2025 NET Missionaries at their Mid-Year Retreat

WHAT A MISSION!

MIDWAY MARVELS: THANK YOU!

We’ve reached the mid way point of the mission year, and the story unfolding is one worth celebrating.

In classrooms and chapels, over conversations and campfires, young people are encountering something real—someone real. Jesus is meeting them in the mess and mystery of life. And because of your support—whether financial, prayerful, or practical—faith is being made possible in places it once felt out of reach.

Our NET Missionaries have stepped out with courage and conviction—not just running programs but inspiring young people to follow Jesus and find a home in the Church. They’ve laughed with students, prayed with the hurting, and remained faithfully present in sacred moments where hearts begin to open.

This year’s theme grounds us in the words of Jesus:

“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

(John 8:31–32)

What a promise. What a mission.

And what a team effort it takes to make it all possible.

To those who lead behind the scenes—coordinating schedules, organising school visits, arranging accommodation, meals, and transport—thank you. To those managing the moving pieces, responding to needs, and ensuring our missionaries are safe and equipped—you are the steady hands and servant hearts behind it all.

To our financial supporters, thank you for your generosity and sacrifice.

To those who cover us in prayer, thank you for lifting us up daily.

To our partners on the ground, thank you for walking alongside us.

Because of you, our missionaries are ready to step into the second half of the year with renewed strength.

After a well-earned two-week break, all NET teams will gather this week for Mid-Year Training—a time to reconnect, recommit, and be spiritually and practically equipped for the mission ahead. Please keep them in your prayers as they prepare to go out once again.

So pause with us. Give thanks for what God has already done—it’s nothing short of extraordinary. And join us in looking forward, full of hope and expectation, for what’s still to come.

Thank you for making this mission possible. As you’ll read in this update, a real difference is being made in the lives of young people.

Thank you for believing, supporting, and journeying with us.

Peace,

Mark

Executive Director

BECAUSE OF YOU

MID WAY IMPACT SNAPSHOT

Thanks to your incredible support, the first half of 2025 has been nothing short of extraordinary for NET Ministries Australia & New Zealand. Between February and June, our missionaries have led 399 events—retreats, school visits, youth groups, young adult gatherings, and more—reaching over 14,500 young people across the country and in New Zealand.

The impact speaks volumes:

• 94% of students said they enjoyed their time with the team

• 83% felt closer to Jesus

• 80% were inspired to grow in their faith

  
  

Behind every number is a story—like the 7,467 one-on-one conversations and 7,159 group discussions where faith was made personal.

Your prayers, generosity, and partnership are making faith possible. Together, we’re inspiring young people to follow Jesus and find a home in the Church. And we’re only halfway through the year.

Thank you for being part of the mission.

TEAM UPDATES

The 2025 NET Missionaries

Momentum in Mission: A Mid-Year Glimpse

At the mid way point of the year, we pause to give thanks. Across Australia and New Zealand, our NET teams continue to press on with courage and joy—inspiring young people to follow Jesus and find a home in the Church. In this edition, we share snapshots from Darwin, Auckland, Maroochydore and Rockhampton. We’re deeply grateful to every supporter—those who give financially, offer prayer, or help practically—and to our local area contacts who walk closely with each team. Your partnership makes this mission possible. Thank you for believing in what God is doing through NET. There’s still more to come—and we journey forward, full of faith and hope.

Auckland Team

It’s been a great start to our time here in Auckland. We have mostly been busy with retreat days spreading the joy of our faith and testimonies of Jesus working in our lives to the students of Auckland. This has been made all the easier with amazing support from the Diocesan team, especially Sam Brebner and Elisa Lakai as our main contact people and the support of Sr Sian Owen & Bishop Steve Lowe.  

We are blessed to be a part of a parish that’s welcoming and striving to meet the needs of their youth. We have also been blessed to walk alongside the youth leaders of the parish in their roles as leaders and as young adults in their parish. We are thankful to Irene, the parish co-ordinator of St Josephs and Joachims for supporting us and welcoming us into the community, we feel at home. 

We are really looking forward to the second half of the year to see what more God has planned for our team!

Rockhampton Team

The first half of our year in Rockhampton has been an incredible journey. It has been inspiring to witness how God is at work in this diocese and to see the dedication of priests, parishioners, diocesan staff, and educators living out the mission of the Church.

We have felt consistently supported and encouraged, and the mission of NET has been enthusiastically received. We express our deep gratitude to Bishop Michael McCarthy, for his leadership and personal support of our team. We also thank Michael Otto, our diocesan contact, for his vision and guidance, which have been instrumental in our ministry.

We are deeply grateful to the school and parish communities who have welcomed us, and to the many families who hosted us throughout our travels.

It has been a privilege to meet so many dedicated individuals and to minister to incredible young people. We look forward with hope and excitement to what the second half of the year holds.

Maroochydore Team

God has been so good to us! Our experience coming into Maroochydore, has been one of great delight at seeing how much God is already doing here.  We were thoroughly welcomed everywhere we went, with whispers at the school the first time we arrived (“Is that the new NET team?” “Did you see the new NET team...”) and many greetings at the parish.  

Our greatest thanks to our wonderful contact people Fr Peter Brannelly, Fr. Isaac Falzon and Kerri-Anne Buckley, who really made us feel at home within the first few days.  Their continued support of our mission has opened so many doors, and none of this would be possible without them.  

Our mission here has been mostly focused on two things in this half of the year, firstly, on fostering real connections with the young people of Maroochydore, and secondly, on building sustainably on the foundation laid by last year’s NET team.  

This first half of our mission in Maroochydore has been a story of how God is the Author and we are the pen; from transport to Ignite Launch to giving testimonies on the spot, there really isn’t any area where there hasn’t been some transformation of our plans into God’s plans.  

We have a whole host of plans for the second half of the year and we cannot wait to see what Jesus is going to do here with all the seeds He has planted!

Darwin Team

Over this first half of the year, our team has experienced the beauty and vibrancy of Darwin. From sunrise runs and sunset swims to festivals and markets, we have loved every second of our time here. We have seen firsthand the amazing faith of the locals, specifically within the young adult community, and we have felt so welcomed by everyone that we have met. As the sixth NET team to be in Darwin, it’s amazing to see the impact that has already been made here – we have heard many students call out, “It’s the NET team!” when walking through schools that we ourselves had never visited before. 

We’ve had the opportunity to run many retreat days and classroom sessions across the Northern Territory, traveling as far North as the Tiwi Islands and as far South as Alice Springs and Santa Teresa, with a trip to Katherine in the mix as well. None of our ministry would be possible without the great work of Luke Shaefer – our dedicated contact person, Fr. Shehan – the director of Youth Ministry for the Diocese, Clalia Mar – Chancellor of the Diocese, and Bishop Charles, whose passion and support for our ministry has inspired us greatly and has made our mission possible. We would also like to thank the Leader of Catholic Identity and Mission for Catholic Education Northern Territory, Ann Charles, the many APRE’s, Youth Ministers, Priests, and Religious Brothers and Sisters who have ceaselessly supported us throughout this year. 

As a team, we are proud of what we have achieved so far, and we are so excited to see how God will continue to move throughout the rest of this year. We are committed to our mission and will continue to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the people of the Northern Territory in any way we can. Thank you all for your prayers, and God bless. 

APPLICATIONS OPEN

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

COMING UP

Ignite Conference - The Light

Brisbane & 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! 

MAKE FAITH POSSIBLE

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: