Brisbane & Sydney

Ignite Conference (Brisbane)

NET Missionaries serving and bringing life.

Calling others to join the mission

The reponse!

For 20+ years we have partnered with Ignite Youth to put on the annual Ignite Conference. Ignite is a national Catholic conference for everyone, from leaders to first-time believers. It seeks to be a place where the Church gathers and is alive on mission. This year saw two conferences held back to back; Brisbane 19-22 September and Sydney 26-29 September. The conferences saw well over two and half thousand people gather in both locations.

Each year the teams return to be part of Ignite and serve their hearts out. They run sessions for the teenage streams, small groups, perform music on the outdoor stage, greet attendees. to each session from morning to night and help set up and pack down.

NET Staff do similar, serving in all sorts of capacities through to leading adult streams, delivering inspiring and dynamic presentations from the main stage and running the NET information stall.

A particularly special moment is the opportunity to call others to mission. Over recent years this has been to have the NET Missionary’s shine their phone torch, for alumni in the room to join them (which there is numerous) and invite others to join them in turning on their phone torches. The response is remarkable and we receive many expressions of interest from young people from all over Australia and New Zealand to serve as a result.

It would be fair to to say that the response from the young people is because they witness a fully alive church. If you haven't attended an Ignite conference, the only way to describe it is breath taking in what you see happen in the lives of those gathered over 4 days.

We are so very proud and feel priviledged to partner with and serve alongside Ignite Youth during the Ignite Conferences each year! Bring on 2025!

Renee Doyle on

main stage

Fr Issac Falzon (Alumnus)

Zahra, 2025

NET Missionary

Darcy Rogers at the

NET Stall

Fred and Pauline with Shanelle and Shayne

In July of this year, Shanelle and I were incredibly blessed to be sent as representatives of NET Ministries Australia & New Zealand to Uganda for the 20th anniversary of the establishment NET Ministries Uganda. The story of NET Uganda is another of those testimonies of what God can do when people say yes. It is far more than we can ever imagine.

The original invitation to go to Uganda came from Fred Mawanda. Fred was a very experienced person in youth ministry who was looking to establish an effective model of youth ministry for the Church in Uganda. At the time, Fred was working in the forestry industry and his wife, Pauline, was working as a high school teacher. Fred’s bishop, the Most Rev. John Baptist Kaggwa, was totally supportive and wrote asking if NET Ministries could help them to train young adults in the New Evangelisation with the possibility of setting up NET Uganda. What a great vision! As I was boarding the plane to leave Uganda, the words of Bishop Kaggwa rang in my ears “Shayne, can you please tell me within a week how you can help us as I have a meeting of Consultors and I want to speak to them about these new possibilities.” There were also some other words which had lodged deep in my heart from every group of people I met in eight short days. Those words were “Please don’t forget us.” 

I boarded the plane with my heart captured by the Ugandan people but confused as to how NET Ministries could help them. We had no money to fund such a project. My flight to Uganda was paid for by a generous sponsor. There were so many needs. 

I prayed hard on that flight, conscious of the many needs I had encountered.

Finally, as the plane was touching down I had this internal conviction which I understood as God’s voice saying, “What have you been asked to do?” I replied to the Lord, “train young people in the New Evangelisation with the possibility of establishing NET at some time in the future.” And the question came again, “Can you do that?” The answer came swiftly, “Yes, I can do that?” My first encounter was in March and by August we had a NET team in Masaka, Uganda. My wife Shanelle and I continued to supervise the first three teams which piloted the ministry over 3-4 months for the next three years adding more Ugandans to the teams each year until they were able to field their own fully Ugandan team. Fred and Pauline resigned from their jobs and received a stipend in the place of two well paid jobs. Their trust in the Lord did not go unrewarded as God blessed them and their growing family.

Twenty years later, we are grateful for the opportunity to journey with the people of Uganda and NET Ministries and see the wonderful development as their teams reach out to young people across Uganda to share the “good news” that Jesus brings to our lives. While Bishop Kaggwa has passed on, I still remember his response when at the 10th anniversary of NET Ministries, I asked him how he felt about NET and its contribution to the Church in Uganda. He said, “How can I not be grateful?” The experience for Shanelle and I echoed those words of the Bishop. How could we not be grateful for the sacrifice of hundreds of NET volunteers; how could we not be grateful for all the sponsors who helped NET begin and those who continue to keep the ministry flourishing today. How can we not be grateful to God for allowing us to participate in an amazing unfolding of grace in the life of the people of Uganda. Our hearts are still captured!

The first Uganda NET Team in 2004

with Bishop John Baptist Kaggwa

Time to Book

This year's dinner will feature a panel conversation on a theme close to our hearts: 'Hope for Young People and the Church.' We are honoured to have Archbishop Mark Coledridge presiding over the evening, alongside a panel of speakers who will share their insights, experiences, and hopes for the future of our young people. 

Panel Conversation: Hope for Young People and the Church

In a world where young people face numerous challenges, the Church stands as a beacon of hope and guidance. Our panel conversation will bring together speakers who will share their insights and experiences on how we can nurture and inspire the next generation of believers. This is an opportunity for us to listen, learn, and collaborate on strategies to support our youth in their faith journeys.

Why Your Presence Matters

Your presence at this dinner is not just a gesture of support; it is a testament to your commitment to the future of the Church and its young members. By joining us, you are contributing to a larger conversation and helping to shape solutions that will have a lasting impact on our community. Together, we can create a nurturing environment where young people can grow in faith and find hope in the Church.

RSVP and Donation Information

Please RSVP by Monday 7 October by contacting Darcy Rogers darcy.rogers@netministries.com.au or (07) 3217 5299, or through our online reservation link below. If you are unable to attend but would like to support our mission, donations can be made via the ‘Donate’ button at the bottom of the newsletter. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference and helps us continue our vital work.  

PRAY FOR THEM

We have put together a poster of the 2024 NET Missionaries so that you can pray for them and the ministry they are doing.

“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.

Theme Scripture

Our theme scripture for 2024 comes from Saint Paul’s letter to the Romans, and we experience it daily as we witness our NET teams living lives that are quite simply overflowing with the Hope of the Gospel message. Please join us in prayer, that the young people of Darwin, Hamilton, Auckland and Maroochydore would experience the Hope our teams bring in their own lives.

Ellen McCormack

Ellen is 19 years old and from Brisbane, serving her first year on mission with NET. She enjoys sports and music, especially piano. Ellen hopes to spread the Gospel no matter what she ends up studying. She is excited to meet new people and share the good news, and is especially inspired by St Catherine of Siena.  

To sponsor Ellen click the link below and use Donation Reference: 24EllM

Josh Foxon

Josh is 18 years old from Brisbane QLD, he loves sport, especially following the NRL and NBA. He has five siblings and is doing NET at the same time as his brother. Josh is excited to deepen his faith during NET, and to share his faith with the people he encounters.

To sponsor Josh click the link below and use Donation Reference: 24JosF

Mark Lysaght 

Executive Director

NET Ministries

Australia & New Zealand