Youth ministry plan and action at SOS Gladstone

We invited, they were ignited, the young people delighted…

The buses were boarded heading to Ignite Summer Camp with a mix of apprehension, uncertainty, and excitement.

24 of the young people from Gladstone parish, Chanel and local state schools were led by Father Andrew and myself and joined by 18 young people and 3 leaders from the remaining areas of Rockhampton.

Together we met as families before the camp to work though questions and plans and to get to know each other.

The camp offered a variety of experiences and over the 4 days the young people and leaders experienced some awesome fun, prayerful and worship moments, daily mass, and small groups. Apart from meeting 200 other young people and 65 other leaders it would be an understatement to say it was truly memorable.

Ignite has set off the flame for our youth ministry plan. With a youth steering committee in place and identified roles of parents and leaders, we have begun the journey of sustainable youth ministry at Gladstone parish. The young people and parents shared of their experience at our Tell all night for parishioners.

Our Youth launch pizza night was a way to engage a variety of young people form those who attended camp and those who did not and find out what and when about our youth plan.

Training has been set up for our leaders in late February and we hope to kick off our youth group in March sometime.

Our ministry is wholistic with family connections strongly influencing our plan and implementation.

Gladstone Men’s network update

The Gladstone SOS Parish Men’s Network has had their first meeting for the year. We gather on the first Friday of every month to pray for the intentions of our families, our parish and the wider Church.  A range of activities are being planned with the focus on building solidarity around the parish’s mission through prayer, social gatherings and faith formation and support for our priests, including handyman jobs to assist the maintenance of parish buildings and infrastructure.  

Bernadette Ariens