By Theresia Titus
Wollongong Bishop Brian Mascord invited more than 5500 young people to be the Eucharist of the world at the end of adoration in the evening Plenary session on Monday 9 December.
The Plenary session started with performances from American rapper Joe Melendrez, singer songwriters Alyssa Agius and Georga Byrne who form The Saga, and a keynote by American author and speaker Katie Prejean McGrady who told ACYF pilgrims to be the witness of God.
Prior to the keynote session by Mrs McGrady, Bishop of Wilcannia-Forbes Columba Macbeth-Green invited four young indigenous people to share their faith experience in a session called “Cruisin with Columba”.
After a short performance by American singer and evangelist Steve Angrisano, Perth youth representative Syona Fernandez continued with an introduction to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
Ms Fernandez explained that adoration originates from Mass and it is “when the Host is suspended in time”.
“Can you just imagine the image of Jesus as a man? Just imagine that Jesus will walk onto the stage,” Ms Fernandez said.
“How do we know it is Jesus? It’s because Jesus said it himself during the Last Supper.
“During Mass, this process actually happens every time and that is where adoration comes from,” she continued.
Accompanied by worship music brought by the folk-pop/rock duo, Gus & Iggy, the pilgrims were brought to their knees when Bishop Mascord walked and carried the Blessed Sacrament to the stage.
At the end of the adoration, Bishop Mascord spoke and reminded the pilgrims: “before we leave tonight, we take the Eucharist with us”.
“Jesus doesn’t want us to sit and watch, He wants us to go out, to be Eucharist,” Bishop Mascord said.
“All the thing that Jesus was and is, we are called to be.
“We are called to be compassioned, we are called to be mercy, we are called to be forgiveness, we are called to be tolerance, we are called to be patient, we are called to be love, we are called to be Eucharist,” he continued.
Bishop Mascord also emphasised to the pilgrims that “it is not about watching, [but] it is about being”.
“Tonight, I invite you to be the Body of Christ and go into the world; to be all those things that Jesus is to us because then we become Eucharist in our world,” he said.
The evening plenary concluded with performances from Fr Rob Galea with Genevieve Bryant, The Saga, Joe Melendrez, as well as Steve and Josh Angrisano.
The morning plenary opened with a performance from Simon Hyland, Joe Melendrez, as well as musician and worship leader Emma Fradd with the Perth Gospel Choir.
Grace Forrest, Co-founder and Director of The Walk Free Foundation, spoke as a keynote speaker, informing the pilgrims on how to use power for the benefit of society to end modern slavery.
She told pilgrims of how her trip to Nepal has changed the way she saw the world and inspired her to co-found the Walk Free Foundation with her parents.
Ms Forrest explained how power is the heart of modern slavery, how the abuse of power is the root and cause of it, but when it is used for the goodness of the greater community, power can be the solution.
“It is not enough to simply care, we have to show it, we have to act. Power used for good is the key to change modern slavery,” Ms Forrest said.
“You have the power, don’t waste it.”
The plenary continued with Fr Chris Ryan and Sr Bernadette Toohey from the Missionaries of God’s Love speaking about the ways in which people can listen –and be responsive –to the promptings of the Spirit.
Fr Ryan and Sr Bernadette spoke of four steps along that pathway: Silence, to listen to God; Being open to signs from God; Starting down a path of vocation, and surrendering to God’s will.
Fr Rob Galea and his FRG Ministry band concluded the plenary with a music set.