Vocation Weekends and Other Events
YOUNG MEN OF GOD CONFERENCE A WINNER
A weekend conference for young men held on 9-10
October at St. Benedict’s Narrabundah proved to be a great success.
Close to a hundred young men, primarily from the Sydney and Canberra
regions, gathered for a unique weekend of healing and personal
empowerment. The speakers at the conference included Lyndon Cox,
youth coordinator for Sydney Archdiocese, Fr. Chris Ryan MGL
from St. Benedict’s, Adam Morris, youth ministry coordinator
for Canberra and Goulburn Archdiocese, Steve Toohey, leader of
Disciples Youth Mission Team, and Jonathan Doyle from the John
Paul 11 Institute in Melbourne. The speakers focussed on the
challenges of being a man of God in the pressures of the modern
world. They gave particular emphasis to the call to live the
chaste life. Sam Burns, one of the organisers from Canberra,
was delighted with the conference. He commented: “I think a lot
of guys felt empowered through the talks and the sharings to
overcome disordered patterns in their lives and were strengthened
in their commitment to the Lord and to brotherhood”. Sharing
groups gave the young men an opportunity to share openly and
vulnerably with one another on areas of their lives that they
rarely open up to anyone. While affirming the beautiful gift
of sexuality the speakers challenged the participants to rightly
order this gift according to the plan and purpose of God. There
was a general recognition at the conference of the woundedness
of young men in their sexuality, yet there was a strong affirmation
of the power for healing that can be found in the redemption
won by Jesus.
The weekend featured adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and charismatic worship
led by a dynamic music ministry. Most of the participants took the opportunity
of sacramental reconciliation available over the weekend. On the Saturday evening
the men were called to surrender their lives to Jesus Christ and make a commitment
to follow his ways. Many responded to the call. Fr. Ken Barker MGL, who first
had the vision for the weekend, said “I am really grateful that the conference
was such an effective tool in reaching young men where they most need to hear
the Good News of Jesus. It shows that young men today hunger for good spiritual
food and are ready to respond to the challenge of the gospel. They want to
take their place in the Church and be effective leaders in their spheres of
influence”
On the Sunday morning the men were challenged to use their gifts within the
Body of Christ, and to actively influence the social environment in which they
live. They were called to overcome apathy and timidity by taking initiative
with new ventures and trusting in the Lord when the battle seems too hard.
Tom Doran, one of the participants at the conference, said “I think we all
realized more deeply our identity as leaders in the Church. We became more
aware that individually and collectively we can make a difference.” A large
team of locals helped put the weekend together. They included Paul Glass, Daniel
Clementine, Sam Mullins, Graham Tooth, Luke Vanderlinden, Ben O’Heir and Phil
Belcher. Adam Henry , team coordinator, said he was “really stoked” with the
outcome of the planning: “I am just so glad that so many fellers came, and
that the organizing team really pulled together. All the feed back on the evaluation
sheets was positive. It was an awesome weekend”
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