Parish and School News

"I am the Bread of Life”

Monday 21 August 2012

By Rachel Fleurant
 
COMING back to Melbourne has been great! 

I have landed a job as a youth worker at St Bridget’s parish, Greythorn, and have been warmly welcomed into a community with lots of vitality and deep faith-filled parishioners.
 
This ministry is slowly building up.   Every month a liturgy team comes together to reflect on the readings for that particular Sunday, and brainstorms ideas for creating a meaningful liturgy which invites participation from the young people through drama, personal sharing and symbolic actions. 

For the 18^th Sunday of Ordinary Time our theme was taken from the scripture “I am the Bread of Life.”
 
To help reflect on the meaning of this theme during the Mass, young people brought forward the symbols which make up bread, such as wheat, yeast, flour, salt, water and dough. This  helped the young people to  reflect on how each ingredient is the work of human hands through the creative power of Jesus. Therefore, just as we see the process of transformation that occurs in the making of  bread, in the same way we  bring ourselves to be transformed by the power of God’s love in the Eucharist.
 
During the homily reflection  three young people gave one-minute sharings on who 'the Bread of Life" is for them personally.  Karena Ogloff (15 year old) shared, “I can’t imagine myself deprived of this holy food.   It sustains my soul. To me it is a personal gift from God, that I am blessed to be able to receive each week.  I feel it clear my mind and fill my heart with love and happiness.  My faith grows stronger and I feel God nourishing my spirit when I pray, but the bread of life reminds me of my true spiritual connection to Jesus.”
 
Following the Mass, the evening carried on with a youth night. The night begun with a delicious meal prepared by many generous parishioners, after which  we all got to know each other by playing some icebreaker games. Our guest speaker was Alex Minicz who is involved in the music ministry for the 5.30pm Youth Mass.  He shared about his mission experiences of building a classroom for a school in India.   We finished the night with praise and worship and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
 
Let us never take for granted this great sacrament of the Eucharist. We have access to the Eucharist every day, and we don’t have to travel ten miles on foot like some people in underdeveloped countries.  As we receive Jesus, let us remember that we become what we eat, and are transformed into the likeness of Christ so that  we can become Christ to others.
 
St Bridget’s Youth Mass is held every Sunday night at 5.30pm, at 48 Sweyn Street, North Balwyn.
 
Contact Rachel Fleurant at youth.greythorn@cam.org.au.