Teenagers urged to seek joy, purpose and meaning

By Wendy Shaw

Fellowship, fun, food and faith were on offer as Launceston Catholic Parish launched two initiatives last month aimed at welcoming more young people to the community.

An autumn picnic outside the Church of the Apostles on 26 April for high school students and their families was followed later the same day by the relaunch of the Young Apostles Society at a winter soup night at the Launceston Parish Pastoral Centre.

About ten teenagers and their families took up the parish’s invitation to gather for ‘connection, conversation and a shared vision for the parish community’ at the picnic.

The event aimed to provide an opportunity to get to know one another, share experiences and offer ideas on how the parish can better support youth as they grow in faith, friendship and belonging.

Launceston Parish assistant priest Fr Jonas Donasco MLCC helped to organise the event following consultation with the Archdiocese’s Director of Youth Evangelisation, Darcy Rogers, and support from youth ministry volunteers Christina Fletcher and Henrietta Gora.

Launceston Parish Priest Fr Shammi Perera said attendees enjoyed the games, food and conversation.

“At the end, I spoke to them about the purpose of the day,” Fr Shammi said.

“I said that ‘Glory of God is man fully alive’, a beautiful quote from St Irenaeus at the end of the second century. And I said you are meant to glorify God by your life and you are meant to be joyful people— that is God’s purpose—and we don’t find joy in our life until we find the purpose and meaning that God has for us in this life.”

Fr Shammi added that Archdiocese of Hobart seminarian Nathaniel Bradley spoke joyfully and engagingly at the picnic.

Parents were asked for feedback about the new youth ministry.

One parent responded: “I am happy for this initiative and fully support it. It is an opportunity for our youth to gather, network and grow in their faith.

“I am hoping this well engender a sense of belonging in the parish, a personal relationship with God and strong foundations of faith.”

Fr Jonas said that parents would be further consulted over potential activities and meeting frequency of the group.

“We seek the intercession of St Carlo Acutis [1991-2006] and St Pier Giorgio Frassati [1901-1925], the millennial saints for the young,” Fr Jonas said.

“Then hopefully, the young people will fall in love with the Lord.”

For information about the parish youth group for high school students, please contact the parish office at launceston@aohtas.org.au.