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| | | | Happy Easter! We stand once again at the empty tomb, filled with awe and renewed hope: He is risen! In a world often marked by uncertainty and division, the Resurrection reminds us that life, truth, and freedom are not distant ideals, but a living reality offered to us in Jesus Christ. At NET Ministries, our approach is clear: to make faith possible. Yet this task is not simple. We are called to bridge the gap—the gap between a generation longing for belonging and the unchanging love of God; between a culture chasing fleeting truths and the eternal truth that sets us free. This Easter, as we celebrate new life, we also pause to honour the life and legacy of Pope Francis. His recent passing invites reflection on his prophetic voice, which tirelessly called the Church to "go out to the peripheries"—to encounter Christ in those furthest from faith, furthest from hope. His example reminds us that faith is not preserved by staying within safe walls, but by walking bravely across the bridges that mercy and truth create. Pope Francis once wrote in Evangelii Gaudium:
“The Church will have to initiate everyone — priests, religious and laity — into this ‘art of accompaniment’ which teaches us to remove our sandals before the sacred ground of the other.” |
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| This is precisely the mission entrusted to NET Ministries: to walk with young people in their lived reality, to listen, to accompany, and to point them gently but boldly to the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We exist to bridge the gap between a distant God some have never met and the living Jesus who calls them friend.
This year, across Australia and New Zealand, our missionaries are sowing seeds of hope—bridging the gap one heart at a time. In classrooms, in retreats, in conversations and prayers, they are making faith possible. They are inviting young people to encounter the Risen Christ, not as a distant figure of history, but as a living Saviour who walks with them today.
As we celebrate Easter, may we too take up this sacred task—to bridge the gap with love, truth, and bold faith. Let us continue together in His word, confident that Christ’s light shines brighter than any darkness, and that His truth still sets hearts free.
He is risen indeed.
Mark Lysaght Executive Director |
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| | | | Hope on the Move: Easter Encounters with the NET Teams |
| As we continue our journey through the mission year, this Easter season has brought renewed joy and purpose to our NET teams across Australia and New Zealand. Deep in the heart of ministry, they are bringing the Gospel to life in schools, parishes, and communities. In this edition, we’re thrilled to share a glimpse into the vibrant mission taking place in Darwin, Auckland, Maroochydore, and Rockhampton. From powerful Easter encounters to the everyday rhythms of missionary life, these stories reveal how God is moving in the hearts of young people and those who serve them. |
| | In the past month, we had the privilege to journey and minister to over 1,000 young people through retreat days and camps. We dove deep into the passion of Jesus by sharing a Passover meal and walking the stations of the cross through Auckland city. On Easter Sunday we celebrated with a Easter egg hunt and a dinner feast! An amazing part of our ministry this month was attending Set Free and Heaven Come Conferences. We were privileged enough to witness the Holy Spirit change lives through worship and saw Jesus encounter young people personally through the Eucharist. We are an Easter people and Hallelujah is our song! |
| | | This last month it has been a joy to minister to the young people of Rockhampton in unique and exciting ways while discovering more about the heart of this community. We have loved journeying with youth preparing to receive their sacraments, running youth groups in Rockhampton and Gladstone and getting to know the students in the local schools through lunchtime visits and attendance at school celebrations. Our home has been blessed by visits from our supervisors, loving parents and many dinner guests. During Holy week we celebrated and sang at some very beautiful liturgies, beginning with the Palm Sunday Mass, followed by an ecumenical Palm Sunday festival, the Chrism Mass, a Passover meal and Holy Thursday Mass. On Good Friday we reenacted the Stations of the Cross at Kershaw Gardens and attended a Good Friday service. The pinnacle of this week was a breathtaking Easter vigil at the Cathedral, followed by the consumption of numerous chocolates and joyously singing ‘Alleluia, He is risen!’. The sun danced as it rose over the mountain on Easter Sunday and we sang to the risen Son, celebrating together His great love for us by resting and rejoicing. We look with anticipation to our upcoming ministry, that we might continue to lead the young people of this diocese to their source of true hope, our risen Lord. |
| | | This Easter Triduum was such a special time for our team! On Holy Thursday night, the brothers helped altar-serve at Mass, surrounded by beautiful decorations, incense, and plants. It was honestly one of the most stunning Holy Thursday Mass some of us had ever experienced — the church was gorgeously decorated, and the music was incredible. Following the Mass, we had the opportunity to spend time in Adoration at the Altar of Repose. Good Friday involved us leading the songs during the Stations of the Cross with Sam, Georgia, Mariana, and a Siena student singing, while the rest of the team read reflections — it was such a meaningful connection with the college students. That night, we joined Caloundra Youth to watch The Passion, followed by great conversations with the young adults. The Veneration of the Cross at Stella Maris was another reflective moment, with over 600 people attending. Saturday night’s Easter Vigil was unforgettable as we witnessed several men get baptised into the church, confirmed, and receive their first Holy Communion. Easter Sunday we celebrated with the 8am Mass at St Catherine’s and then had the chance to sing (with Lizzie on flute!) at the big parish Mass in the evening, where the music was really appreciated. Overall, it was a beautiful Easter, full of service, connection, and joy as we continue to grow together in faith, within our Maroochydore community. |
| | | We’ve settled right into our new home here in the top end. Visiting around 4 youth groups and 12 schools, we’ve been busy running retreats, going into classes and building relationships. The youth love our visits, and recently after a year 6 retreat, some of the boys told us that we should stopover every day. We were also blessed to meet some young adults at a YA leaders retreat, and we have begun reaching out to more of the YA community through events such as an open house, a formation night, men’s and women’s nights, and a picnic. For Easter, we were involved with the Agape youth group stations of the cross at the Cathedral and continued our celebrations at many parishes until Easter Sunday where we concluded the Tridium with mass, praise and worship, and dinner at Holy Spirit church. As we write this, we’re spending time with the Aboriginal community in Wurrumiyanga on the Tiwi islands, and the locals have been so welcoming and lovely. We pray that the spirit of God will continue to work through us, and we’re excited to see what the next few weeks have in store! |
| | | THE FRANCIS EFFECTLEGACY OF ACCOMPANIMENT, PERIPHERIES & JOY |
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| As we reflect on the life and leadership of Pope Francis, we at NET Ministries are especially grateful for the ways his vision has shaped and affirmed our mission. Pope Francis called the Church to a deeper spirit of accompaniment, urging us to walk alongside others with patience and compassion. As he wrote in Evangelii Gaudium, "The Church will have to initiate everyone — priests, religious and laity — into this 'art of accompaniment' which teaches us to remove our sandals before the sacred ground of the other" (EG 169). In a world where so many feel forgotten, Pope Francis championed the call to go to the peripheries — the places and people often overlooked. NET missionaries have embraced this call, journeying into schools, parishes, and communities to make faith possible for young people who might otherwise never encounter the living Christ. As Francis reminds us, "Each Christian and every community must discern the path that the Lord points out, but all of us are asked to obey his call to go forth from our own comfort zone in order to reach all the 'peripheries' in need of the light of the Gospel" (Evangelii Gaudium 20). Above all, Pope Francis reinvigorated the Church with the message of the Joy of the Gospel — a joy we are privileged to carry to the young people we serve. He proclaimed, "The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus" (Evangelii Gaudium 1). This joy is not superficial, but a deep wellspring that propels us into mission with courage and hope. As we move forward, we honour Pope Francis' legacy by renewing our commitment to accompany, to go out boldly to the peripheries, and to share the joy of the Gospel with all whom we meet. Holy Father, thank you for reminding us what missionary discipleship truly looks like. |
| | | 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 the teams bring. |
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If you or anyone you know is interested, could be interested or you think they would make a great missionary serving with NET Ministries - let us know!
More information can be found here |
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Ignite Conference - The LightBrisbane & Sydney
Since 2001, Ignite Conference has been the passion project of a small group of people who carried a vision for what a gathering of faithful Catholics and the unchurched would look like.
NET Ministries are proud to partner with the Ignite Conference. We highly recommend getting along to one of the conferences in 2025! |
| | | | | | At NET Ministries, 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 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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