HE’S only just been installed as Archbishop of Brisbane and already Archbishop Mark Coleridge is leaving an imprint on the hearts and in the minds of young people.
Hundreds of youth, including boarders from Marist College, Ashgrove, and Stuartholme College, Toowong, and a variety of other age groups gathered in Sacred Heart Church, Rosalie, last Sunday (May 20) for Mass with their new archbishop.
The Mass was part of Emmanuel Youth Outreach’s monthly “Fuel” event.
During his homily Archbishop Coleridge was engaging and direct.
“Now is the time for ignition,” he said, encouraging everyone to make use of the diverse events of faith within the archdiocese.
“It’s time to start afresh from Christ … it’s time for you to be the disciples.”
Archbishop Coleridge also said “future saints and priests” were among them and “Brisbane is a field of mission with huge potential and spiritual vibrance”.
“Young people are the Church of the future,” he said.
“Young people are the Church of now.”
After discussion with Brisbane archdiocese’s Youth and Children’s Ministry team from the Faith and Life Vicariate, Archbishop Coleridge chose to launch the annual Pentecost Pastoral Letter for the young people of the archdiocese after the Mass and as part of Fuel – considering the large number of youth it attracts each month.
Rosie Hayes said she “really enjoyed” all he had to say, particularly in his pastoral message after the Mass.
“I thought his message really reached out to young people … he really connected,” she said.
“It has inspired me to live this year not by my strength alone but through God’s Grace.
“Bring on the Year of Grace.”
Rosie’s sister Veronica Hayes said the Archbishop’s message was “powerful and inspiring”.
“As I was sitting there in the pews I felt like I was truly part of something big,” Veronica said.
“Young people want to make a change in this world but we need to know wse are doing with others.
“Archbishop Coleridge made it clear … that there is a mission to be part of and that we are not alone.”
Veronica said she felt “blessed to be a part of the Catholic Church” and “there are exciting times ahead for Brisbane”.
Nattasha Pennington, from NET (National Evangelisation Teams), who is on the organising team for Fuel, said she was “blown away” by the number of people who gathered to hear from Brisbane’s spiritual new leader.
She said people came from as far as Innisfail, Melbourne and even New Zealand.
“The message itself was just incredible,” she said.
“I was really challenged by it but at the same time encouraged.
“I think in my own faith I still try to work so hard to always do the right thing but, like the Archbishop said, it’s not us that need to get ‘bloodied, bruised and broken’ for our faith – Jesus did that for us.”
After the Mass and pastoral message, young people heard from NET’s Jen Colmer and James Morrisson, a student from Trinity College, Beenleigh.
Nattasha said “both had been through real trials and challenges” and had relied on God’s grace for strength.
“God didn’t just see them through the hard times but lifted them higher and made them stronger in their faith,” she said.
As a “prayer response” to the testimonies, participants were encouraged to take a “small jigsaw piece” from the foot of the Cross “as a symbol that grace is the missing piece that completes us”, Nattasha said.
The multimedia presentation shown at Fuel in response to Archbishop Coleridge’s pastoral message can be seen via www.cymbrisbane.org.au
