NINETEEN newly baptised and confirmed teenagers from Ipswich said “yes to following Jesus” at St Mary’s Church last month.
A group of 14 St Mary’s College students along with five St Edmund’s College students took part in the Rite of Catholic Initiation for Teens program.
Supported by the local parish, Ipswich Catholic Community, and presided over by parish priest Franciscan Friar Fr Stephen Bliss, this was the largest contingent of students to participate in the program in recent years.
SMC campus minister Felicity Jones walked with the students on their RCIT journey.
“This year, we had 19 people say ‘yes’ to following Jesus – what a wonderful blessing for our whole community,” she said.
“I am so proud of how the girls journeyed, and I am grateful to have been by their side each moment.
“It is wonderful to see so many young people exploring their faith, and taking Jesus into their heart.”
Year 8 SMC student Mia Harris is one of the new Catholics.
“Felicity came and talked to our Religion class about the program, and it sounded pretty cool,” she said.
“I was excited to work with Felicity and learn from her.
“Seeing someone young and relatable like Felicity so passionate about her faith made me want to explore my own faith and relationship with God.
“I made some great new friends from the program, and really developed my faith.
“We had to trust one another to make it through the program, and it was great to know Felicity always had our backs.”
Eloise Gill, also in Year 8 at SMC, said the RCIT program helped her feel closer to God.
“The program was a really good chapter in my life,” she said.
“It was fun to hang out with friends and learn more about being Catholic at the same time.
“I hope I can apply what I learned in the program to my life, and that my faith will lead me to the right choices.”
St Mary’s College was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1863.
Exploring, honouring and celebrating the Mercy and Catholic traditions on which the College was founded remain central to the school’s ethos today.
The college has a strong relationship with the local parish, Ipswich Catholic Community, and regularly celebrates Mass in St Mary’s church.
Miss Jones said she looks forward to continuing her work with the students in the RCIT program as they deepen their faith and participate in the religious life of the college and parish.
“Being part of the parish has allowed me to meet so many people and understand the definition of community,” she said.
“There is a lot of goodness in our local parish, and I am grateful for the involvement I have had over the years and the people I have met along the way.
“I hope these 19 young people find their connection to the parish and their faith as rewarding as I do.”
