NET Missionaries at Mid-Year Training

INSPIRING A GENERATION!

What does it take to inspire a generation? And even more so, to inspire that generation to live a life of faith? These are the questions I’ve been reflecting on in light of the ministry we do—inspiring young people to follow Jesus and find a home in the Church. As I explored this, my first instinct was to return to the root meaning of the word inspire—and what I found deepened my understanding:

1. Inspire

• Etymology: From Latin inspirare — in- (into) + spirare (to breathe) = "to breathe into"

• Core Meaning: To fill someone with a feeling, thought, or urge—often creative or spiritual

• Modern Uses:

  • Emotional: "She inspires me to be a better person."

  • Creative: "The painting was inspired by the sea."

  • Spiritual: "The Holy Spirit inspired the apostles."

• Deeper Insight: Originally, inspire carried the sense of divine or supernatural breath—as though something greater was being breathed into a person.

For me, the ministry of NET has always been inspirational—because I too have encountered this supernatural breath, this something greater. Could this be what it takes to inspire a generation to live a life of faith?

This past month of July has made that clear to me.

From mid-year training with the NET Missionaries at Mt Bornhoffen in the Queensland hinterland, to the Ignite Conference in Sydney with over a thousand young people—I witnessed it. Young people moved, stirred, and set alight with a desire to follow Jesus. I saw a sense of the divine going forth from our missionaries. The breath of the Spirit, reaching others and inspiring them.

As celebrations for the Jubilee of Youth take place in Rome this week, Pope Leo XIV spoke similar words to those gathered saying, “You are the salt of the earth, the light of the world! And today your voices, your enthusiasm, your cries — all of them for Jesus Christ — will be heard to the ends of the earth!” Inspiring words for aspirational men and women. 

Also inspiring is your continued support. It is your generosity and prayer that enables NET Missionaries to inspire young people to follow Jesus and find a home in the Church.

Peace,

Mark

Executive Director

MID-YEAR TRAINING

& IGNITE CONFERENCE

The NET Missionaries returned from break and hit the ground running with Mid-Year Training at Mt Bornhoffen—a time of deep formation, team renewal, and recommitment to mission. Surrounded by the peace of the mountains, missionaries were reminded of their identity as disciples who abide in Christ (John 8:31–32) and were equipped afresh to go out again on mission with courage and conviction.

While the Maroochydore and Rockhampton teams travelled back to their local areas, for Auckland, Darwin and NET staff, it was straight into the energy of Ignite Conference Sydney. Here we served hundreds of young people from 13 different dioceses, including New Zealand and a delegation from Singapore, through small groups, keynotes, workshops, and prayer ministry. The theme of The Light shone powerfully through every encounter, with young people meeting Jesus in real and personal ways.

Thank you to all who prayed, supported, and made these moments possible. The fire is alive, and we are refreshed, re-formed, and reignited for the mission ahead.

Inviting others to join the mission

Ignite Photos used with permission

TEAM UPDATES

Mid-Year Training

NET Missionaries - Inspiring their generation!

After a refreshing mid-year break and powerful training, our missionaries are back in their local areas—renewed and ready to inspire. Across Australia and New Zealand, they continue leading young people to follow Jesus and find a home in the Church.

In this edition, read glimpses from Darwin, Auckland, Maroochydore, and Rockhampton. Thank you to all who pray, give, and support this mission. Because of you, faith is being made possible. The journey continues—with hope and purpose.

Auckland Team

This past month has been a blast. We have come back from mid-year break feeling refreshed and ready for the second half of the year. We have begun our time back to ministry with the honour to serve at Ignite conference Sydney, spending time with Year 11 students in small groups and running keynotes.

Since arriving back in the beautiful land of Auckland city New Zealand, we have gone straight back into retreat days, the first with Sacred Heart Year 12 boys and then with St Mary's Year 10 girls. The students have been curious, invested and full of fun. We’re keen and ready for more in the month ahead.

Rockhampton Team

We’re loving being back in the Diocese of Rockhampton! These past few weeks we have been blessed with a variety of ministry around Central Queensland. It was a joy to come home to the Rockhampton Cathedral community, and we loved returning to our local college, running youth group, hosting a couple of young adults catch ups, and commencing our 10 week Theology of the Body program. We had an awesome time leading our Fully Alive youth camp down in Yeppoon with 22 young people from across the Diocese attending.

We had an incredible time at a leadership camp with year 11 students from all 8 Catholic colleges around the Diocese and it was an absolute privilege and joy to be able to journey with them.

The team is currently ministering to the schools and many church communities of the central Valleys region and it has been a wonderful blessing to be welcomed into this amazing place.

A massive thank you to all the people and places who continue to support our mission out here!

Maroochydore Team

This past month has been full-on in the best way, jumping back into ministry and settling into the rhythm again. It’s been so good to be back in the sunshine after our freezing (but amazing) midyear training. We celebrated Sam’s birthday with a trip to Rainbow Beach, where we had a beautiful moment praying together under the stars and watching the sunset. 

Our ministry has kicked off to a really good start and we’re loving being back present in the school. We’re back singing at Mass, hanging out with students, joining more classes, and even diving into Bible stories like Abraham’s. This last week was especially  hectic but so rewarding! We drove to Brisbane to help Ignite Youth run Formation Days for BCE students across many schools, then jumped straight into our parish’s annual Sisterhood Retreat. It was such a gift to provide music, prayer, and connection with the women of our parish (shoutout to the men for serving food!). 

God is still moving strongly within our ministry, and we look forward to growing closer to Him, each other and all those we’ve connected with throughout the rest of the year. 

Darwin Team

The past month has been so fun! Rolling off our mid-year break, we and the Auckland team drove from Brisbane to Sydney for Ignite Conference where we ran workshops and keynotes for the year 7 and 8 attendees. The majority of us on the team have previously experienced Ignite Conference ourselves, and it was so amazing for us to give back and be apart of it.

Afterwards, we came back to our home in Darwin where we ran 2 retreats for O’Loughlin College, assisted in the running of Breakaway Conference, and celebrated James’ twentieth birthday!

We then spent a week in Daly River where we ran prayer sessions for all the students at the local school. We absolutely LOVE the community and all the beautiful sights that the town offers, especially the gorgeous river. We’re about to go for a three-week road trip where we’ll return to Katherine, Alice Springs and Santa Teresa. We’re so keen to see all the people there again and continue to walk alongside the youth of the NT!

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

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 Ignite Conference. We highly recommend getting along to the Brisbane conference in 2025! 

MAKE FAITH POSSIBLE

At NET Ministries, we are committed to inspiring young people to encounter Jesus, follow him and find a home in the Church. Your support—both financial and prayerful—ensures that this mission continues to transform lives. Here’s how make faith possible: