MADE TO SOAR: DISCIPLESHIP, ACCOMPANIMENT, AND THE CALL TO SAINTHOOD

Discipleship is not a program or a phase of life, but a response to a real encounter with Jesus Christ that calls for a decisive commitment to follow Him with one’s whole life. This lecture explores discipleship and accompaniment as both pastoral practices and personal pathways of faith, shaping not only how we walk with others but how we ourselves live as disciples. Rooted in Scripture and the lived experience of youth and young adult ministry, it presents discipleship as a radical yet attainable call to holiness — to become saints in the modern world.

Participants will be introduced to core building blocks of discipleship, including personal prayer, a sacramental life through weekly Mass, regular Confession and adoration, basic discernment and the difference between consolation and desolation, prioritising faith within a busy life, and building strong, life-giving faith communities. Set within the theme Made to Soar (Isaiah 40:31), this session proclaims a hopeful truth: with God’s grace, holiness is possible — and the world urgently needs saints.

PRESENTER: Fr Josh Whicker MGL

Fr. Josh is a priest with the Missionaries of God’s Love. Ordained in 2023, he brings over 20 years of experience in youth ministry across a number of different levels and contexts. Fr Josh is passionate about accompanying young people in their journey of faith and discipleship, and helping them be the leaders and disciples that Jesus is calling them to be.

LIVING HOLY WILD

For many of us, wild and holy are two words that just don’t seem to fit together. Often, we imagine holiness as serious and maybe, if we’re honest, even a little boring. Yet, in John 10:10, Jesus says that he has come to give us life to the full: a life full of adventure and joy, yet also one of holiness. But what does this look like for us in the day-to-day? How can we live a wild kind of holiness that unleashes joy and freedom in us, and is attractive to those we encounter? Together, we’ll look at the example of some saints to discover how we too can live a holy life that is radically wild.

PRESENTERS: Stephanie Sullivan MGL

Stephanie is in her sixth year with the Missionaries of God’s Love Sisters. Originally from North Queensland, she now lives in Melbourne where she is studying a Bachelor of Theology. Steph has a real heart for people to experience the healing love of God and live in the fullness of life He calls them to. She also loves cooking (and eating) traditional Italian food!

A VISION FOR MERCY

These lectures open up the mercy of God as a force that reawakens us to new life and a courage to look to the future with hope.Mercy as the beating heart of the Gospel in its own way penetrates the heart and mind of every person.In the mission of Jesus and his merciful gaze, we experience the fullness of love in the Most Holy Trinity. Justice and Mercy are not in tension in God's nature, rather mercy confers a new power on justice. This power is forgiveness. Divine justice must be understood from the perspective of divine mercy. The theology of different aspects of mercy such as forgiveness, justice and the practical application of mercy in lives and relationships will be covered in these lectures.

PRESENTER: Fr Steve Fletcher MGL

Fr. Steve Fletcher is moderator of the Missionaries of God Love Brothers who has worked  as a missionary for many years in Indigenous communities, youth outreaches, adult retreats, parishes, prisons and various faith formation and training settings. He has passion to see the church alive in the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit, fulfilling the call of Jesus to go make disciples of all nations.

GETTING CREATIVE WITH THE CREATOR

Come and experience different ways to create and play. When we create we are participating in the creating power of God who made us to create. This is not drawing lessons and no experience of art is necessary. Just come along and enjoy the goodness of God.

PRESENTER: Fiona Shanahan MGL

OPENING UP THE SCRIPTURES

Are you keen to read the bible more but not sure where to start? Wanting to understand scripture better but getting lost between Judges and Jude? This introductory lecture series gives you a guided tour by Fr. Dave through the old and new testaments. Get confident to open up the Scriptures and gain strength for your daily prayer & faith journey.

"For in the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven meets His children with great love and speaks with them…”  (Dei Verbum paragraph 21)

PRESENTER: Fr Dave Tremble MGL

Born in NSW, Fr Dave was attending a TAFE art course when impacted by God’s love made visible in Jesus. He was drawn to respond by entering into a way of consecrated life expressed in the MGL. After ordination he served at St Benedict’s in Canberra and Melbourne and at St Martin de Porres Catholic Aboriginal Community in Darwin and is currently in the Canberra MGL Formation House.

WITNESSING IN THE WILD - UNLOCK YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS TO BRING JESUS TO THE PARTY

Do you find it hard to share the Gospel in everyday moments? Feeling the tug to tell others how much they’re loved but not wanting to come off as the weird Christian friend? Come along to learn about how YOU are made to hear God’s voice; how to hear God’s voice for others; how to pray with others; how to lead someone in a Jesus experience and how to bring this into your everyday life, whether it's through school, work, family or ministry. As part of this lecture series, you will have the opportunity to practice bringing Jesus to the party on Saturday during free time.

PRESENTER: Fr Chris Eaton MGL, Judy Bowe MGL and Claire Smart

Fr. Chris Eaton MGL, Judy Bowe MGL, and Claire Smart have all been students at the Encounter School of Ministry. Fr. Chris is Parish Priest at St. Benedict’s Parish in Canberra. He has a passion for youth ministry and using creative music to evangelise. Judy is living in Varroville and involved in spiritual direction and running retreats. She is open to all kinds of creative evangelisation, including TV program The Amazing Race and anything else God sends along.  Claire works as a physiotherapist for children and adults with disabilities. She recently spent three months in Madagascar serving with Mercy Ships.