PLANNING ahead in South Coast Deanery is a growing trend.
More than 30 youth and young adults gathered on October 11 for a post-World Youth Day training opportunity to celebrate the past and plan for the future.
Brisbane archdiocese’s Youth and Children’s Ministry Team member Paul Blom described the event as “great” and “well received”.
“We were contacted by all of the parishes in the South Coast Deanery after World Youth Day,” he said.
“They all wanted us to come out to provide some training so we decided to offer it on a deanery level.”
He and colleague Malcolm Hart addressed participants on the topics of establishing a youth ministry team, developing a sense of community, providing leadership, praying with young people, planning programs and the legalities of working with youth.
“It was good to see every parish from across the deanery represented,” Paul said.
“They wanted to answer the questions, ‘Where to from here?’ and ‘How do we keep the enthusiasm going post-World Youth Day?'”
While some were focusing on WYD in Madrid in 2011, others offered ideas on a parish and deanery level.
“They are considering things like more youth rallies, proper catechesis with one of the bishops and big events from a deanery perspective,” Paul said.
Joined by the WYD08 NET (National Evangelisation Team), the youth ministry enthusiast encourages other parishes and deaneries to put up their hand for help, if needed.
“If other deaneries want us to come and work with them, we’d love to,” Paul said.
