By David Chua
OVER 100 Catholics flocked to Advent Park in Maida Vale for a weekend of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, a torchlight Eucharistic procession, spiritual talks and an open-forum panel discussion of diocesan and Religious priests.
Ten priests, seven Religious Sisters and two friars joined over 80 lay Catholics at the re-booted Catholic Prayer Festival from 11-13 February that started at 9pm on Friday night in the venue’s chapel with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and perpetual adoration, which continued to the end of the festival.
Talks during the festival focused on the importance of prayer and Eucharist, given by Catholic Youth Ministry chaplain Fr Roman Wroblewski SDS, Australian Vocations Director for the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculata Fr Joseph Mary Michael McShane and parish priests Frs Timothy Deeter (Mt Lawley), Peter Bianchini (Highgate) and Don Kettle (City Beach).
The talks culminated in a two and a half-hour panel discussion in which the six priests shared their personal journeys to the priesthood and discussed a range of unplanned audience-chosen topics. Many discussions continued over meals as the priests joined the attendees for dinner and breakfast the next morning.
Fr Roman told The Record that being given the opportunity to share and connect with the young attendees was a rewarding moment in his priestly vocation.
“Showing young people that the priesthood is a beautiful journey of life, blessed by God – and that Christ gives us celibacy as part of that love – shows how we are so fulfilled as priests, and how we serve young people,” Fr Roman said.
“We need more events like this, to encourage more priests to come along and open up themselves to other people.”
John Keogh, 23, a teacher at Mazenod College, told The Record that the clergy’s presence and witness to their priestly vocation inspired him and distinguished the festival from many of the ‘youth-based’ Catholic events he had frequented in the past.
“Usually when you come to Catholic conferences, priests are few and far between … it becomes more of a ‘laity affair’,” he said. “It’s great to be able to have free interaction with Religious and with people likeminded about our faith.”
The festival provided constant opportunity for prayer via a perpetual adoration roster, together with the Liturgy of the Hours which commenced at 5am each morning. One of the organisers, Kelvin Lobo, said he had initial reservations about holding perpetual adoration after the festival.“I wasn’t sure whether young people would want to do such a thing, especially during night hours,” he said. However, both adoration and daily prayers were well attended, especially by younger attendees. “To be able to go in at 3am on Saturday night and find six or seven young people worshipping the Blessed Sacrament – it was amazing,” he said.
Eucharistic prayer culminated in a torchlit procession of the Blessed Sacrament around the camp grounds at 8pm on Saturday night.
On Sunday, the final Mass was celebrated at 8am by Perth Auxiliary Bishop Donald Sproxton who was joined by All Saints chaplain Fr Tiziano Bogoni and Frs Joseph and Roman.
For Bronia Karniewicz, director of Respect Life Office, Perth, the highlight of the festival was the beauty of the Mass which included Gregorian chant and polyphony sung by a schola (choir) comprised of youth. “I think beauty leads us to prayer … prayer leads to God. And a really important part of beauty is that it shows us how wonderful and beautiful God is,” Bronia said.
The Festival, which sprang out of a weekly discernment group in 1997 led by Fr Deeter, initially drew about 30 youth, but stopped in 2006. It was re-started this year by the initiative of several lay individuals, for which the turnout of 100 more than doubled the original expectations of 40. After the final Mass they said the Festival will run annually, following this one’s success.