BRENT Lammas has embarked on a new journey in life as the new diocesan youth ministries co-ordinator for Rockhampton.
Brent, 32, brings both practical experience and formal qualifications to the position.
Growing up in Toowoomba, it was his own positive experiences with youth ministries that helped shape his path.
‘I grew up in an amazing time for youth ministry in Toowoomba,’ Brent said.
He recalled youth leaders such as Carmel Wainwright.
‘They had a real gift of enabling people and bringing people together and trusting them,’ Mr Lammas said.
It was while completing a Creative Arts degree at what is now the University of Southern Queensland, in Toowoomba, that Brent encountered the National Evangelisation Teams (NET).
‘They are a really dynamic youth ministry team that runs retreats in parishes,’ he said.
He said it made him ask, ‘Who am I and where am I going?’
Subsequently, Brent became a team member and later team leader with NET and undertook tours of both Australia and New Zealand in his three-year involvement.
In the middle of this, he took a year off and completed a Graduate Diploma of Secondary Education.
This added some formal training with which to enhance his youth work.
After that, while working towards a Bachelor of Theology, he entered Holy Spirit Seminary in Brisbane.
As a seminarian, Brent again became involved with young people during pastoral placements in Beaudesert and Ipswich parishes.
But, after five years, he left the seminary, seeking another way.
‘Like most people, it’s about constantly discerning the direction of life,’ he said.
Brent said it was a question of ‘Where do I find God? Where am I best placed to be part of the mission of the Church?’
His journey has brought him to Rockhampton.
As part of the recurring theme of his life, Brent has again undertaken to combine teaching, youth work and his own learning.
Now studying towards a Masters of Theology, he took on the youth ministries co-ordinator’s role in April.
He said he is committed to empowering young people to live as disciples of Jesus.
‘We must value their input and call forth their gifts in order to draw them to responsible participation in the life mission and work of the faith community,’ he said.
Brent said by fostering trust and respect with their peers and community members, the young can gain a sense of belonging.
Asked about his plan, he said: ‘The core of it is about helping young people to grow with responsible participation in the Church and its mission’.
