THE World Youth Day spirit was rekindled at Kangaroo Point’s Pineapple Hotel when Brisbane’s first Faith on Tap (FoT) event was held recently.
More than 100 young people turned out to the August 11 launch to watch WYD08 highlights on the hotel’s big screens and to again sing along to familiar songs from the international celebration held in Sydney last month.
They also heard Jessica Aravena’s conversion story – from staying at the five-star Ritz hotel in Paris to working as a Catholic missionary on the campuses of Poland.
During her talk, Jessica quoted from Cardinal George Pell’s homily at the WYD opening Mass at Barangaroo.
“It was as if the cardinal was speaking directly to me when he said: ‘Don’t spend your life sitting on the fence, keeping your options open, because only commitments bring fulfilment’,” she said.
Jessica told the crowd how living on the other side of the world, away from her Catholic friends and living a five-star lifestyle, led her bit by bit to drop off her faith.
She stopped going to Mass, stopped praying and drifted away from the Church.
She emphasised the importance of good Catholic friends, and how events like FoT were a good place to make new Catholic friendships.
One of the participants Anthony Goodwin later said that the “Faith on Tap was an exciting launch – way better than I expected”.
“Jess managed to connect with everyone,” he said.
“I’m really looking forward to the next few months – it was great to see a really good mix of young Catholics and have a great time in a friendly environment.”
FoT organiser Justin Lynch said: “It was great for so many different groups to meet and mix, swapping ideas and future plans since their inspirational trips to WYD.
“World Youth Day has empowered many of us young people to put on events like Faith on Tap.”
Published US author on Catholic family issues and international secretary of the World Congress of Families Allan Carlson will speak at October’s gathering.
For more information visit www.faithontap.org.au or find the groups on Facebook and XT3.com.
Organiser Justin Lynch can be contacted on 0416 007 289.
