Youth Ministry is an important part of our parish. Joanna Mak, our Youth Ministry Coordinator organises various activities for youth and young adults. There are 3 youth groups that our parish runs: Cana (year 6-9), Antioch (year 10-23 year old) and Emmaus Young Adults (23-30 year old).
Antioch (year 10-23years old)
Antioch is a group for young people, run by young people, from Year 10 upwards to 23 years old. The group meets every Sunday from 6-8pm at St Gerard's Parish Meeting Room, with monthly game/social nights. Antioch aims to give young Catholics a supportive community and a chance to develop their faith with friends. Our meetings consist of a range of activities including music, talks, share groups, prayer, games and food.
Antioch has a strong focus on social justice. Antioch assists in various events throughout the year including: re-enacting the Stations of the Cross for Good Friday, providing regular music for Mass and in particular for Christmas Eve and Holy Thursday, singing Christmas carols at a nursing home, supporting the Angel tree program, sponsoring a child and much more.
Antioch takes its name from the place of one of the first known Christian communities in Acts 11:26 "It was at Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians". Antioch is a global community, with Antioch groups around Sydney, Australia and worldwide. Antioch meets with the other Sydney communities yearly and at combined events. Join our Antioch group on Facebook to catch up on our latest news and meet others!
Antioch will next meet on the 26th November and 3rd December at St Gerard's meeting room after the 5pm Youth Mass.
Cana (year 6-9)
Our junior youth group is named Cana and serves school children between Years 6 to 9. This group has activities each Friday night during the school term from 7:30-9:00 pm at the Carlingford Parish Hall. This is a great opportunity for children to gather together, have fun and grow deeper in their faith and strengthen friendships in a welcoming and safe environment. Every term, Cana will have a fun activity such as an Easter Egg Hunt, movie and pizza nights, bonfire evenings, waterfights, painting or going out for laser tag/iceskating or an excursion.
Cana will next meet on the 1st and 8th December!
Cana is named after the place where Jesus performed his first miracle in John 2:11: “The first of these miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana.”
Emmaus Young Adults (23-30year old)
This young adults group is for young professionals to meet and form a community while helping ongoing formation and faith.
We meet once a fortnight on Tuesdays from 7-8:30pm at St Gerard’s Meeting room (543 North Rocks Rd, Carlingford) with monthly social activities/hikes. Our Emmaus meetings rotate having 'talk nights, Gospel nights and community nights'. On the community nights, we order dinner or have pot luck and have games/board games. Emmaus next meets on the 5th December in the parish meeting room.
Emmaus was the name chosen for this group and appears in Luke 24:13 "On that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem." The road to Emmaus is where Jesus first appeared to two of his disciples after his resurrection. As young adults, we are walking and journeying with the risen Jesus.
Joanna can be contacted via her mobile 0404 710 588 or email Joanna.Mak@bbcatholic.org.au.