Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge described the recent Ignite Youth Conference as a wonderful gathering of more than 1,300 of the Church’s brightest young faces.
The conference, which was held in September in Brisbane, was bolstered by an enthusiastic group of teenagers and young adults from the Perth Archdiocese.
The four-day annual conference is known around Australia as being a vibrant and energetic gathering of young people, youth ministry leaders, clergy and religious. The conference is the flagship event of Ignite Youth, a national ministry that strives to connect a generation with Jesus through life-changing events.
Coordinator of Ignite Youth Perth, Ronan McGinniss described the vast range of faith-themed encouragement offered at the Ignite Conference.
“It is wonderful to see 14-year-old skateboarders sitting next to religious sisters, and young people walking from a rock climbing wall to a time of adoration with 1,300 others,” Mr McGinniss said.
“In-depth theology workshops were followed by music workshops, as well as sessions with Bishops and teenage missionaries.”
Mr McGinniss went on to explain some delegates attended on their own, while others attended with a group of several hundred from neighbouring dioceses.
“The diversity was truly amazing, but the unity was even more impressive,” he said.
A branch of Ignite Youth was established in Perth early this year, using local people and resources, in partnership with Catholic Youth Ministry.
Almost 20 members of the Perth team members traveled to the Conference, with a number contributing to the success of the event as keynote speakers, workshop presenters, music coordinators and others assisting behind the scenes.
Giorgia Vecchio, 18, was one of the group who traveled from Perth and said she had no idea what to expect.
“I ended up making what I hope will be life-long friends and found a family within the friends I traveled with,” Ms Vecchio said.
“It wasn’t until after the conference that I realised my life had been changed forever. Now I see Jesus everywhere I go and I am so grateful for it.”
The Ignite Youth Perth team continues the dynamic one-night events in Perth this year, aimed at bringing together groups and individuals from far and wide. The next one-night event, ‘Ignite Live’, is being held in Perth on Friday, 16 October at the Prendiville Catholic College Performing Arts Centre. For full details, visit www.igniteyouth.com/perth.