St Jerome’s Youth make like Jesus and take to the waterfront for witness and a spot of breakfast.
It wouldn’t be the first time Christians had taken to the waterside to witness to the Gospel. At Coogee beach on Easter Monday mornings, it has become something of a tradition.
For the sixth year in a row, young adults from St Jerome’s Somascan youth group trekked across the white sand, praying to Our Lady with Rosary Beads in hand.
It’s a tradition which has been going almost as long as the group itself which began at the parish in 2005.
Setting off at 8.45am, the ten young adults and their Parish Priest Fr Johnson Malayil finished up at the Coogee Cafe where they relaxed over breakfast.
This mix of beach side witness and breakfasting was begun with a three-fold purpose in mind, according to organiser and Somascan postulant Chris De Sousa.
“(It was) to encourage youth to continue to celebrate the Risen Christ past Easter Sunday through prayer and feast,” Mr De Sousa said.
“We also commemorate when the risen Jesus Christ revealed himself to his disciples for the third time on the beach by the Sea of Tiberias (Galilee) and said “come and have breakfast.”
“Thirdly, we provide a witness to others enjoying the public holiday at the beach as to the significance of the season by praying the Glorious Mysteries.”
The Rosary is something of a stalwart activity for the group, being a regular practice at their weekly Wednesday night prayer meetings.
The group usually celebrate members’ birthdays and other significant occasions after the parish’s weekly 6pm youth Mass.
All young adults are welcome to join the prayer group or to email any petitions to youth@stjeromesparish.org where the Somascan Young Adults will add them to
their Rosary petitions.