At Nazareth, we believe in nurturing growth and development not just for our students but for our entire community, including staff.
Recently, Christian Martino (R‑12 Assistant Principal ‑ Religious Identity and Mission) and Mirella Romeo (Religious Education Coordinator) attended the Ignite Conference in Brisbane, a four-day event that brought together Catholics from across Australia. The conference was designed to inspire and equip participants through a series of workshops, sacraments, and rallies, offering a rich space for reflection, learning, and connection.
Christian and Mirella took part in sessions led by both religious and secular speakers, focusing on deepening their understanding of Scripture, exploring social justice, and renewing their faith through the celebration of sacraments, including Mass and Reconciliation. Evening rallies featured contemporary Catholic music by Emmanuel Worship and keynote talks that captured the energy and passion of the youth movement within the Church.
Among the keynote speakers were Fr. Rob Galea, a singer-songwriter known for his appearances on X Factor Australia, Roby Curtis, Director of Emmanuel City Mission, and Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane, each offering powerful insights into faith, outreach, and community.
Learning Impact:
With nearly two thousand participants, many of them young Catholics under 25, the conference revealed the profound resonance of the Gospel with today’s youth.
“It became evident that the message of the Gospels resonates deeply with young people, highlighting the importance of involving them in decision-making around our Catholic identity at school,” shared Christian.
“Throughout the conference, it was stressed that mental health and relationships are pressing concerns for many youths, alongside their desire to explore their spiritual lives. A healthy faith, combined with strong relationships and a commitment to social justice and ecological conversion—central themes of the conference—serves as a powerful antidote to these social challenges,” he continued.
Inspired by the passion and dedication witnessed at Ignite, Christian and Mirella are exploring ways to further develop Nazareth’s youth ministry.
“This experience underscored the need to further develop our youth ministry at Nazareth,” said Christian.
“We intend to reach out to some of the presenters to explore opportunities for collaboration, aiming to inspire our students with the passion we witnessed among young Catholics across Queensland. By fostering a vibrant youth ministry, we can better engage students in meaningful ways that reflect their needs and aspirations,” he continued.
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