WHILE most teenagers were soaking up the summer sun or cooling off at the movies, 50 high schoolers gladly gave up their holidays to gather in Mittagong, south-west of Sydney, for the Young Christian Students (YCS) conference.
Themed, “Empower the students, enrich their lives, enlighten their faith,” the conference began with Mass in Parramatta Cathedral on January 10, celebrated by Bishop of Darwin Eugene Hurley and Bishop of Wollongong Peter Ingham.
An open forum followed, enabling young people to engage with Church leaders about daily concerns relating to three specific topics.
“The three areas we focussed on related to body image, poverty and racism,” said YCS volunteer and conference attendee, Devett O’Brien.
Students formed small groups to discuss a concern relating to one such topic and then presented a statement to Bishop Hurley along with “an action” they would take to improve the issue.
Bishop Hurley responded with conviction said 21 year-old Devett.
“Bishop Hurley encouraged young Christians to be actively engaged with the world and transform it in the image of Christ, rather than withdraw from it,” Devett said.
“He listened to all that was presented and said he would take it to the Australian Catholic Bishops’ conference.”
Bishop Hurley also reinforced Pope John Paul II’s message that “young people are the Church of today, not tomorrow” and “called on Christian churches to actively engage with young people”.
A prayer experience with the World Youth Day Cross and Icon formed part of the gathering.
“Prayer with the Icon and Cross gave students the opportunity to visually make that link between what Jesus did for us and our world today,” Devett said.
Students laid their written presentations and action plan from the forum at the foot of the Cross during the prayer time.
“The issues they brought to the Cross gave a real sense that what we are doing, and planning to do, are part of our mission as children of God and of building the kingdom of God,” Devett said.
Billed as the largest national event run by secondary school students, the conference also enabled them to highlight the successes of the movement and cast a vision for the future.
“Our vision is about what we’d like the world to be like in 50 years,” Devett said.
Delegates were also able to sharpen their leadership skills in workshop-style sessions while Perth YCS worker Victoria Burrows was named as the national formation co-ordinator.
Devett, who has offered to work for YCS this year minus his former co-ordinator’s salary, will be based in Canberra and is looking forward to the challenge.
When The Catholic Leader spoke to this faith-filled young man he was also looking forward to the party held on January 16 that closed the conference.
The Australian YCS is part of an international movement with 2.2 million members in 85 countries that empower students to take steps to improve the world.
