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Ugandan Adventures | Mid Year Retreat & Training | 25th Year Celebrations | Ignite Conference 2013
Greetings to all! Well, I am feeling very nostalgic as I write one of my last ‘Executive Director’ messages. I have decided it is time to ‘step down’ from the Executive Director position and allow someone else into the driver’s seat. In some ways this is a sad move to ponder, but in another way, it is extremely exciting. NET Ministries is an evangelisation vehicle which will always be close to my heart. I will not be leaving NET altogether as I will remain for some time as Director of Pastoral Care and Training.
However, I believe it is time to hand on this God given Ministry to someone who can carry its charism and purpose into the next phase of its development. I am grateful to God for the opportunity I have been given to carry on the relay from our Founding Director, Shayne Bennett, and my part in the incredible journey from founding to where we are now. My prayers and support will be with the person who takes the baton from here. This ministry is a place of foundation, formation, evangelisation and support for the many young people who serve on our teams.
Further, it is a gift offered to thousands of young people across this nation. It is an invitation to welcome a relationship with Jesus Christ into their lives. This relationship helps form their values and choices for the rest of their lives, and as I say to myself and NET staff constantly… ”guys, this is what we lay our lives down for every day.”
As I sit here thinking of all of this, I
Issue 2, 2013
remember the many teams who have passed through our doors. I think of those I have sat with until midnight discussing and praying through their difficulties. I recall the truths spoken, the hearts opened and the lives changed through the power of the Holy Spirit. I remember the faces and I am privileged to continue in relationship with those individuals, as they travel through their lives. I am often part of their ongoing struggles, joys and questions as they choose careers, vocations, partners in life and have children. I remember the ups and downs of steering this ministry, by the grace of God, through financial difficulties, recruiting struggles and sticky pastoral questions. I write this with a smile, knowing that God never once let us down. He always had the solution. He always saw us through, often miraculously.
What a voyage it has been to lead this crew and steer this ship. Thank you to all of you, who have supported me on this journey. I could not have done it without the incredible support of the staff (especially the management staff) around me. The humility, spirituality and commitment of the whole staff of NET Ministries are indescribable. Furthermore, you, our supporters, are amazing and without you the “show” simply does not go on. God bless you all for your constant prayers, financial commitment and moral support along the way...
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IN THISISSUE
UGANDAN ADVENTURESBy Claire Forbes
During my semester break this July I travelled to Uganda for my third annual visit. While each trip has been an eye-opening and energising experience, this particular visit contained many new encounters. Moments that have remained with me ranged from cleaning the bathrooms of orphanages in Kampala to visiting the brothels of Bwaise with the volunteers of Help The Streetgirl (HSG Uganda), an NGO directed at providing women with the spiritual and physical means of leaving their jobs as prostitutes.
While I stayed with the NET team for a week, listening to their stories and helping them to run school retreats, it was in conversations with alumni that the fruits of NET Uganda were most evident. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to deliver a talk to a large parish youth group which had been almost entirely established by Prosper Agaba, a NET alumnus (2010/2011 team) and good friend. Many of the entrepreneurial businesses discussed
with Dad (Michael Forbes) had also grown from the hearts and minds of others who had served on team or completed NET training. It was truly inspiring to see the way in which Ugandan NET alumni use their formation and experiences as a platform to allow them to go on to empower other young people, both spiritually and economically.
Thanks again to Fred and Pauline Mawanda (Directors of NET Uganda) for their brilliant scheduling, outstanding hospitality and tireless passion for spreading the Gospel message. I am also deeply grateful to Prosper for providing guidance and companionship throughout the 9 days before the arrival of my parents, and to the wider NET and Holy Spirit communities for their continued efforts towards their vision for a Uganda that is stronger in faith and richer in hope. Their vision has become our vision.
If you’re interested in learning more about NET Uganda, the economic projects of the Ugandan NET alumni, or HSG Uganda, please contact us.
CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE
... I am also honoured to be making my way out of the director’s seat in the same year as we reach the ripe, old age of 25 years. We are all grateful to God for seeing us thus far, and believe in his continuing protection and guidance of this ministry. It is an exciting time for NET as we celebrate our 25th Anniversary. I hope all of you who feel part of us are able to celebrate with us in one way or another. Whether you financially support NET, pray for us, have served on our teams or are one of the lives effected by the ministry
Shanelle BennettExecutive Director
of NET, please feel welcome to join with us in celebrating this marvellous ministry which brings life to so many.
Issue 2, 20132
MID YEAR REFLECTIONS
Luke SchoenfelderMid-year training was a personal turning
point for my faith and my relationships on team. My faith journey has always been a roller coaster, and on mid-year training, I was gaining speed for the high. Coming back from a two week break in Canada really showed me the importance of my team mates and how strong our relationships have truly grown – through our and God’s doing.
The change in me between the first half of the year and the start of the second was learning the difference between performing and transforming; things we learnt to distinguish between on mid-year training. From my experience, I learnt the power of vulnerability with my team mates, especially trusting in God’s plan for me and my relationships. The trust that I felt truly allowed me to distinguish between performing and transforming, which lead to a change in our
Jess SchmidtBeing on my second year of NET, I came to
mid-year feeling like I knew what was going to happen. However what I took away from Mid-Year Training was the conviction that there is more. There is a lot more to God I have not yet seen, there is more to myself that I have not yet discovered, and there is more to life than I expect.
I’m starting to realise more and more that God’s love for us is relentless. He never stops but keeps chasing us and changing us. It’s only love that leaves nothing unturned.
I realised this especially when I was speaking with a year 10 student who asked me WHY? Why do we do what we do? When, he could never see himself working day and night with people he might not like, without any pay, boyfriends or girlfriends and far, far away from home for a whole year. Well,
relationships on the Good Counsel College NET Team. Understanding this allowed me to trust my team mates, which in turn gave me faith that I did not need to perform anymore and that I could allow God to transform me.
Coming back to Innisfail and clearly seeing the change in each other is incredible, and shows how each of us were transformed over the break. I feel confident knowing that God has transformed me to be a better team mate, to grow in my faith, to fight for the strengthening of my relationships, and to truly give all trust and submission to God.
Furthermore, I continue to see hope in the future knowing we still have a long, hard, and phenomenal journey ahead of us. One filled with Jesus, fun, painting, cheesecake, ministry, youth, water fights, beach days, sports, and lots and lots of tea and coffee! We are united as a team through Jesus and we continue to be called to greatness through faith with complete submission to uncertainty.
I just know I am loved. This incredible Love that through Jesus is available to me needs to be shared. It’s important enough, to leave everything and to follow Him.
Here in Townsville I can say all my expectations of what ministry would look like were very quickly wiped away. Somehow I keep forgetting that everyone is not the same as me. The new and revamped ministries we are in the care of here are really fun and exciting but also challenge me to the extreme.
Seeing my team mates now, I understand that the sacrifice of giving a year of our life is more truthfully the blessing of being transformed and tested by the God in each other. Love is only as true as it is tested, and with the storms and fires, I have found in each brother or sister a depth I never would have seen before. What was our quirky, punny, and somewhat strange team in the beginning, has become home.
Issue 2, 2013 3
MID YEAR TRAINING
MID YEAR RETREAT
June and July were full, as usual, as all the NET teams returned to Brisbane for their Mid Year Retreat and Training. Highlights included an ‘Amazin Grace’ throughout Brisbane city, dinner hosted by the lovely
McKay’s, incredible teachings by NET staff, some powerful homilies by Fr Michael Grace and Fr Morgan Batt and the beautiful weather we were blessed by at
Bornhoffen in the Gold Coast Hinterland.
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MID YEAR TRAINING
MID YEAR RETREAT
June and July were full, as usual, as all the NET teams returned to Brisbane for their Mid Year Retreat and Training. Highlights included an ‘Amazin Grace’ throughout Brisbane city, dinner hosted by the lovely
McKay’s, incredible teachings by NET staff, some powerful homilies by Fr Michael Grace and Fr Morgan Batt and the beautiful weather we were blessed by at
Bornhoffen in the Gold Coast Hinterland.
THE
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ALUMNI NOTICEBOARDMARRIAGES
Joanna Madden (St Andrew’s 11) to Matthieu Beaudoin
Catherine Hurrell (St Andrew’s 10) to John Thomas Armentrout
Eleyne Teodoro de Rezende (National 07) to Luis Guilherme
Fernando Aceves (Bundaberg 06, Melbourne 07) to Elizabeth Walker
BIRTHS
Jeanette Touzin nee Brodner (National 08, St Andrew’s 09) and husband Steve welcomed a baby girl, Shaelyn Valerie Emillia
Karlee Guest nee Williams (National 09) and husband Damon welcomed a baby boy, Elijah Paul Robert
Tim Malone (National 1 03, National 06) and Jacinta Malone (Hoppers Crossing 06) welcomed a baby girl, Grace Carmel-Anne
Veronica Dwyer (Hoppers Crossing 06) and husband Adam welcomed their second child, Abigail Stella
Sarah O’Dougherty (Melbourne 11) and Laurent Dubois (MSB 11) welcomed a baby girl, Annabelle Sarah
VOCATIONS
Chris Eaton MGL (Stanthorpe 01, Moree 02) is being ordained an MGL priest on Sept 13
ENGAGEMENTS
Nathan Costin (Melbourne 09) and Jen Dalcin (Melbourne 09) are engaged
Jeremy Grear (St Augustine’s 10, present staff) and Rosie Hayes (National 08) are engaged
GOLF
10:00am Fri 22nd November
$50 p/head
THANKSGIVING MASS
10:00am Sat 23rd November
Mary Immaculate Church, Annerley
All welcome
ANNIVERSARY MASS
10:00am Sun 24th November
12 Apostles Church, Jindalee
All welcome
COCKTAIL EVENING
7:30pm Fri 22nd November
NET Alumni & Partners only
$35 p/head
ANNIVERSARY DINNER
6:30pm for 7:00pm start Sat 23rd November
All Welcome
$88 p/head
HIGH TEA
10:00am Fri 22nd November
$30 p/head
THANKSGIVING BANQUET
12:00pm Sat 23rd November
Contact [email protected] for details and payment
FAMILY BBQ
12:00pm Sun 24th November
12 Apostles Church, Jindalee
All welcome
•Please send an email to [email protected] to RSVP for the events you are interested in attending
•RSVP’s and payment will be due by 8th November, so get in early. Space is limited for some events
•When interest is received, we will contact you with payment details and further information
Issue 2, 20136
At the end of September, NET will join as a Platinum Sponsor and large source of volunteers to help Emmanuel Community run the Ignite Conference in Brisbane. Ignite is the largest Catholic Youth Conference in Australia and we are very excited to be a part of it again! As the conference draws closer, our staff are busy preparing for what is to come. Two of our staff serve on the Ignite Planning Team and over half of our staff will be presenting workshops and ministering to young people. More than 20 of our NET Alumni will be presenting over the 4 days. NET Staff and Alumni will also join with emmanuelworship, leading the worship ministry for the conference.
5 NET teams will be at Ignite Conference this year, including the National, Sydney, Mazenod, St Fidelis and Good Counsel College Teams. They will help run the Ignite High Stream for grades 8-10 and 11-12, and the Sydney, GCC and St Fidelis teams will bring young people from their local areas to experience the conference. All of the teams will be leading small groups, in which they will journey with a group of young people and support them throughout their time at Ignite. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to be on the frontline and evangelise the young people of Australia; being a part of some of them experiencing the love of God for the first time and helping with the formation of young Catholics, while also recruiting some of our volunteers for next year!
If you are at Ignite, come and visit us at the NET stand for a chance to win a tablet!
A strong representation of NET alumni at Ignite 2012
mission - chal lenge - meaning
Join us for a year that will change lives – yours included. You just need to be aged 18 – 30 & Catholic.
www.netministries.com.au/[email protected]: 07 3217 5299
Issue 2, 2013 7
25th Anniversary Gala Fundraising Dinner
His Eminence George Cardinal Pell
Date Sat 16th November 2013Time 6:30pm for 7:00pmDress Black Tie (optional)Cost $150 per person
100% of proceeds go to NET’s vital ministry | www.netministries.com.au
Venue Tattersall’s Club, Edward St, BrisbaneRSVP Tuesday 12th November 2013 to Enquiries [email protected] (07) 3217 5299
for NET Ministries, featuring special guest speaker
My gift today: $1000 $500 $250 $100 $50 $ _________
Frequency: Once only Monthly Quarterly Yearly
Method: Cheque (Payable ‘NET Ministries’) Direct Deposit Credit Card
EFT Bank Account BSB: 034 010 ACC: 162 527 Ref No: SURNAME 2013–2
Credit Card Visa MasterCard Amex
Card Number __ __ __ __ / __ __ __ __ / __ __ __ __ / __ __ __ __ Exp Date __ __ / __ __ Signature __________________________
Issue 2, 2013
If undeliverable return to:NET Ministries Australia
PO Box 889PaddingtonQLD 4064
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Please send me more information about:
Tax-effective Family Trust Donations Gifts-in-kind [e.g. office equipment, fuel costs, catering etc.] Including NET in my will by making a bequest
And as always, please pray for us as we seek to fulfil our mission. We hope to see young hearts transformed as they encounter Jesus. That’s why we exist.
Thank you for your generosity.
NET Ministries Australia relies on the support of our community. Are you able to help?
