Your Voice Matters

Friends, this weekend we pass the half-way mark in our Dreaming Videos series. We have already received invitations to share our vision and dreams for three ministry areas: Children & Families, Faith & Formation, and Community Life. This weekend, we are invited to share our dreams and ideas about what a dedicated Youth & Young Adults ministry could look like in our parish.

I have a dream that our Youth & Young Adults ministry will give young people opportunities to grow their understanding of faith, particularly through friendship and connection, as we help them to encounter Jesus through the sacraments and in one another. My dream is that this ministry will ensure young people feel safe, seen and heard, inviting them into service within the community.

Last weekend, I preached a homily at the 5pm and 6.30am OLR church Masses that was possibly a little too blunt. I was lamenting the fact that following our last Dreaming Video on Community Life two weeks ago, we only received eleven responses from the entire parish in what I had hoped would be one of the most popular ministry areas. What I failed to acknowledge in my homily is that there are about 10% of our worshiping community who do not have access to, or are not proficient in the use of the internet and QR codes – thus negating their opportunity to share their voice in the ministry videos. I also do not discount the fact that there are many people in our parish who are already involved in ministry in many different ways.

The videos which we area showing – and the responses we’re looking for – however, are for everyone who can share their voice. Have you ever hoped for more in the life of your parish? Have you ever thought to yourself, “I wish we were better in this area or that area of faith and parish life?” I am passionately invested in taking us on a journey which will surpass all expectations but your voice is needed.

Visioning and Dreaming about what could be that isn’t, or what should be that isn’t, is about utilising the unique gifts that the Holy Spirit has given each and every person – gifts which are given precisely for the building up of our community: the Body of Christ. Your voice, your hopes, your dreams and your ideas matter because God has given you a voice!

While we already have a functioning weekly Youth Group on Friday nights during term time at Unity College, having a functioning Youth & Young Adult ministry in the parish will ensure that it’s not just one youth group who get all the resources, but that we have an intentional place for youth and young adults in every community of the parish. Your voice is needed. If you have ideas to share about what this ministry area could look like in the future of our parish, please share your voice, vision and thoughts here: Youth & Young Adults Ministry.

Parish Summit Day – 5 November 

The culmination of this Dreaming Video series is the coming together of our entire parish at a Summit Day on 5 November from 10.00am-3.00pm at Unity College auditorium, Caloundra West. We will have the opportunity to gather and share our ideas and desires – and share lunch (provided) – about what our parish will look like and how it will function in the future. It is vital that we have as many people as possible register for the Parish Summit Day, not just for catering purposes, but so we can create a day which is both memorable and smooth running. Just like we used to do for Covid Masses, please register for the Parish Summit today by registering here at Eventbrite or scan the QR code on the flyer which will be handed out after Mass. I look forward to seeing you at the Summit!

Wishing you peace & blessings,

Fr Josh Whitehead