Praise and worship like you never have before

Anyone who has attended an Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) or World Youth Day (WYD) will know what it means to experience faith in new and transformative ways.

The Diocesan Council for Ministry with Young People (DCMYP) is hoping that the Spirit & Truth Praise and Worship night will allow many more from our diocesan community to share in a similar experience.

“People can expect a different experience of church than the one they might be used to encountering on Sunday. The Praise and Worship evening will include testimony, formation, live music, dancing and will culminate in Mass,” said Chair of the DCMYP, James Elliott.

As a member of this year’s WYD pilgrimage, I can attest to the profound impact the catechesis sessions in Krakow had on me. The Praise and Worship night has been planned to follow a similar format.

“Fr Greg Barker, our WYD Chaplain, will be the keynote speaker and will also celebrate Mass. Pilgrim Amber-Jane Parker will provide testimony about her personal faith journey. Our Praise and Worship band, Spirit and Truth, will be getting everyone on their feet,” said James.

Young people (and the young at heart) are encouraged to attend to give voice to their faith in a new and exciting way.

“We’re confident that the format of the evening will really engage young people. We’re hopeful that it will provide a meaningful prayer and communal worship experience to those who may not attend Mass regularly and that a sense of diocesan identity and connectedness grows. It would be wonderful if it inspired young people to return to their own parishes and get involved in creating similar experiences locally,” said James.

The DCYMP will be organising more Praise and Worship events throughout 2017 to build momentum for the ACYF which will be held in Sydney in December and kick off the 2018 Year of Youth. It is expected that 15,000 young people will attend the 2017 ACYF.

The Praise and Worship night will also act as a reunion for the 71 pilgrims who attended WYD in Poland in July.

So why not come along and praise and worship like you never have before?

The Spirit and Truth Praise and Worship night will be held on Friday 2 December at the Factory Theatre, St Pius X High School, Park Avenue, Adamstown commencing at 6pm with a barbecue.

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Joanne Isaac Image
Joanne Isaac

Joanne is a Communications Officer for the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle and a regular columnist for Aurora Magazine.

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