Another milestone was made at St Jerome’s parish in Spearwood on Sunday, October 9, as nine young men and women from the community were installed as leaders of the parish’s youth.
With the parish youth group celebrating its 11th anniversary on October 7th, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, the new leader’s team consisting of Suneeth Fernandez, Bryan Osias, Daniel Benn, Siobhan Maynard, Madeleine McWaters, Syona Fernandez, Veronica McShane, Catherine McShane and Maria Ana Monzon will bring a new wave of enthusiasm and support to the parish community.
“It’s an exciting time for the youth of St Jerome’s as well as the entire Spearwood community,” said Mat De Sousa, former youth leader and current Director of Somascan Movement Australia.
“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.”
Fr Mathew Velliyamkandathil CRS, Parish Priest of St Jerome’s in Spearwood, called upon the new leader’s to stand before the congregation to receive a blessing and small gift in recognition of their new roles in youth ministry.
The St Jerome’s Youth Group, AKA Somascan Young Adults, was founded in October, 2005 under the guidance of the Somascan Fathers.
In 2014, the Somascan Youth formed 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 has accomplished many achievements including representing the parish at four World Youth Day’s, assisting in Archdiocesan events and hosting a number of regular activities such as Holy Hours, Lectio Divina, fundraisers and weekly youth Masses.
Currently, the new leaders team organise and serve at the Sunday 6pm Youth Mass, which is popular with young families in the parish community.