By Anita Parker
Catholic Youth Ministry Director
Over 100 Perth youth were challenged to enter into the Lenten season through the deeper meaning of prayer, fasting and almsgiving at Catholic Youth Ministry’s first Sunday Sesh weekends of 2009 at Notre Dame university on March 8 and St Thomas More College on March 15.
Speaking on ‘The Gift of our Struggles’, Disciples of Jesus leader Mario Borg shared some personal stories about how he worked through some of life’s struggles, relating to the young people gathered that God’s love is ever present throughout the struggles in our life.
The youth were challenged to enter into the Lenten season through the deeper meaning of prayer, fasting and almsgiving to develop a life which proclaims the Ash Wednesday challenge to ‘turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.’
There was an overwhelming turn out for volunteers on the night, with students from the universities leading as MCs, welcome teams, and they also prepared a comic drama based on the ‘Our Father’ prayer drawing in the struggles that young people have with prayer in their daily lives and how God continues to reach out to us in love throughout our struggles.
The evening ended with learning some fun Spanish phrases looking forward to the next international WYD 2011 in Spain.
The aim of the Sunday Sesh is to bring local Catholic speakers out to our parish centres and engage the local youth in leading a vibrant night for the whole south of the river or north of the river youth. The support is given by Catholic Youth Ministry in setting up and training local leaders to run the night. The host parish enjoys the experience of welcoming and engaging the youth on the night.
The next Sunday Sesh will be held on April 19 at Riverton Parish (for south of the river) and April 26 at Morley Parish (for north of the river). The night will include guest speaker Bishop Don Spoxton on the topic “Why Believe in God?”
The night will include: music, activities, prayer time and group discussions. Best of all it’s a free night and open to all to attend. More details visit cym.com.au or ‘Catholic Youth Ministry Perth’ on facebook.