A GROUP of Brisbane university students spent last weekend in prayer.
The 25 students, aged 18-25, were attending Brisbane Outreach 2001, a Life in the Spirit seminar organised by the Newman Society.
The Newman Society at the University of Queensland is one of the few active Catholic student groups on campuses in Brisbane.
The theme for the three-day seminar, which began on June 29, was “Revival, Fire, Fall”.
Newman Society president, Nicholas Rynne, said the aim of the weekend was “to revive young Catholics already practising their faith, to revive the faith of those young people who were not practising their faith, and to ignite the fire of the Holy Spirit within each young person present”.
He said the weekend was one of intensive prayer, praise and worship.Nicholas praised the team leading the seminar. Twelve young people, and a Franciscan Friar, Fr John Paul Tan, travelled from Singapore specifically to present the seminar.
They were assisted by Marist Father Jack Soulsby of Brisbane, who has worked extensively in Africa and Australia with young people.
Nicholas said much of the cost of the seminar was met by the visiting Singapore team.
“The young team members themselves paid for their own flights and the parishioners of Singapore donated funds to the Catholic Youth Office of Singapore to assist with costs.”
He said the weekend was a great success.
“Having talked to many of the participants, I can gladly say that they all felt they had been touched and moved by the Holy Spirit.”
Nicholas said each young person went away with a greater commitment to God and to his Church.
