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|  | | As we begin another year of mission, we are excited to introduce the NET Ministries Australia & New Zealand teams for 2025. These young men and women have responded to God’s call, leaving behind the familiar to share the Gospel with young people across the region. Their ‘yes’ is a powerful witness to the transformative love of Jesus, and their mission is simple yet profound: to invite young people into a personal relationship with Him.
As I remarked to the NET Missionaries at their Commissioning Mass,
“True freedom is living fully as the person God created you to be—free to love without fear, to hope without reservation, and to serve without hesitation. Many young people you encounter will be longing for something real, searching for meaning in places that cannot satisfy. |
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| Some will be bound by lies about their worth, trapped in shame, or uncertain of their purpose. Your mission is to make faith possible for them by introducing them to the truth—that Jesus loves them, has a plan for them, and offers them a life of purpose and joy. This is not just about preaching; it’s about living the Gospel. When you abide in Christ, His truth radiates through your words, your actions, and your presence. You become a living sign of the freedom and hope found in Him.”
We invite you to journey with us—through prayer, encouragement, and support—as these teams step forward in faith. May their witness inspire all of us to abide deeply in Jesus Christ, finding in Him the freedom and life He promises.
Let’s pray for a fruitful year of mission! |
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| | | On Thursday the 13th of February 2025, the NET teams were commissioned by Archbishop Mark Coleridge, at The Church of Twelve Apostles, Darra-Jindalee Parish. |
|  | NET Missionaries with Archbishop Mark Coleridge, 13 February 2025 |
| |  | Rockhampton TeamHannah Smailes, Sarah Thomm, Nathan Sachse, Kali Yopp, Craig Joyce (left to right).
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|  | Auckland TeamLuke Heath-Debert, Grace Tsartoglou, Christopher Dougherty, Zahra Hanratty, Jacob Gomez, Gemma Irwin (left to right). |
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|  | Maroochydore TeamMariana Petric, Sam Mead, Georgia Farrugia, Damian Fernando , Elizabeth Ariens, Henry Sharpe (left to right). |
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|  | Darwin TeamArabella Farrugia, James Gillispie, Ella Smith, Kai Asnicar, Kaitlyn Bowers, (left to right). |
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| | | | Hannah Smailes and Kai Asnicar speak on behalf of the 2025 NET Missionaries at their Commissioning Mass; reflecting on their training and mission before them.
Kai: First of all, we’d like to give thanks for the reason we’re all here - the way the truth and the life - Jesus Christ who has called us to this crazy adventure this year. Thank you, Archbishop Mark, for your support and being here with us tonight and thank you to all our dear friends and family who have come to see us, and online, it truly wouldn’t be the same without you all. We’ve just come off 5 weeks of training across Peregian and Brisbane and what a blessing it has been! We’ve grown SO MUCH and God has shown up every single day in the most remarkable ways. As a cohort, we became Coolum locals. We battled with Jellyfish stings almost daily, collectively spent a small fortune at Ghanda, sang our hearts out in the bathrooms, DESTROYED the staff in volleyball, and resisted the urge to square up to many very large kangaroos. From late night Gregorian chanting in the dining hall, to deep chats and wild karaoke in the NET vans, we’ve built a truly amazing community and have had so much fun together. Some would say, “gas?” Some may even say “pterodactyl.” (inside jokes - every training has them) Hannah: We were also deeply spiritually formed in this time. We re-encountered God’s relentless, unconditional, and completely incomprehensible love for us in new ways, we were nourished through the eucharist almost daily, we learnt that to lead is to love, that God’s ability is far greater than our inability, that accompaniment can create missionary disciples, and that we truly are called to fullness. As Queen Becca so beautifully would remind us: “There is MORE!” I experienced that “more” again and again during training. Whenever I found myself feeling comfortable and content, Jesus took me further, made me more hungry, led me deeper into Love for Him, and showed up in miraculous ways that I genuinely never could’ve expected. Kai: For me, I only had a rough idea of what to expect. I have grown up hearing about NET and how young people would travel all around the place, telling others of their relationship with Jesus, but I didn’t know exactly how that looked. But what I did know is that the people who had done NET were the most genuine, loving, positive and hopeful people I had ever encountered. Now, having completed training, I can see why this is the case. Before we even begin learning about how to run a retreat or other ministry skills, we spend time deepening our relationship with God - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We were taken further and further through prayer, worship, and men’s and women’s days, and I think I speak for everyone when I say that through vulnerability and the endless love of the Father, each of us have been truly healed, and our lives have been transformed. Hannah: What a joy and privilege to go forth from this place of transformation to our mission fields around Australia and New Zealand and live out this call to freedom, fullness and deep love in Him. On behalf of our cohort, we pray for hearts to seek Jesus more persistently in all things, souls to abide deeper in Him, and the graces to courageously share all the love entrusted to us with every soul we encounter. Our prayer is that He will be known by the way we love.
THANK YOU! |
| | | | | | | | PRAY FOR THEMPlease pray for the NET Missionaries of 2025 for their year of mission.
“The greatest gift that we can give to each other, is to pray for one another”
If you would like a copy for your home, Church or workplace please click the link below and we will send you a PDF copy to print off. The NET Missionaries will be so grateful for your prayer support as they pray for you. |
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| | | Our Theme Scripture.Our theme scripture for 2025 comes from the Gospel of John and we see this lived out daily as the teams embrace and share the transformative power of the Gospel. Please join us in prayer that the young people of Darwin, Rockhampton, Auckland, and Maroochydore will encounter the truth of Christ, experience His freedom, and be filled with the hope our teams bring. |
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| | |  | | My name is Jessica Samaila, I am 24 years old and am a local from Brisbane! I am one of eleven siblings. I love to play sports, spending time with my friends and family, youth ministry and orange juice! |
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| Last year I served in Hamilton, New Zealand, and what a life-changing experience that was for me. I joined NET staff this year as an answer to a calling that God placed on my heart; to help guide and equip those who are willing to answer the call on their life with the necessary tools that they need for this mission. I truly believe that NET is that opportunity for young people, to answer that calling and learn what it means to live life to the full and share that with others.
It is such a privilege to journey alongside our NET Missionaries this year and watch them bring Jesus to the young people across Australia and New Zealand. |
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| |  | | My name is Peter Wolbers, I am 26 years old, married to my beautiful wife for just over 2 years and we recently just brought a new baby boy into the world. |
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| I served on NET Ministries in 2020 (Caloundra) and 2021 (Darwin), both of which were years that will alter the rest of my life for the better. I spent 2 more years in Darwin working for the Diocese of Darwin followed by a year in Alice Springs.
Before serving on NET in 2020 I wasn’t aware of how beautiful the Catholic faith actually is but coming to learn the truth motivated me to share that with the world. I came to work for NET Ministries because I believe that the work that God does through NET changes lives. I live to be a part of more than this world and I want as many people as possible to know that possibility. |
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| |  | | G'day, my name is Marraki Kilpatrick. I am a 23-year-old Aboriginal man from the Dunghutti nation (Macleay Valley NSW), but I grew up in Port Macquarie. |
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| My journey to staff has been one of patience and waiting on God, initially intending on serving as volunteer staff in 23, then just waiting until this opportunity came along. I am so grateful to work here and journey alongside so many good people. I am particularly excited to witness how Jesus will move in the lives of those we serve, both the NET Missionaries and those they impact.
I served with NET from 2021-2023 spending two years on the Darwin Team ('21-'22) and a year in the Auckland Diocese ('23). I am studying a Bachelor of Education (Secondary) at ACU specialising in Theology and Mathematics. As a man of sports, I will watch almost anything and play almost anything, but Aussie Rules and Netball are my favourites with ease. |
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| | | At NET Ministries Australia & New Zealand, we are committed to empowering young people to encounter Jesus Christ and embrace their faith. Your support—both financial and prayerful—ensures that this mission continues to transform lives. Here’s how you can make faith possible: |
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Mission PartnerJoin our community of monthly givers who sustain the mission year-round. Your ongoing support helps train and equip missionaries, provide resources for youth evangelisation, and expand mission reach across Australia and New Zealand.
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Missionary SponsorNET Missionaries dedicate a year to bringing the Good News to young people. By sponsoring a missionary, you directly support their formation and ministry needs, enabling them to share the love of Jesus where it’s needed most.
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Mission PrayerYour prayers are a powerful way to support our missionaries and the young people they serve. Request a Prayer Poster of the 2025 NET Missionaries and commit to interceding for their mission and that of NET Ministries and the renewal of faith in Australia & New Zealand.
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| Thank you so much for the consideration of this need. |
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|  |  | Mark Lysaght Executive Director NET Ministries | Australia & New Zealand |
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