The Catholic Leader - 12 November - Issue 5477

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The Catholic Leader, November 12, 2017
Regional -Toowoomba
Indigenous students graduate with cathedral Mass
THE annual Year 12 Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Graduation Mass was held at St
Patrick’s Cathedral, Toowoomba, last month to
recognise 45 indigenous students from across the
diocese who completed Year 12.
Fr Peter Dorfield celebrated the Mass, with
local councillors, elders, schools and community
in the congregation.
“Students were the proud recipients of a com-
memorative medal and sash during the service,”
a spokeswoman said.
“The Mass was made extra special with elder
Maureen McKellar and her daughter Dr Raelene
Ward both addressing the students, and another
highlight being when the very talented Jada
Dennison from YCLC (Youth and Community
Learning Centre) played guitar and sang her own
composition, ‘All you have to do is pray’.
“The day was a wonderful success with schools
and community coming together to celebrate this
important milestone in students’ lives.”
Toowoomba Catholic Schools’ Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander Education education
officer Jennifer Wills said, “It is important to
celebrate this occasion, to acknowledge the hard
work of the students, families and schools, and
to give the students our blessings for their future.
“Recent national data shows the retention rate
of full-time Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
students from Years 7 to 12 was fifty-five per
cent compared with eighty-three per cent for
other students, so this is a real achievement to
celebrate for our Year 12s and we wish them all
the best for the future.” Community celebration: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at the Graduation Mass.
MORE than 300 people from dif-
ferent Christian traditions gathered
in Toowoomba on October 22 to
mark the 500th anniversary of the
start of the Protestant Reformation.
The event, From Conflict to-
wards Communion, was organ-
ised by Toowoomba and Downs
Churches Together and held at the
Armitage Centre, Empire Theatre.
Choirs from St Saviour’s Prima-
ry School, Toowoomba Anglican
College and Preparatory School,
and Concordia Lutheran College
sang hymns.
Fr Brian Sparksman and Pastor
Lionel Rohrlach, of the Lutheran
Church, jointly led a prayer cel-
ebration, which included a homily
from Bishop Paul Smith, of the
Lutheran Church.
“The desire for greater unity
among Christians was evident in
the way all present joined in the
time of prayer,” a spokesperson
said.
I must get up and follow Him
By Alessia Harris
EXCITED after registering
for the Ignite Conference
2017, the promotional poster
stared at me every day in
our home and on the door of
our Catholic Girls’ Club, as
the September holiday date
edged closer.
The night before we left to attend,
excitement was in overdrive as I knew
I’d have an amazing time with God
and among new friends.
The theme for this year’s Ignite
Conference “Come” had well and
truly caught my attention.
Meeting so many new people
instantly and seeing others from Janu-
ary’s Summer Camp and last year’s
Ignite, added to the excitement.
I was happy to explore the confer-
ence’s vocational expo stalls, to chat
Friends in faith:
Alessia Har-
ris (middle)
catching up with
friends at Ignite.
to priests and nuns, enjoy the food
provided, to praise the Lord in the
mosh pit and much more.
The speakers talked about the
concept of “coming closer to God”
in many ways and many times, for
example, we heard of the Gospel
passage where Jesus called Peter out
of the boat and to walk on water with
Him (Matthew 14:27-29).
Peter was called to take the risk of
doing something completely crazy to
reach the King of Kings.
Jesus was asking Peter to walk on
water to reach Him, the apostle put-
ting all of his faith in Jesus to keep
him safe.
At Ignite I found myself reaching
out to Jesus, effectively “walking on
water” to get the advice I seek from
the best advisor, connecting this pas-
sage to my own life.
Discussing the theme with other
teenagers in our small groups, I found
common issues being brought up, that
following Jesus can be hard today,
especially with so many things that can
distract us from living our faith in God.
Distractions like social media,
social networks, school popularity and
the constantly changing definition of
beauty were challenges mentioned.
Hearing countless stories of people
who experience God and are renewed
when they fall, I decided to think into
this word “come” a little more.
Jesus calls youth to come to him
and we, just like Peter, listen to Him
and put our faith in Him.
We go and walk on the water, put-
ting all our trust into God to save us
from their trouble.
We follow Jesus even if we look a
bit crazy to others.
As it goes, Peter looks away from
the Lord, causing him to sink.
This reminds me of people who get
distracted from their faith or travel
into sin, as expected in being human.
They follow the Lord as He calls
them, but they get heavy with all the
sin that they carry or think about what
others are saying about them.
I hear a big cry from youth who are
curious about God, those who don’t
believe, wait for God to appear to
them, to show them that He is there.
We, as Catholics, mustn’t allow dis-
tractions, or what others say, to lead us
away from the Lord. He’s worth much
more than we can ever imagine.
This Ignite conference I learnt that
if I’m a follower of the Lord, I must
trust Him fully with my life, and if I
really want to change things, I must
get up and follow Him.
Jesus is always waiting for us to
“come”.
Alessia Harris is a Year 9 student
from Toowoomba diocese
Reformation
remembered
School apprentices, trainees celebrate
TOOWOOMBA Catholic Schools Office’s School-Based Ap-
prenticeship Program has been successfully assisting employ-
ers, schools, training providers and students to come together
and build partnerships for more than 18 years.
Recently employers, apprentices and trainees, and their
families have been gathering in Toowoomba, Warwick,
Stanthorpe and Dalby to celebrate this ongoing partnership
in 2017.
Year 12 students and parents thanked employers, along-
side representatives from Australian Apprenticeship Support
Networks, supervising registered training organisations,
Department of Education and Training, secondary colleges
and Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office for the opportuni-
ties they have had to participate in a nationally recognised
qualification.
Employers acknowledged the enthusiastic young people
who have contributed to their business success.
“I am very proud of our School-Based Apprenticeship Pro-
gram,” Catholic Schools executive director Dr Pat Coughlan
said. “This program, with the support of our employers,
enables students to gain skills for employment whilst still in
formal schooling.
“For many it leads to further study or to apprenticeships
with these employers. This is good for the students and good
for the local community.
“With over three-hundred employers providing trainee-
ship and apprenticeship support for Diocese of Toowoomba
Catholic school students, this is a very successful initiative.”
Education: Courtney Gowley, from St Saviour’s College; Youth and Community Learning Cen-
tre’s Jada Dennison, and Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office’s Julie Hintz at the SBA Program
celebratory breakfast in Toowoomba. Photo: Gary Wilkinson Photography