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2018 Immaculata Mission School
For ten years, young people from around Australia have gathered every January to start their year in the best possible way: with prayer and Adoration, praise, formation, fellowship and mission. Celebrating this anniversary, 150 young people came to Hobart from 1-10 January for the Immaculata Mission School, to learn about the call to be disciples of Jesus and to grow in faith and love by starting the year with God.
Each day began in prayer, with one and a half hours of Adoration, with times of silence and praying the Rosary. This was the "engine room" of the Mission School and allowed participants to experience the peace of sitting at the feet of Jesus, and to discover and go deeper in the gift of prayer and intercession.
"My highlight has been the prayer, Adoration and the praise and worship and meeting 150 young Catholics on fire for their faith." - Michael, QLD
We were blessed by the presence of wonderful priests for the ten days, who witnessed to their vocations through their love for the Eucharist and service to the young people. Each day they celebrated Mass and were regularly available for confessions.
"I've loved everything about the Mission School. I've realised that you can always go deeper in your faith ... It has given me a lot of practical means to live out His love in my life and continually grow deeper in my relationship with Him, like Adoration, prayer, devotion to Mary, daily Mass and being selfless." - Jessica, NSW
Talks on the faith lead participants into a deeper relationship with Christ and the Church, from speakers such as Archbishop Julian Porteous, Fr Anthony Mary Prendergast, Fr Rob Galea, Paul Elarde, Fr Michael Doody, Fr Stefan Matuszek, James Parker, Simon and Madeleine Carrington, and members of the Immaculata Community. Topics included the meaning of life, the gift of the Holy Spirit, the call to evangelisation, the importance of Mary and the Saints, theology of the body, the Eucharist and God's healing love.
Participants were able to receive prayer to invite the Holy Spirit into their lives in a new way, to form deep friendships through share groups and to have the opportunity to go out into the streets and share the love of God through listening to and praying with people. This time of evangelisation culminated in the "Festival of Light", an evening in which the young people brought God's love and joy to locals through games, activities, food and a concert with Fr Rob Galea.
"Being here makes me want to know who I really am and take away all the masks. It's changing my life. I'm starting to really understand that He's taking care of me." - Mariajose, QLD
"This retreat has given me the courage to face the world, the strength to perservere through whatever challenges are in front of me and it has made me realise that I am not alone and I never will be." - Dwain, VIC
"IMS is my favourite way to start the year. The healing and loving power of Adoration and the witness of other young people has strengthened my relationship with my Saviour and I have grown more confident in who I am as a beloved child of God." - Antonina, VIC
For ten years, the Mission Schools have brought hope to hundreds of young people, as they have discovered God's love for them and the purpose to their lives: to become the saints of the new millenium. THANK YOU to all the volunteers, benefactors and those who have helped make every Mission School possible.
