EMMANUAL Youth Outreach has launched details of the three-day program for the 2009 Ignite conference.
The conference will draw young Catholics from throughout Australia to Clairvaux MacKillop College, Upper Mt Gravatt, in Brisbane from September 24-27.
Its theme is “Rivers in the Desert”, taken from Isaiah 43:15 – “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not see it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert”.
Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane, in endorsing the conference, said he was delighted the Ignite 09 conference was to be held in Brisbane.
“I’m sure it will be an opportunity for the youth of the archdiocese and for many visitors to encounter Christ and receive information which will strengthen them in their faith,” Archbishop Bathersby said.
A co-ordinator Luke Plant said that, since its beginnings in 2001, the Ignite conference has grown to become the largest Catholic youth event of its kind in Australia.
“This is the sixth conference and the last one in 2006 attracted more than 600 people from throughout Australia so we are expecting to build on that,” Luke said.
He said Ignite 09 was aimed at teenagers and kids as well as young adults and young families and would once again involve morning and evening rallies, workshops and opportunities to participate in the sacraments of the Church.
Luke said a dozen guest speakers including Missionaries of God’s Love Father Chris Ryan and Fr Michael Senfuma, who is chaplain to youth in the Diocese of Masaka, Uganda, would talk on issues as diverse as leadership, worship, creative arts and mission.
He said the conference would again provide special streams for Year 8-10 school students and for primary-aged children and a crèche for children under five years.
Luke said Blaze, for the teenagers, was led by youth specialist NET (National Evangelisation Teams) ministries and involved music, games and input from other young people, while Ignite Kids would provide activities to help primary school children learn that God has a plan for their lives.
Luke said a further initiative of Ignite 09 was the inclusion of a special men’s event on September 26.
“menAlive has always been involved with Ignite but this year there is a special men’s breakfast hosted by menAlive, with Jonathon Doyle as guest speaker,” he said.
More information is available from www.igniteconference.com.au
