My name is Sam Stubbs and I am the Youth Minister at St Edmund’s College for 2018.
I started at the College in 2012 as a year 7 student and graduated last year and it has been a privilege to return to St Edmund’s in a Youth Minister capacity. Youth Ministry is something I am very passionate about and I am really enjoying the opportunity to continue in assisting students to find and develop their own faith.
As outlined by CSYMA (Catholic Schools Youth Ministry Australia) who are at the forefront of Youth Ministry and Youth Ministers within schools all around Australia, the role of a Youth Minister is to support and foster the faith formation of students within a school and link them to the wider Church community. I see my role as an amazing gift in being able to support students in their individual faith journeys and continue building on the incredible Youth Ministry program we have here at the College. Seeing boys grow in leadership and faith is achieved through the provision of service opportunities and this is a key aspect of life here at St Edmund’s.
I am currently studying Social Work at ACU, this is a path that was heavily influenced by the opportunities I was given at St Edmund’s during my schooling which I am very grateful for. In my spare time I like to coach and play basketball, spend time with my 2 younger brothers and 3 Rottweilers and volunteer at various organisations. These include Marymead, Ronald McDonald House, Shine for Kids, Camp Quality and St Vincent De Paul where recently I was lucky enough to be appointed Vice President of the St Joseph’s Youth Program (a program that provides respite for disadvantaged children aged 6-12). Some of my favourite memories as a student revolve around my time in the Youth Ministry team and the friendships and connections I made both within the team and the broader community. I was lucky enough to be selected twice for the Darwin and Tiwi Islands Immersion Trips where we ran retreats at various schools and spent time in indigenous communities. It was through opportunities like the Immersion trips, Youth Ministry involvement, and service opportunities in and out of the school that I was privileged enough to be nominated for and receive an Order of Australia Association Student Citizenship Award at the end of Year 12. I credit the College and the incredible teaching staff at the College including previous Youth Minsters and dynamic faith based religion teachers for the incredible growth I have had as a person and in my faith.
It only seems like yesterday that I began my connection with Eddies and I intend to make the most of my time here as Youth Minister.
Sam Stubbs (Youth Minister)