By Josh Low
A first time attendee at the recent Embrace the Grace (ETG) youth conference says the experience has given her the confidence to live out her faith freely.
Held this past December in Australia’s only monastic town of New Norcia, ETG once again saw a huge number of young people aged from 16 to 25 come together in the exploration of their faith and its place in their everyday lives.
The five day conference explored the theme, ‘Who Am I?’ which aimed to inspire youth to better understand their life via a deeper relationship with God.
Whitford Parish Youth leader Karina Prentice said her first time at ETG was both inspiring and invaluable.
“There was an incredible atmosphere at the conference where everyone seemed to be wearing their faith on their sleeve,” Ms Prentice said.
With a passion for the faith clearly visible during the workshops, presentations, praise and worship sessions, Eucharistic Adoration and daily Mass, Ms Prentice felt that her experience at ETG was enriched by the ability to be completely open.
“I found that being in a room with more than 100 other young people who are all asking the same questions, and trying to answer these questions through their faith is a really powerful experience,” she said.
“To have other people going on that journey with you, and feeling like it’s a road you are walking together, is so encouraging.”
With the conference covering a wide range of topics such as the dignity of the human person, the importance of true masculinity and femininity, the discernment of God’s plan and the corresponding exploration of identity to that plan, Ms Prentice said she found solace in the messages imparted.
“When thinking about the kind of person God wants me to be, and the incredible vision that He has for my life, it’s easy to feel that the pressure to carry out these high ideals is too great,” she said.
“Having an identity first and foremost as a child of God, made in His image and likeness and loved unconditionally, is really comforting.”
One of the final points she picked up from the conference, which echoes both the Gospel of John along with statements made by Pope Francis, was the need to put faith into practice in everyday life.
Involved in Young Christian Workers, Ms Prentice believes the conference has given her the confidence to live out her faith and strive to be an example of Christ’s love to all.
“(My experience at ETG) really affirmed for me the importance of taking the next step, and putting faith into action,” she said.
“During the conference, I was encouraged not only to learn about my faith, but to actively live it out.”
For more information about Embrace the Grace, please visit cym.com.au/embracethegrace