Time for SA youth to shine
Local
As Catholic youth around the world prepare to gather in Lisbon next month, excitement is mounting locally for the World Youth Day Adelaide event to be held on August 5.
Organisers from the Catholic Office for Youth and Young Adults (COYYA) are expecting a good attendance at Sacred Heart College, Somerton Park, with the day featuring a series of workshops, a special WYD liturgy and evening concert.
COYYA coordinator Julian Nguyen said the event will provide an opportunity for local young people to gather and be part of WYD, from a distance.
“For those young people who can’t go to the international celebrations they are really looking forward to getting together in Adelaide and gathering as a community,” he said.
Tickets are $20 per registration, and that includes entry to all the workshops, food and drinks, the WYD liturgy and the concert from indie rock duo, Gus & Iggy. A highlight of the day’s activities will be the main ‘Power Up’ workshop to be presented by Melbourne-based educator and motivational speaker, Gianna Lucas. She will share practical ways for young people to reflect on their goals, identify barriers and make an action plan.
“It will focus on encouraging young people to be courageous and respond to the current needs,” Mr Nguyen said.
A series of other workshops will also be held, as well as a Q&A panel including well known identities in the Archdiocese.
Following the special WYD liturgy and dinner, participants will be entertained with a ‘Light Up’ concert.
Mr Nguyen said the WYD event was a great way to put behind “a tough two or three years” which impacted some youth ministries.
“Some of those ministries didn’t return after COVID but fortunately we are now seeing new ones emerge and things are bouncing back in that space,” he said.
New ministries include the Parish Crawl group formed about six months following recommendations made at the 2022 Diocesan Youth Assembly. The group is taking youth ministry “on the road to the parishes”, enabling young people to connect as a wider community “with like-minded young people on a similar faith journey”.
Mat Chat group has also formed, bringing together young Catholic women who share their experiences and support each other.
Several youth groups from Adelaide are attending World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, which will run from August 1 to 6. ‘Mary arose and went with haste’ (Lk 1:39) is the bible quote chosen by Pope Francis as the WYD theme.
For more information about the WYD Adelaide event and to get your tickets, visit cathyouthadelaide.org.au/world-youth-day
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