The overwhelming success of Ignite Youth in Brisbane, which has seen more than 1,300 people in attendance each year, will soon be extended to Perth.
Christian youth groups and communities all over the city will be able to take advantage of the services offered by Ignite Youth as its organisers set the stage for a number of upcoming events in 2015.
Ignite Youth will be introduced to Perth in the form of “Ignite Live”, a one-night concert style event that will be held six times throughout this year.
The first of these will take place on Friday, 27 February 2015 at Prendiville Catholic College Performing Arts Centre, Ocean Reef.
The evenings offer young Christians an opportunity to encounter Jesus Christ through music, prayer, reconciliation and a message from a youth communicator.
As the title suggests, the aim of Ignite Live is to create an environment in which young people can be ignited by the Holy Spirit and return to their churches to pass on this positive energy to their peers and family members.
The event lends itself as an invaluable tool for parishes, schools or community groups which may be looking for ways of diversifying their Christian youth programs.
It presents itself as a supporting element to pastoral formation and ministry, immersing young people into an environment where a spiritual message is received in the context of music, dancing and socialising.
“It’s our hope that ‘ignite’ becomes a key word in this establishment of Ignite Youth events in Perth,” said Perth co-ordinator and frequent guest speaker at the annual Ignite Conference in Brisbane, Ronan McGinniss.
“We’re hoping to ignite the faith of people who are not engaged with Church at the moment, and we also hope that it ignites groups who attend but who feel that they could do with something on a larger scale to ignite their group,” he said.
“It’s not a camp, it’s not a conference, it’s not a discussion event, it’s modelled on a concert-style event where individuals can come along if they hear about it, as can perhaps a youth group in a parish that finds it hard to make what they’re doing attractive.
“They can come to Ignite Live, because Ignite Live is not a youth group, it’s something youth groups can gather for if they wish,” Ronan said.
His comments were backed by Paul Curtis, who has been involved in Ignite Youth events in Brisbane, particularly in regards to music, and is now devoting his time to making this reality present in Perth.
“Our aim is to engage [with] young people in the Catholic Church and encourage them in their faith, so that they come along and have a high-energy experience of their faith, a bit like World Youth Day,” Paul said.
Reflecting on his life experience of Ignite Youth, Paul emphasised that “it helped me connect with the liturgy in new ways, seeing the passion of other young believers”.
“It’s an opportunity to listen to some great Christian music and be with people who share a similar vision.”
The 2015 dates for upcoming Ignite Live events are 27 February (Prendiville Catholic College Performing Arts Centre – 11 Prendiville Dve, Ocean Reef), 17 April, 19 June, 14 August, 16 October and 27 November.
Ignite Live events are dynamic and non-restrictive. Everyone is more than welcome to attend, including those who do not attend church.
Events run from 7 to 9pm, but the team of organisers encourage participants to arrive early and stay late for food and extra entertainment.