A significant milestone was reached at St Jerome’s Church in Spearwood on Sunday, 9 October, as nine young men and women from the parish community were installed as youth leaders during Mass.
The event comes not long after St Jerome’s Youth Group, also known as The Somascan Young Adults, celebrated its 11th anniversary on 7 October, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.
The new team consists of Suneeth Fernandez, Bryan Osias, Daniel Benn, Siobhan Maynard, Madeleine McWaters, Syona Fernandez, Veronica McShane, Catherine McShane and Maria Ana Monzon.
At the conclusion of the Mass, Parish Priest Father Mathew Velliyamkandathil CRS, called on the new leaders to stand before the congregation to receive a blessing and small gift in recognition of their new roles in youth ministry.
“It’s an exciting time for the youth of St Jerome’s as well as the entire Spearwood community,” said former youth leader and current Director of Somascan Movement Australia, Mat De Sousa.
“Each of these passionate and dedicated young Catholics bring something unique and instrumental to the leadership role. As a whole their pastoral, liturgical and musical backgrounds will be crucial in forming and guiding the next generation of youth,” he added.
St Jerome’s Youth Group was founded in October 2005 under the guidance of the Somascan Fathers.
In 2014, the group became part of the Somascan Movement Australia, an alliance of religious and laity that invites all lay people to join in living the Somascan spirituality through the provision of care and catechesis to the sick, poor and youth in need.
The youth group has accomplished many achievements including representing the parish at four World Youth Day events, assisting in a variety Archdiocesan events and hosting a number of regular activities such as Holy Hours, Lectio Divina events, fundraisers and weekly youth Masses.
At present, the new leaders organise and serve at the Sunday 6:00pm Youth Mass, whose popularity with young families in the parish community is bringing life and vibrancy to the parish.