After spending four days at Ignite Conference Brisbane, the group of 45 students and leaders from 10:10 youth group have returned home, taking some time to reflect on their experience.
Group chaplain Fr Gerard Lai said this was his 12th time attending the conference and each year is better than the last.
“The talks were inspiring, the praise and worship was powerful, and the multitude of workshops were informative and practical,” he said.
“I came away from Ignite Conference feeling physically exhausted, yet spiritually recharged.”
Here is what some of the participants had to say:
Year 12 student Jordan left conference feeling “called to serve the Church in a greater capacity”.
“I arrived excited; I left discerning the next step,” she said.
Year 10 student Lara came away from conference with a “real sense of connection” to the parish community.
“I realised that I’m always talking to God, but I need to let God speak to me too,” she said.
Year 7 student Mannel felt “self-conscious” at first during praise and worship but towards the end he “didn’t really care what other people thought”.
“I went in barely knowing anyone and came out knowing all the boys, I hope I can go again next year,” he said
Young adult leader Luca Camerlango returned changed “from simply being a follower of Christ to being a lover of Christ, not following him out of obligation, but out of love”.
“Adoration, prayer teams and seeing thousands of young people praising God showed me that I am not alone,” he said
Young adult leader Dahli Jacobson felt she had found her home “being surrounded by people who love Jesus”.
“After a stressful month, Ignite gave me the chance to let go of everything I was carrying and walk with Jesus,” she said.
Siena College campus minister Joan Prasser was touched watching the young people “open their hearts and make room for Jesus”.
“I left with peace, lightness and joy,” she said.
Often people are unsure where the youth are in the church: “young people are indeed around but sometimes they need the right environment and encouragement for that faith to catch fire,” Fr Lai said.
“These testimonials are evidence that events such as Ignite Conference can spark a faith revival within the hearts of our youth.”
Thank you for your “prayerful and financial giving” to this ministry which “really does make a positive impact in the faith-life of the youth within the parish”.