YOUNG people at Darra-Jindalee Parish got a taste of what true freedom means for Catholics at a LIFE TEEN gathering on June 12.
Parish youth co-ordinator Matthew Fradd invited Cameron Maeder from Houston, Texas to the parish’s regular Sunday LIFE TEEN program to talk about true freedom and its significance for young Catholics in an ever-changing world.
Cameron, who served on a National Evangelisation Team (NET Ministries) with Matthew in Ireland, took young people through the night’s topic, ‘A Life Worth Fighting For’, exploring how and why young people struggle through life and how faith could provide some answers.
The American parish youth co-ordinator had helped implement a LIFE TEEN program in her parish.
Parish youth leader Christian Nobleza said Darra-Jindalee Parish continued its successful introduction of LIFE TEEN, an international Catholic youth ministry which leads teenagers closer to Christ by providing resources and training to encourage vibrant Eucharistic celebrations and opportunities for teenagers to grow in their faith.
Christian said since the launch of the program with Brisbane Archbishop John Bathersby on May 22, about 35 young people had turned up each Sunday to talk about what it meant to be young Catholics in today’s consumer-driven, greedy society.
He said topics in recent weeks included ‘friendship’, ‘self-identity’, ‘the Beatitudes’ and ‘true freedom’.
‘For the last four weeks, through dramas, talks, small group discussions, music and creative prayer experiences, the young people have been able to connect with their faith as it applies to their everyday experiences,’ he said.
‘Although most of the participants are from the parish, there have been a significant number of young people coming from other parishes in Brisbane West Deanery. ‘
Each Sunday begins with a parish Life Mass at 5.30pm in the Church of the Twelve Apostles, Jindalee, followed by Life Night, which runs until about 8.45pm.
For more information about LIFE TEEN e-mail darjin@bne.catholic.net.au or phone youth co-ordinator Matthew Fradd on (0419) 187 216.
