Pentecost fire pots fan flames of faith
By Wendy Shaw
Hot soup, comforting flames and the warmth of the parish community drew a large crowd to a Pentecost Sunday firepot and soup night at the Church of the Apostles in Launceston.
It was organised by the Parish Pastoral Council with support from the young adults’ group, the Young Apostles Society, after evening Mass on 8 June. Funds raised will support young people attending the Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) in Melbourne later this year.
Parish Pastoral Council chair Maree Wright explained that it followed a similar event two years ago.
“We wanted to celebrate Pentecost, and fire pots and hot soup go really well together,” she said, as parishioners in thick coats gathered around the fires in front of the church.
“It’s great to see so many people come and we had it as a little fundraiser for the youth in the parish. They came along to help. It’s been a wonderful event building community in the parish.”
Launceston Parish Priest Fr Leonard Caldera highlighted the ‘beautiful meaning’ of the soup and fire pot night at Pentecost.
He said: “Pentecost is a feast of uniting people, because as the Holy Spirit came down there were people of various tongues but they heard one message.
“And even here, especially during this month, when we come together at the fire to warm ourselves and to share a meal and fellowship, that coming together has a beautiful meaning at the Feast of Pentecost.
“It brings people together, unites us and helps us to build the parish, which is the body of Christ. That is a very good way of looking at it.”
As he sipped warm soup served by a hardworking team of young adults, Launceston Parish’s assistant priest and youth co-ordinator, Fr Vinco Muriyadan explained that funds raised would support people wanting to attend ACYF.
He said that about 200 young people from Tasmania were expected to attend the festival which features an impressive lineup of presenters including Sr Mary Grace SV from the Sisters of Life; Fr Rob Galea, an internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter; author and podcaster Katie Prejean McGrady; US-based speaker Maggie Craig; and poet and hip-hop artist Augie Angrisano.
“It is also very faith-oriented: formation, talks, music, evangelisation,” Fr Vinco said
“The young people get to know Christ and the Church. There will be a lot of bishops and priests, and it is a great opportunity to meet other young Catholics from all over Australia.”
The Australian Catholic Youth Festival in Melbourne from 30 November to 2 December is for those in Year 9 to the age of 25. Started by the Australian Bishops more than ten years ago, it offers fellowship, faith, the opportunity for young people to strengthen their relationship with Jesus and inspiration to live out Catholic values in everyday life.
To find out more about attending ACYF 2025, contact the Archdiocese of Hobart’s Director of Youth Evangelisation, Darcy Rogers, on 0448 330 238. For details about ACYF go to the website (https://acyf.org.au).