ON the first Monday of the month in September and October those who attended Spirituality in the Pub at Gilhooley’s Tavern, Chermside were treated to two very different themes.
October 1 heard members of the World Youth Day NET (National Evangelisation Teams) speak about their individual calling to ministry as well as their hopes for World Youth Day in Sydney next year.
NET’s Charissa Hong, from Canada, explained how she first “caught the bug at age 12, badgering her parish youth worker for an application form” despite not being able to join until she was 18.
Fellow team member Caitlyn Ray, from America, said she sees the youth ministry opportunity as the fulfilment of her “dream of travelling to Australia”.
Described as “the livewire of the group” Melbourne’s Laura Moore said she is “honoured and excited at the opportunity to help other young people get the most out of next year’s World Youth Day in Sydney”.
SIP attendee, WYD08 Secretariat member Donna Longland enjoyed the night and especially hearing the group relay “their hopes for what will happen after World Youth Day”.
On September 3, my husband Sean and I spoke of the struggles and triumphs through the unpredictability of life on the theme, “Life wasn’t meant to be easy.”
We spoke about Sean’s diagnosis of and treatment for a brain tumour along with the challenge of raising an autistic child.
“We actually considered ourselves very blessed… we try to take stock of the good and not allow negativity to overtake our lives,” Sean said to the crowd.
Both nights were attended by a variety of ages and organiser Gavin Duffy, youth ministry co-ordinator of the North East Deanery, encourages people from all walks of life to come along.
The next Spirituality in the Pub will be on November 5 with guest speaker Edwin Bakker who works with Kerygma Teams in Sydney training people for missionary work.
More details can be sought by visiting www.nedym.net
