YOUTH LEADERS CAMP - Catholic Diocese of Ballarat

YOUTH LEADERS CAMPOur first Youth Leaders Camp (YLC) was held in the last school holidays from Oct 2 to 4at the Baptist Camp Site at Halls Gap. It is a great central place to enjoy each other’scompany and the beautiful surrounds.With a program of daily bush walking, prayer, reflection and leadership sessions the twelve young leadersfrom both Mildura and Hamilton Parishes came together to increase their leadership skills, to plan futureactivities, look at ways to engage their whole communities in youth ministry activity and to make newfriends and network with each other.The YLC initiative came from several visits by the Diocesan Youth Council to the Mildura Parish and hasbeen actively supported by Parish Priest Fr Mick McKinnon. It was offered as an opportunity to gatheryoung leaders from the Northern Zone initially and to engage them in developing plans for youth ministryin their own communities.Well done to all participants for giving up some of their school holidays to spend looking at the toughissues of young people and the Church along with making some great plans for the coming months. Someof the following were discussed and explored further over the time at Camp: A Youth Concert – Concert FOR youth Monthly Mass by youth – music etc Schoolies SOMETHING Year 10 / 11 Social Justice Trip – Mercy Action Young Vinnies / Mini Vinnies Community Garden – Grow a Community Social GroupWith some follow up to happen in the school and community context we look forward to sharing wherethese plans head to in the next few months and into 2013.Plans are underway to offer a similar activity next year, being run perhaps by the leaders in attendance thisyear and we are hoping the opportunity could be developed across the Diocese for all young leaders.

A big thank you also, to the young adult leaders that came along to support this initiative and to offerwitness to these students. Thank you Rebekah Row (Horsham), Genna Fitzgibbon (Maryborough), JoeBaxter (Ballarat), Gemma Perkins (Hamilton) along with Fr Andrew Hayes (Diocesan Youth Chaplain –Casterton) and a special visit from Bishop Peter Connors. Fr Mick was a fantastic support and he also drovethe bus so it certainly wouldn’t have happened without him. Many blessings to you all!WE now need YOU – as your interest and support of this initiative is vital to its continued development soplease contact the Diocesan Youth Office on 0457 931 232 to find out more today. Cheers Stef LloydDiocesan Youth Co-ordinator