A SEA of young Catholics fell to their knees in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on a prayerful second night of Ignite Youth conference September 23.
Adoration followed a keynote by Liam Desic, a young father who spoke about how his faith helped him through his daughter’s medical condition.
“I was on my knees (in prayer),” he said.
“That was the moment that centred the centrality of Jesus in my life.
“We had trusted in the miracle … (and) five months later, Audrey was in remission. She’s healthy and beautiful and amazing.”
Mr Desic encouraged “an open heart” to Jesus during the time of adoration and the stadium, filled with a range of ages, did so effortlessly.
“When I came to know the person of Jesus, I saw love and kindness and wanted to emulate that,” he said.
“When Jesus is present in the hearts of people, He makes a difference. Jesus changed me… He changed the way I spoke and the way I dream.
“Words of life fundamentally change who you are. When we focus on Jesus he will make a way. If you follow the Lord, good things come.”
Rockhampton Bishop Michael McCarthy told the adorers that Jesus “is going to be truly present and with an open heart, we can see with the eyes of faith”.
“In 2012, I sat up the back of this auditorium,” Bishop McCarthy said.
“I was parish priest of this parish and brought about forty young people to Ignite … (but) Jesus was calling me to do new things, I didn’t realise them all at the time.
“Jesus tonight says he has chosen you. As we gaze on him, he says, ‘Come close, I am your brother, your friend and your God’.”
Earlier that day, Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge had celebrated the opening Mass for the conference.
The young Catholics had streamed out of the Mass to see all the sights and sounds of Ignite, including the pop-up stalls showcasing Catholic groups from Brisbane and beyond.
“We have loved the positive vibe from Ignite,” Vinnies stall operator Felicity Lupton said on September 23.
It was her first Ignite and this year, Vinnies not only gave away freebies but also had a rack of second hand items to sell, from their Morayfield outlet.
“We’ve been inspired by all the young people,” she said.
Sisters of Mary Morning Star, based in Mitchelton parish, were encouraging visits to their northside of Brisbane convent.
Sr Sarah Rose, who has been in Brisbane for two years, said they had been “blessed” to have the foot traffic to their stall and were pleased for children especially to ask questions about how they dress and about their charism.
Kayla Hanna and Hannah Cato said they too had been impressed by the passersby to their stall promoting “The Download”, a January 2022 program from the Australian Christian Lobby.
“Political questions are sometimes difficult for young people to ask and find responses to,” Kayla said.
“It’s been great to be here to talk to the older demographic about what we do.
“Finding their voice of truth, in a political sense, is so relevant and important, especially in this day and age when so many critical decisions are being made by our political leaders.
“The Download, next January, is about finding the truth.”
Angela Greathead and her daughter-in-law Anna were part of the Angelorum stall and they had been buoyed by the interest shown, Angela saying one family had come by to find out more about registering.
Principal of the Fortitude Valley college, Lucy Robinson, also present during Ignite, said their stall was pleased to hand out blessed miraculous medals and rosaries.
“Patrons also had the opportunity to discover more about this independent college for students across Prep to Year Ten,” Mrs Robinson said.
Rising to a new day on September 24, Ignite Kids took to the stage to join emmanuelworship in a lively expression of faith.
They too had been part of their own “Unleash” themed experience across conference.
Morning groups and sessions are planned for today, with more on the Ignite schedule before it wraps tomorrow, September 25.
