On Friday 7th September, the St Edmund’s College Year 10 Youth Ministry class continued our successful partnership with St Gregory’s Primary School in Queanbeyan by facilitating a half-day Confirmation Retreat for 130 Year 6 students from several different schools across the Archdiocese. The focus of the day was to help prepare the Year 6 students for the Sacrament of Confirmation by presenting the students with information on the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that comes through the Sacrament of Confirmation.
St Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians conveys the fantastic work of the Year 10 Youth Ministry team as it states:
“There are different kinds of gifts. But it is the same Holy Spirit Who gives them. There are different kinds of work to be done for Him. But the work is for the same Lord. There are different ways of doing His work. But it is the same God who uses all these ways in all people. The Holy Spirit works in each person in one way or another for the good of all. ” – 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
And the Holy Spirit was certainly working within each of the Year 10 students as they provided positive role-modelling of their own faith to the Year 6 students present at the retreat. St Gregory’s Primary School staff were extremely appreciative of the professionalism, energy and mentoring displayed by the St Edmund’s College students on the day, and the Year 6 students had a fantastic day developing and understanding the importance of the Holy Spirit in their lives and the purpose for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Youth Ministry at St Edmund’s College is alive and well with many of the Year 10 students now looking forward to continuing their faith journey into their Senior years at the College by joining the Senior Youth Ministry team in Years 11 and 12.
Michael Monagle (Director of Mission and Identity)