YOUNG Catholics from throughout Australia and beyond flocked to Brisbane from September 28-October 1 for the 5th Ignite Conference.
Ignite is the largest Catholic youth conference in Australia and attracted more than 600 people, including a small contingent from New Zealand.
The event, run by Emmanuel Youth Outreach (EYO), a ministry of Emmanuel Community, was held at Stuartholme College, Toowong.
One of the co-ordinators, Luke Plant, said Ignite 06 was a fantastic success.
He said Brisbane Archbishop John Bathersby celebrated the opening Mass of the conference with a number of other priests involved as speakers or accompanying groups of youth.
“For a lot of people it is one of the highlights of the year,” Luke said.
“It is the only conference of its kind in the Catholic Church in Australia and it is all about young people talking to other young people about Christ in their lives.
“That’s one of the things that attracts young people – it is contemporary, it’s vibrant, there is a lot of music involved, it speaks to young people at their level and if you come as a group it increases the impact when you go home because others have experienced the same thing.”
Luke said Bishop Joseph Grech of Sandhurst in Victoria was one of the most popular speakers at Ignite 06.
“He spoke about our personal choice for Christ and his own experience in that area.”
Other speakers included Missionaries of God’s Love Father Chris Ryan, who is director of the World Youth Day Cross and Icon pilgrimage across Australia in the lead up to 2008, and Shayne Bennett, a former executive director of National Evangelisation Team (NET) Ministries.
“The rally sessions were also highlights,” Luke said. “They were held morning and night and the morning sessions included adoration of the Blessed Sacrament which was very powerful.”
He said the conference included the launch of emmanuelworship’s new CD which includes the song My Witness You’ll Be, written for World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney.
Luke said Ignite 06 also included the launch of Youth Horizons National, which would be held in Brisbane in July 2008, just before World Youth Day in Sydney.
