THE “wow factor” was evident in St Patrick’s, Fortitude Valley, on February 7 when this year’s 38 members of NET (National Evangelisation Teams) were commissioned for ministry Australiawide by Archbishop of Brisbane John Bathersby.
“Wow” was evident in his encouragement of the 38.
“Tonight … I congratulate you on listening to what God is saying to you and going out to tell other young people about it,” Archbishop Bathersby said.
“Jesus works through each and every one of us to create a new world.
“Congratulations to each one of you, to the team who prepared you, to the parents and family who support you … let us continue with this marvellous act of God’s love the Mass, that lies at the heart of God’s new world.”
“Wow” was also displayed in the active involvement of past and present “Netters”, their family members and other supporters, almost “lifting the roof” in worship.
“Wow” was evident in their commitment of the 38 to the year ahead and particularly in “the heart” displayed during the four weeks of training just prior said NET director Shanelle Bennett.
“This year’s Netter’s are quality people,” she said.
“They are quiet but have a depth of faith. They listen and have been working hard. They own what they are doing.”
Mrs Bennett said “the quality” of this year’s group among six “teams” could mostly be attributed to the impact of World Youth Day.
“World Youth Day definitely made a difference,” she said.
“A number of team members have directly come from their experience of being touched by the Holy Spirit (at WYD08) and decided they want to give back to the Lord in some way.”
NET is sending out their customary “national” team, travelling to high schools and parishes Australiawide, with two other teams in Cairns and one each in Coffs Harbour and Melbourne.
This year’s group has a particularly “international flavour”, another “wow”.
“We have team members from Tonga, Hong Kong, Poland, the UK, South Africa, India … and the same amount from the USA and Canada,” Mrs Bennett said.
The presence of their families at the February 7 Mass added again to the “wow factor” with “lots of different families from lots of different cultures” she continued.
While the ministry operates from Brisbane their mandate is to serve communities locally, nationally and internationally.
They have set up and continue to oversee NET Uganda, facilitating on-going leadership training in August this year.
“We love to work in our own home town, our own archdiocese,” Mrs Bennett said.
“(But) we are called to the whole nation and beyond.”
– Selina Venier
