closing Mass last Sunday (September 27), with Fr Ryan presiding, drew together the three-day experience with “roof-lifting” worship and moments of prayerful silence.
Throughout Ignite09 the school library housed a vocations and ministry expo with 23 stallholders and hundreds of visitors passing through.
Brisbane archdiocese’s Vocations promotions officer Mark Lysaght described Ignite09 as “extraordinary”.
“The most significant questions at Ignite were (young people asking) ‘Where am I going?’ and ‘What am I doing with my life?'” he said.
“For the Vocations Office to be there was an incredible privilege and we will continue involvement with Ignite due to the exposure with young people about their calling.”
Ingite09 was a 12-month organisational undertaking of Brisbane’s Emmanuel Community and particularly its arm of Emmanuel Youth Outreach (EYO).
Seven hundred registrations were taken before it began, double the number for the previous conference in 2006, with another estimated 100 people attending the evening “open to the public” rallies.
Ignite will be an annual September event for Brisbane to build on the “ignition” and “re-ignition” of faith witnessed.
“The whole experience was very empowering,” Mr Plant said.
