Passionist youth leaders recharge

THE Passionist Youth Retreat Team takes its ministry seriously.

After seven years of outreach, it again met for mid-year training on July 25 and 26 at Oxley in Brisbane.

“The focus of the weekend was to provide team members with an opportunity to reflect on their commitment to the team and how they’ve been nourished by the ministry this year so far,” team development officer Christian Nobleza said.

“Team members were provided the chance to share their ‘road of life’ with one another, which for most was a humbling yet a faith-filled experience.”

Christian said “a significant part of the weekend” was the opportunity for both past and present team members, together with family, friends and the Passionist priests of the Oxley community to gather and celebrate Mass with Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Oudeman of Brisbane.

Established by Passionist Father Ray Sanchez, the Passionist Youth Retreat Team is a Catholic retreat ministry offering facilitated retreat days, leadership training and other formation opportunities for young people in schools, parishes and deaneries throughout Queensland and northern New South Wales.

High school graduates are invited to serve for at least a one year on the team and, since its inception, there have been more than 25 young adults who have committed at least one year of ministry, with some offering up to five consecutive years.

“Our experience has been that these young people are searching for a sense of connection in life and that they want to give themselves to something worth their time and commitment,” Christian said.

“Our team attempts to provide young people with a faith experience, which is created and is sustained by a sense of community and expresses itself in empathy, depth of prayer, ‘down-to-earthness’ and a willingness to be vulnerable.

“Our team is continuing to grow each year with more schools and parishes choosing to take us on board because of our down-to-earth approach which I guess is reflection of our connection with, and living out of the Passionist spirituality and charism.”