DARRA-JINDALEE Parish has appointed Matthew Fradd as its new youth ministry co-ordinator.
During the year’s inaugural youth Mass at Twelve Apostles Church, Jindalee last month, Brisbane Auxiliary Bishop Brian Finnigan commissioned a new parish youth ministry team which included Matthew.
Previous parish youth co-ordinator Nina Crawford left the parish in November to take up a position in the Cook Islands.
Matthew, who returned to the parish after serving 16 months with National Evangelisation Teams (NET Ministries) in Canada and Ireland, became the seventh co-ordinator since 1995.
Parish youth leader Christian Nobleza said Matthew brought with him a contagious love for the Gospel that had really encouraged the faith life of the parish community.
During Lent the parish also hosted the first Deanery Youth Lenten Program for Brisbane West Deanery.
“We had about 25-30 young people come each week to share with each other the themes of Lent in a fun and creative way,” Christian said.
Each weekly meeting featured different guest speakers, including former parish youth co-ordinator Kym Keady and NET staff member Mark Bennett, and provided participants with a chance to explore issues they are confronting as young Catholics.
For the final week, Brisbane archdiocesan vocations director Fr Ian Wren and Sunnybank parish associate pastor Fr Adrian Sharp were invited to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
“Having completed the Lenten program we誶e now looking at the rest of the year, Christian said.
He said the parish had sponsored two young people to attend the annual Movers and Shakers Christian Leadership Program at Peregian on the Sunshine Coast last week.
“We are also in the process of implementing LifeTEEN, an international youth ministry model aimed at making the Eucharist the “source and summit” of a young person’s faith life.
For more information about youth ministry at Darra-Jindalee Parish phone Matthew on (07) 3375 1013.
