The
Tongan Catholic Youth were able to have a weekend of reflection and
recreation from the 10th -12th of August 2007 at
Sacred Heart Church, in Preston, Melbourne to mark National Vocation
Awareness Week. Every year in Australia a
special week is dedicated for such an
event.
There
were five youth groups involved in this gathering including a group
from St. Augustine Parish from Auburn,
Sydney. The gathering was organized by the
hosting team, the Youth Group from Our Lady
of Perpetual Help, Maidstone,who are also
the executive committee of the whole youth, as well as
myself Sr. Cecilia Vakameilalo.
It was
really a weekend to remember for the Catholic Tongans here in
Melbourne and Sydney, simply because it was the first time ever for
the young people to come together for a sleepover weekend, which
enabled more time
us to carry out all our activities
and programme.
Not
only that, but, also it was the first time
for a youth group from interstate to travel
down to Melbourne to join for
the occasion. The National Vocation Awareness Week
is one of the youth’s yearly activities leading up
to WYD.
The
weekend consisted of night adoration, group
sharing, group presentations and moments of
personal prayer. We had the privilege of having Fr. John Aldag with us
throughout the day and Bishop Timothy Costello as our guest speaker,
where he spoke about culture in its
different ways in life, about
WYD, and vocation in
general. It was indeed an excellent talk. The theme for the day was on
“Vocation-The mystery of God’s Call"
a theme prepared by a subcommittee who are
to be commended for their wonderful effort.
Together we
concluded with a recreational evening,
with some of the parents even coming along.
It was an evening full of laughter and fun.
On
Sunday morning, we all went to Maidstone to Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Parish for the 10.00am Mass. The leading choir was conducted by the
Maidstone Youth, and they sang beautifully.
After that, we
returned to Preston for some
group photos, followed by a farewell lunch provided
by all the communities of Melbourne. We had a
few speeches from each youth
group, exchanged gifts and many thanks to each other for everything
over the weekend. Finally we waved goodbye to St.
Augustine’ Youth Group as they returned back
to Sydney.
It was a grace- filled and a wonderful time for
everyone; spiritually, physically, and mentally.
I
strongly felt the presence of the Lord among each other in a
real and fulfilling way
as each moment unfolded within these few
days.
Sr. Cecilia Vakameilalo, pddm
