News
NETworks Issue 1, 2021
In this issue: Welcome To New Staff · 10 Days Program · Darwin Team · Honouring Saint Joseph
For He Has Risen
MATTHEW 28:6
As the staff gathered at the beginning of this year, we prayed for direction and inspiration. We were led to two scripture passages. One of them was the parable of the loaves and fish found in Matthew 14. The state of the church in Australia can often feel like that moment where Jesus says to the Apostles, ‘give them something to eat.’ I relate to the feeling that what we have seems so small in the face of the enormous challenge in front of us but the parable speaks to our circumstances powerfully. If we bring all that we have to Jesus and surrender it freely to Him, an amazing and unexpected multiplication can happen. The second scripture is from Haggai 2, where the prophet is speaking to the remnant of the people after the temple has been destroyed, ‘Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you… my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear… The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. These two scriptures remind me that even in difficult circumstances and seasons, when the challenges that we face can feel overwhelming, the Lord provides the grace we need to be strengthened, emboldened and made resolute in spite of feeling anxious, worried or afraid. The Lord has promised us His presence and His Spirit and so we set our hearts on Him.
A TIME TO REBUILD
The uncertainty created by the global pandemic has crept into all areas of our lives, our jobs, our travel, our families, the Church, all of it! Most of us now feel strangely familiar with this new reality, even if it remains extremely uncomfortable. Recently I was reflecting with a friend about how we deal with all this change, particularly in the context of the Church. We were talking about the recent census in Australia where the ‘nones’ (as in people who identify with no religion) became the largest population in Australia, surpassing the Catholic population for the first time in history. With only about 12% of those who identify as Catholic attending mass each week before COVID, and now more than a year out from the initial shut-downs, we were wondering out loud how the pandemic would impact future attendance at the local parish level. We know that there will be many ‘rusted-ons’ on whom this will have no impact, but you have to think that there’s a large group of people now who have gotten out of the habit of attending mass and whether they return is still a question. This reality confronts us with so many questions: how can we turn this around? How do we draw people back to the faith? The need to rebuild our church is great, and questions like these can leave me feeling overwhelmed at the enormity of the task in front of us. When I’m confronted by this reality, it’s only a response of faith and listening to the Lord that can speak into my fears and doubts.
I’m also comforted by the response of our missionaries, such incredibly generous young people who in the midst of this time have continued to respond to the Lord’s call to go out on mission to their peers, to introduce them to Jesus and show them the joy, hope, tenderness and mercy that only Jesus can offer. Even though our closed borders have reduced our numbers from 8 teams to 4 teams, I am trusting and believing that the Lord will do an incredibly powerful and unexpected multiplication for our mission teams in 2021. Please join me in praying for this blessing as together we commit to rebuild our Church.
Mark Doyle
Executive Director
WHY I CHOSE TO REMAIN IN AUSTRALIA
Ariana Salazar
Saying yes to do a second year of NET has been the most beautiful, yet challenging experience. Last year, I came from Arizona, USA to be a NET missionary where I served on the Wollongong team. As the end of the year approached, I discerned doing a second year. However, since it was a COVID year, that meant I had to stay in Australia during the break before my first and second year of NET, and not go home for Christmas. While it was challenging spending my first Christmas away from family, I had an amazing time spending the break exploring Australia with other NET missionaries, and even spent Christmas in Tasmania with the Immaculata Sisters and missionaries.
Once I said yes, I felt nothing but joy and excitement. Coming back to Wollongong, I’ve had moments of just pure joy. Once I arrived, everyone I knew from last year said, “Welcome home!” It truly felt like I had come home and was reunited with authentic friends. Wollongong has become my home away from home and I am thankful to serve in such a beautiful environment. There are small moments every week - during ministry in schools, encounters with young adults, and just pure moments with the team - I find myself saying, “Wow, I’m so glad I said yes to doing a second year,”. I am so blessed to be here.
WELCOME TO PETER MUNNS NEW ON NET STAFF
Peter Munns
G’day everyone, My name is Peter Munns. I’m 21 years old, born in Brisbane but moved to Sydney when I was very young. I am a keen sports fan and a very proud NSW supporter! I have served with NET over the last three years, on the Bundaberg MX Mission Team in 2018, The National Encounter Team in 2019, The Cape town Team Prior to Covid in 2020 and after returning home finished up the year on the Darwin 2020 MX Mission team.
This year I am working with NET as team supervisor - supervising both the Caloundra and Hamilton MX Mission Teams, as well as studying Psychology at the University of Queensland. After seeing such a need around for young people to know that they are loved during my time on NET, I am really looking forward to helping other people bring that message to more and more young people and assist in the building up of future leaders within the church. My experiences of NET, both as a young person and as a missionary have transformed my life. They have shown me that I am enough and that Jesus is the more which I was searching for during my teenage years. I have seen so many other people searching for more during my time with NET and I know that I am called to help people find what they are searching for. I am very excited to be able to do that through helping to build up future leaders for our church this year!
NET MINISTRIES LAUNCHES 10 DAYS PROGRAM
There have been discussions for some years now about how NET could offer it’s training program to young adults who were pursuing mission in their local context or simply seeking to grow in their call as missionary disciples. Finally, we decided that 2020 was the year to experiment starting with a 10 day program where the participants shared the first ten days of training with the 2020 NET missionaries. It was a full but balanced program which included time to reflect on their personal relationship with Jesus, selfidentity, building positive relationships with others/team as well as evangelisation skills. The daily program would include times for personal prayer, Mass each day, talks, small groups and beach time. There was also lots of time for sharing with others as we journeyed through each of the days.
What an amazing experience it turned out to be! We are very grateful to the Catholic Foundation of the Archdiocese of Brisbane for making a grant available to help facilitate this new offering. With 9 representatives from New South Wales, Queensland and New Zealand, the 10 Days initiative was launched. As we prepared for this training, we had some concerns about bring two groups together and how they might interact. Would it be two groups; would the NET missionaries be OK with others sharing their training; would the 10 Days group feel on the outer? While it was good to be aware of these potential difficulties, each of the participants welcomed each other and there was this great sense of family.
At the heart of this friendship was a respect for the calling of each person. The NET teams would be commissioned to go into an assortment of parishes, dioceses and schools while those attending the 10 Day program would return to life at university, youth ministry and professional life. Each of those present would leave the camp and be called to shine the light of Christ in each of their spheres of influence. Each of them would pursue their call to be missionary disciples wherever they may be called.
When it came time to say goodbye, there was a genuine sadness and a sense of missing one another. NET Ministries has been delighted with the ongoing contact of our 10 Days friends who are faithfully fulfilling their mission in different parts of Australia.
Some of the quotes (snapshots) from our participants tell the story of the 10 Days program:
My experience was amazing. I think God used these few days to do some important work in my heart and I loved all the people I met.
10 Days really helped me mature as a man, discover vulnerability, brotherhood, the call to evangelisation, the need for community, expressive praise and joy, and the Power of The Holy Spirit presiding over us.
The sisterhood that we were able to build together was one of my favourite experiences. Getting to spend time growing alongside other young Catholic women was beautiful.
I feel as though I have changed a lot from these days. I've felt an incredible experience through sharing my story with others and being open. I've had time to sit and reflect on what my mission for this year is and how I can achieve it. I've been able to develop my faith deeper and will be forever grateful for these past ten days!
YOU ARE BEING SENT OUT BY CHRIST, IN WHOSE NAME AND POWER WE COMMISSION YOU.
This year Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane presided over the Commissioning Mass of the 2021 NET Teams. In his homily he reminded the NET Teams that they were being sent out to tell the good news that people can come home, that they can find a place of peace and blessing in Jesus Christ. He reminded the teams that there are many people today wandering aimlessly in a desert place and wondering whether there is a way back or a place to call home. The challenge for the teams is to invite others to join them in following Jesus who is the way through the desert and to the place of peace.
He encouraged the teams not to worry too much about being young. Jeremiah tried to convince God he was too young and God’s response was to say – so what? The Archbishop stated clearly, “We, the Church entrust to you that good news, that vision, that certainty, that there is a home, a place of belonging and the way to that place is through Jesus Christ.
In concluding, he prayed, “May the God who has called you to himself go with you on the journey – that wherever you go, you will be the sign of the promise of God and bearing the good news that the promise is fulfilled in Jesus crucified and risen.”
THE MUSTARD SEED
Kathryn Pettersen
Youth Ministry Co-ordinator, Darwin Diocese
The parable of the mustard seed has always caught my attention. The seed itself is already a living thing and it has all the potential it requires to grow and flourish into a very large tree with many branches, many leaves and strong deep roots. The Northern Territory youth ministry scene could be likened to a developing mustard tree seedling. We have a rich soil, and great potential within. The NET team are a bit like gardeners, making sure we get all the nourishment and resources we need in order to become that great tree with strong ministry branches and many connections between leaves.
Last year we had our first Darwin NET team. They were based in Darwin but travelled throughout the Diocese. Our Diocese is three times the size of France and we are proudly a very diverse and multicultural place. The benefit of having a team who can travel throughout the whole diocese has been a huge blessing. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 the 2020 team was disbanded, but thankfully came back to us for semester 2. In just three months they had ministered to over 3000 people! You can just imagine how the mustard seedling grew in that time.
This year we are so blessed to have another Darwin NET team. They are following up on the work of our first team, as well as forging new directions too. The Territory is very transient but what sets the NET team apart is their desire to meet and know each person by name. They provide a safe place for conversations around faith to be had – especially for those who haven’t got a faith or are unsure of faith. The NET team go out into our remote Aboriginal Communities and support the work of the youth leaders there. There is a real need for peer-topeer evangelisation here in the Territory and NET are bringing the energy, passion, professionalism, and non-judgemental attitude needed to reach the youth of today. We are so appreciative of the Darwin NET teams as it is with their presence we are able to really see the growth of our humble mustard tree.
Bishop Charles Gauci
I thank God for NET. The team ministered in our diocese last year and made a very positive impact on the lives of so many. We have another great team this year here in the NT. We look forward to many blessings in the coming months, with the grace of God.
Another blessing is that 3 young people from last year’s NET team are now ministering in three high schools in Darwin. This is very exciting since it means that there can be follow up to the teams’ ministry in retreats etc. Thank God for generous young people!
G’DAY FROM THE TOP END … WE’RE THE DARWIN NET TEAM.
It’s been a month since we arrived and already our team has been immersed and received into the warmth and vibrancy that is the community and lifestyle here in the Northern Territory. From the hearty meals, the tangible joy and to the simplicity of living, life up here tastes like John 10:10 - full.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full.
John 10:10
We were pleasantly surprised to be invited to two year twelve retreats in our first week of ministry, giving us the opportunity to build a solid foundation of authenticity to hold us in good stead for the year to come. We have also been fortunate enough to move in and out of many different schools, grades and classrooms, introducing ourselves, building relationships, facilitating classroom ministry and retreat days.
Recently, we shared with a grade 8 class about what a relationship with Jesus can look like. We gave them an opportunity to take time to pray and reflect on where Jesus is in their own life. Our ministry has been quite diverse, but we have continued to adapt to the different environments that the territory has to offer.
A highlight of our ministry so far has been on one of the retreat days; a girl expressed to one of the team members how since recently moving to Australia she had been feeling quite lonely. After the prayer time at the end of the day the girl mentioned to the team member that she was so grateful for the day because it was the first time in her life that she had ever felt as though she had been truly listened to. It’s moments like these, along with the vision of the priests and bishops and the zeal amongst teachers and parishioners, that gives us hope as we press into the rest of this year. We are realising the breadth of our diocesan ministry and getting excited to keep journeying with those here in Darwin and more rural communities like the Tiwi Islands, Alice Springs and Katherine.
We are so blessed to be up here in the NT, living the call to help build the Lord’s church.
HONOURING SAINT JOSEPH
Artwork: christophersanter.com
In this year which Pope Francis has dedicated to the family, he has written a beautiful letter (Patris Corde) honouring St. Joseph and his role not only in the family but in the universal church. In his introduction, Pope Francis gives us a snapshot of St. Joseph,
"We know that Joseph was a lowly carpenter (cf. Mt 13:55), betrothed to Mary (cf. Mt 1:18; Lk 1:27). He was a “just man” (Mt 1:19), ever ready to carry out God’s will as revealed to him in the Law (cf. Lk 2:22.27.39) and through four dreams (cf. Mt 1:20; 2:13.19.22). After a long and tiring journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, he beheld the birth of the Messiah in a stable, since “there was no place for them” elsewhere (cf. Lk 2:7). He witnessed the adoration of the shepherds (cf. Lk 2:8-20) and the Magi (cf. Mt 2:1-12), who represented respectively the people of Israel and the pagan peoples.”
In our society, the role of “father” has been diminished. Fathers, whether in advertising or in sitcoms, are often portrayed as stupid and bumbling – a bit like Homer Simpson figures. St. Joseph models a different sort of fatherhood; one that is loving, respectful and caring. He shows himself to be a man of prayer, ready to hear God’s word and be obedient to that word. In his obedience, he protects his wife and the child entrusted to his care. In this beautiful painting, Christopher Santer (a NET alumnus) captures something of the intimacy between Joseph and Jesus, an inspiration for all fathers.
As we enter into this year of family, let’s allow St Joseph to accompany us and teach us about what it truly means to be “father”.
Can you help us transform the lives of young Australians and rebuild the church?
As always, please pray for us as we seek to fulfill our mission. We hope to see young hearts transformed as they encounter Jesus. That's why we exist. Thank you for your generosity.