TV, Jesus and Sun....

Adoration...

A few months ago I had a huge experience in Adoration. For those who don't know, Adoration is the exposing and adoring of the Blessed Sacrament, the Eucharist. A young adult in Townsville arranged an all night adoration prayer time to pray for the upcoming elections. It was to trust in God that the right people would be elected. I don't really follow Australian politics but I understand that it was a good result for the Christian church in Australia.
I have always struggled in adoring the Blessed Sacrament. I believe that Jesus is fully present in the Eucharist and that his true presence is made known but I find it hard to look at him and pray. A piece of bread in a Gold monstrance, was sometimes all I saw. But that night, I saw Jesus. Not a person standing before me, not a vision, not a piece of bread that 'represents' Jesus but the body of Christ that died for me. The Adoration took place on a Friday night, so I prayed the rosary. The rosary has always been a difficult prayer for me to pray. It just felt like repetition. But I saw the sacrifice that God made for me, for us, for everyone. I saw Jesus for 5 hours that night. I'm not putting a figure on it to impress or show off. I was, however, proud of myself. Spending time in Jesus' presence is the most valuable, sacred, time worthy act we can do as Catholics. Wether it be receive Him in the Eucharist or just look, it is the most powerful prayer in the world.

"In a world where there is so much noise, so much bewilderment, there is a need for silent adoration of Jesus concealed in the Host. Be assiduous in the prayer of adoration and teach it to the faithful. It is a source of comfort and light, particularly to those who are suffering." “With the Synod Assembly, therefore, I heartily recommend to the Church’s pastors and to the People of God the practice of Eucharistic Adoration, both individually and in community”
Pope Benedict XVI, February 22, 2007, Sacramentum Caritatis, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation.

It has been incredibly busy lately, we are preparing for a conference/ retreat in Cairns called Breakthrough. It is a wonderful thing to plan an event like this for young people. Trying to see what we can do to help them in their faith and their relationship with Jesus is a blessing and one that I hold very highly. It is of great importance for us to share and live out our faith as an example for others. I read a good quote the other day but I'm not sure who said it. "Just as standing in a Garage does not make you a car, going to church does not make you a Catholic" (it may have been Christian). Our faith is one that needs to be lived every day. It is never easy to do because of what the world throws at us. I encourage everyone to spend time with Jesus and be with him. That is where it should start, and putting out faith and trust in Jesus will bring us to greater, deeper understanding of what God wants us to do in our life.
Also people should read this article, great writer and great topic

http://lifeteen.com/gay-catholic-and-doing-fine/ 

and then check out his blog 

http://www.stevegershom.com/

And then on some unrelated notes, Leverage is the greatest TV show in the world. Planning an epic trip up the coast this Christmas, mum wants actual Christmas on the beach. Cannot wait! Only 5 weeks to go till I am back in Brisbane, gonna be the longest 5 weeks, so much to do and never enough time, but with God all things are possible.

Please pray for me and be assured of my prayers for you

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

(Ecclesiastes 3:11)

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Heating up....

So, it has been a few weeks I think since I wrote anything.

Boy it has been busy.

Few things to share with you.

Everyone should rent/buy a film called 'Boy'. A very funny (slightly off the wall) Kiwi (New Zealand) film about Maori life. Bit rude at times but very funny. Watched it 2 Kiwi's and they explained all the stuff I didn't get. It has been great to live with so many different nationalities since I got here and learn about so many other cultures. I have lived with 4 Australians (1 with Italian background, 1 with Maltese background and 1 with Vietnamese, 1 with Irish), 2 Americans, 4 Kiwi's (1 full Kiwi, 2 Samoan Kiwi's and 1 Tuvaluan Kiwi) and that is just the people I lived with in houses in Melbourne and Townsville. The other people on NET have come from: USA, Canada, South Africa, India, New Zealand, Brazil, England and probably other places but I forget. It is such a mix of nationalities and it just creates the biggest mash of accents and conversations.

Townsville is getting real hot. It hasn't rained here since we got back. 3 months and no rain. getting up to 30 degrees and were not even in summer yet. between 8 and 10pm it averages 20 degrees. I get to do a ministry I love and I get to do it in fantastic weather.

It makes such a difference from last year in Melbourne where the weather was cold for most of the year I was there. It is a beautiful place down in Victoria but cold unless your in summer, which I was not.

Heading into the last 6 weeks of the year for ministry and the last 2 years for me have flown by. I cannot believe that I arrived on Jan 2nd 2011 and I have done all I have. I am so excited to live in Brisbane next year and work with some incredible people who have a huge heart for bringing young adults closer to Jesus and help them throughout their mission year. It will be such a change to go from running retreats for the last 5 years to working in an office and making phone calls, sitting in front of a computer all day, meetings, planning events etc but I look forward to it so much.

Also in great news, my mummy and sister are coming over to Australia for maybe a month this christmas. Yay! So excited to show them a beautiful part of the world. Gonna be a great road trip with the fam.



Please pray for me and be assured of my prayer for you


Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
(Psalm 118:1)


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