iServi News | 10 September 2021 | Term 3, Week 8
Emerging leaders need opportunities to share their voice, develop their skills and work with others in meaningful forums. Over the past few weeks a select group of students have participated in the Mission Ambassadors Project with Catholic Missions and Aboriginal Catholic Ministries. Through a structured program, these students have been training to be active ambassadors for Catholic Missions and will be working in advocacy roles in five parishes over the next couple of months.
Our students have worked with Catholic Missions Director, Francis Leong, learning about the impact of domestic violence and modern slavery in our community and how Catholic Missions is working to support victims. As ambassadors, our students will raise awareness of these issues and advocate for Catholic Missions, reflecting on the scriptures from Acts (4:20) “We cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard”.
This week our ambassadors were officially commissioned by Catholic Missions Director Francis Leong and blessed by Father Rubenson Cardona and Sister Veronica Willaway. Each student received a pin of the ‘Broken Jesus’ as a symbol of their healing work and as a sign to others to share the healing message of Jesus.
Our students also received a sacred message stick from Director of Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Donella Brown. Each student will take a message stick with them as a sign of the Good News they bring to those in their parish. The message stick has three key symbols. The first is the symbol of Pentecost and the commissioning to spread the Good News. The second symbol reflects the diversity of our community coming together and the final symbol calls us to walk together in reconciliation and healing.
As our students journey out into our parishes, we ask our community to pray from them and the work they are undertaking. We also encourage our community to support Catholic Missions and their work.
Mr Ryan Wiles
Director of Ministry
