News
NETworks Issue 1 2022
In this issue: The Kiwi Connection · Commissioning 2022 · NET Teams · NET Alumni Continuing to Serve
NET MINISTRIES
NETTERS ARE THE BEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD
Mark Lysaght
Executive Director Australia & New Zealand
I am excited to be taking up the role of Executive Director for NET Ministries Australia & New Zealand. "NETters are the best people in the world", is a tagline that David Harris, former NET Staff member said many years ago and continues to echo through the NET offices today. On Saturday evening the 19th of February, Archbishop Mark Coleridge, Archbishop of Brisbane commissioned the “best people in the world” (NET Missionaries) for the Dioceses of, Darwin (Northern Territory), Wollongong (New South Wales), Port Pirie (South Australia) and Hamilton (New Zealand). What a privilege it was to witness these young men and women have their 'yes' commissioned by the Church to go and proclaim the good news of their encounter with Jesus Christ to other young people.
The need for our young people to know Jesus and experience the goodness of the Church through relevant engagement from other young people is as urgent as when NET Ministries first embarked on this mission some 34 years ago. It is this urgent need that has drawn me to this significant and dynamic ministry. COVID has hit hard all over the world and while technology has kept us ‘connected’ it has shown that as human beings we need more than a screen. Our young people need real connection with other young people; young people that have hope, vitality and empathy; young people that are ready to journey alongside them and shine a light in the environments of confusion and instability. This is who NETters are - signs of hope to us all. It is why they are referred to as the “best people in the world”.
As I embark on this new endeavour of leading NET Ministries, it would be remiss of me not to mention the good work of Mark Doyle as outgoing Executive Director. Mark has given significantly to this ministry over 16 years and I, along with the Board of Directors, are very grateful for the work that he has done, especially as Executive Director these past 8 years. We are praying every blessing on Mark as he embarks on the next adventure.
With your support, I will do all I can to continue this extraordinary contribution of NET Ministries to the Church in Australia, New Zealand and beyond.
Peace, Mark Lysaght, Executive Director Australia & New Zealand
THE KIWI CONNECTION
In 1993, NET Ministries Australia sent its first team to serve the Church in New Zealand and over the next couple of years served in schools and parishes across all the dioceses of New Zealand. A few years later, NET established our first local team in the Hamilton Diocese where we established an outreach to the youth of the diocese.
Within a short time the Hamilton Diocese became one of our major recruiting hubs. With the incredible support from priests like Fr Michael Gielan (now Auxiliary Bishop of Auckland) as well as Bishop Denis Browne, there was a procession of young people who crossed the ditch to participate in NET Ministries. Many of these have returned to work with youth and young adults across New Zealand.
During NET training in 2020, a new chapter began in our relationship with New Zealand when Bishop Stephen Lowe came to Australia to experience the training program and become familiar with NET. The following year, a team was sent once again to the Hamilton Diocese for a year of ministry in schools and parishes.
As was true with each of our teams, 2021 held some serious challenges for our N.Z. team. Even though the whole team was made up of Kiwis, there were difficulties getting into the country which involved quarantine and delayed flights. However, in spite of lockdowns and other Covid 19 limitations, the team were able to reach out to many young people both in person and online.
We continue to journey with our brothers and sisters in New Zealand and look forward to more opportunities for collaboration. As the new NET Executive Director hails from the land of the Long White Cloud, there is no doubt that he will be looking to consolidate this relationship of more than 25 years.
Congratulations to Bishop Stephen Lowe (former Bishop of Hamilton Diocese) who has recently been appointed Bishop of Auckland.
The 6 week NET Training program is composed of many elements of formation lived in the context of a dynamic community. For nearly 4 weeks, we move to Peregian Beach on the Sunshine Coast where we embrace a rhythm of life which includes prayer, lectures, small groups, sport as well as practicing a wide range of mission skills. We are grateful to our priests who come to support the Netters with daily Mass (when possible) and regular opportunities for Reconciliation. Many of our volunteers tell us that this experience of training is one of the high points of their year. It is an experience revisited in the middle of the year and drawn together in a wrap-up week in November.
One of the areas of formation which often goes unstated are the experiences of accompaniment both within NET Ministries and beyond as we welcome guests like Sr Mel Dwyer (Superior of the Canossian Sisters) who finds time in a busy schedule to join us each year and spend time with the women on NET.
NET TRAINING
The challenges of the sporting field are part and parcel of the NET training experience. While it offers Netters an opportunity to use up some of their energy, it is also a formation opportunity. How we participate on the sporting field speaks about our character and our capacity to both win and lose, encourage and affirm our teammates. At the end of the day, its still time for having fun and chilling out.
Archbishop Mark Coleridge
"We’re not commissioning you to go out as superman or superwoman, we are commissioning you to go out as young people who are flesh and blood who have gifts but who are also weak and wounded, who in one sense are powerless and we commission you to be powerless so that the power of the Risen Christ can work through you in ways that you might not even recognise."
What a great night as family and friends came together to support the commissioning of the 2022 NET teams. This was probably one of NET’s most challenging training sessions. In spite of masks and social distancing, we battled against Covid in both staff and volunteers. Thankfully, not everyone was down at the same time and we soldiered on through the six weeks of training. The big consolation was that no one had anything more than flu symptoms. We thanks God that all of our teams are now in their mission areas and ready for a year of service.
NET TEAMS 2022 COMMISSIONING
We are so grateful for families, friends and supporters that travelled from both near and far to attend this important occasion. NET Ministries is very conscious of parents who entrust their sons and daughters to NET’s care for this year of mission. Thank you for your trust!
STORIES FROM THE TEAMS
Michael Adams
NET Training 2022 has been a wild ride. We found a home at Camp Glendalough in Peregian for 4 weeks, and in Brisbane for 2 weeks. A group of strangers with a mutual call on their hearts, just thrown together would grow to become a pillar for faith in the church’s future. There have been many challenges and triumphs along the way. From covid spreading its way through the camp to the pure joy of team announcements. Heavy rains turning fields into water slides. But in the face of these challenges, we’ve endured with Jesus by our sides and are ready to be apostles.
As a cohort, we have encountered so many different people and enjoyed so many activities along the way. From the ‘tenners’ who spent the first 10 days of training alongside the 2022 NET missionaries and are now called to live in the team of the world, to the myriad of NET staff and alumni who gave their time, energy and services into enabling us. We’re also grateful for the little things, like impromptu water balloon fights, beach trips, honouring meals, and more. All these moments - these encounters - have helped shape us for the journey ahead.
Tara Wall
As I sit here writing on the night of our last night of initial training, I look back on the past 5 weeks with peace and love. Arriving three days late to the beautiful Glendalough campgrounds in Peregian beach, I was met with some of the friendliest smiles I have encountered – from this moment, it was clear that Jesus was shining through each and every one of my peers. Training was such a serene and surreal experience, where we were able to balance an intense few weeks of training for our year of ministry with connecting to Jesus in a way that, in my case at least, has never happened before. From Holy Spirit night to Temple night, to beach days and testing positive to COVID, the past few weeks have been a whirlwind of information and transformation where I truly learned how to lean into my faith as a source of inspiration and love. A key moment that stood out for me was the evening of team announcements, where we learnt not only where we’d be sent this year but also who with; in my case being Darwin alongside my team of Marraki, Talia and David. An intense fire of emotions ranging from nervousness to excitement was ignited this evening and the anticipation has built up every day since. I am beyond ecstatic to take on this journey for the year, and truly share the love of Jesus that I have encountered at these past few weeks of training.
NET ALUMNI CONTINUING TO SERVE
Dan Pyke
Hi, my name is Daniel Pyke. For those who don’t know me, I recently turned 36, I am in my 11th year of marriage to a beautiful woman, Aneta, with whom I have four crazy kids. My initial connection with NET was participating in a NET retreat as a teenager which ultimately led me to serve on NET between 2006 & 2010. Now days, I work for a large mining company as a project manager.
As an early 20-year-old, serving on a NET team made a massive impact on my life. In reflection, the experience helped me to explore and find my own personal relationship with Jesus. It was this experience and seeing the amazing transformations in many young people that opened my eyes to the power of authentically journeying with young people. This has become a cornerstone value for me as a leader. As I’ve progressed in my work life and learnt new skills, I always wanted to stay connected to NET and give back where I could. As my journey unfolded, an opportunity presented itself to serve on the NET Board representing the NET alumni. There have been many learnings but ultimately, I am grateful to give back to a ministry which gave so much to me.
The people who work and serve on NET (past and present) are not perfect but what I see are people willing to following God’s call to serve. For me, this is humbling, especially as I often get distracted in the busyness of life. At times, this can cause me some tension because I know that when I actively contribute, no matter how small, is when I feel most connected to meaning & purpose. Perhaps that’s my encouragement to myself and to you. Wherever you find yourself, are you connected to the joy that comes from serving? With respect to NET, this ministry exists because people serve and others support that service. My second encouragement is, if you have the capacity to support & contribute, in any way, I know that NET would be very grateful.
NEW NET OFFICES IMPACTED BY RAIN DELUGE IN
BRISBANE
After nearly fourteen years at our previous premises, NET Ministries had a busy end of 2021 and hit the ground running in 2022 as we moved from the completion of our 2021 year and straight into a major shift of offices to be ready for NET Training 2022. We are grateful to the many NET alumni and volunteers who helped make a challenging move go more smoothly.
The challenges did not slow down as the new NET offices were impacted during the recent rain deluge in Brisbane. Owing to the quick thinking and trench digging skills of the new Executive Director (Mark Lysaght) as well as a number of our good friends at the Emmanuel Community, the damage was kept to a minimum.
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.