Bathurst - Summer School of Evangelization

Summer School, what a way to spend your Australian vacation, eh? Well, to be fair... this wasn't just any kind of summer school, this was a special edition following more of a retreat format, and the subject was Evangelization. Heaps of people in Mortdale had raved about it, but we never really considered going. After an official invitation, some encouragement and discernment, I decided  to commit. It consisted of seven days of lectures, seminars, plenary sessions, mass, adoration, sports and recreation, plus meeting and hanging out with tons of awesome Catholics who are in love with the Lord. My Mom said I wouldn't regret it, and she was pretty spot on (she's a wise lady). 

We drove down from Tamworth to Bathurst on Sunday morning, about a 5 hour trek, and arrived at St. Stanislaus College, a Catholic boys boarding school, where we stayed for the duration of summer school.

There were about a 185 of us, including participants, presenters, MGL's (Missionaries of God's Love - Brothers, Sisters and Priests), and all the people up front and behind the scenes who planned for weeks to pull off an event that spiritually impacted many people in a profound way. 

The theme for the week was 'The Joy of the Lord is Our Strength' - Nehemiah 8:10, what a relevant topic for my life over the past month! Joy - such a simple, three letter word with a plethora of meaning behind it, constantly begging me to pay it some well deserved attention. Throughout the week, I couldn't ignore it. All my buckets were full; I received Jesus in the Eucharist everyday, filling my soul, learned more and more about my Catholic faith in various talks, filling my mind, I got to play sports (soccer, ulty, tennis, swimming), rejuvenating my body, and I was surrounded by heaps of beautiful people striving to love one another as Jesus loves us, making my heart overflow with so much JOY! Since we're kinda in a bubble at summer school, people talk about the going back to the 'real world' but THIS. This is the real world. This is what life was meant to be like. If only everyone could experience a week such as this, they wouldn't accept the world we live in today as reality. We want so badly to be loved, but often we're looking for it in messed up, convoluted places. 

Each day there's a different focus (whether it be on God's Love, Mercy etc.), so on Thursday it was Holy Spirit night. Everyone kept asking if I was excited and looking forward to the evening, being 'baptized in the holy spirit', but I decided to go into the night without any expectations cause I didn't want to be disappointed. We had Mass, then some praise and worship, where everyone is singing with their hangs raised or dancing. I just stood there. I couldn't sing. I couldn't dance. I was spiritually dry, feeling no desire for any outward sign of praise. Trying not to be resentful, I went in line to be prayed over. Once I reached the front of the line, the guy directing people where to go skipped over me - twice, assuming I was waiting for someone in particular to pray with me. Finally, he realized I wasn't. He showed me to Steve and Kate - two new friends who, though I don't know well, have so much respect and admiration for. I felt that God was directing me to that prayer team, which may have been why I had to wait in line a little longer. They asked me what gifts of the Holy Spirit I wanted to ask for, but once they started praying they said there was something I was holding onto, to let it go 'cause God had something bigger in mind. Ironic, "Think big", that's what my Dad always says. I ended up falling in the spirit, though hesitant at first. I fell in a way that reminded me of the 'Speak Life' music video by Toby Mac.

I felt a weird tingling throughout my entire body. Sometimes I think I put God in a box, but God doesn't fit in a box. It was a super surreal experience, something I've never felt before. Although I feel like I trust God, I think there's often a part of me I want to hold onto, a part I can control. Learning to give that to God has been a daily choice, but I've been learning to more fully allow His will to guide my life. 

Me and Pia, watching the Talent Show. 

On another note, we had lots of late nights hanging out, playing games or having deep discussions - like "If you moved to Australia, choose 6 friends from Canada you would bring with you." Brutal question.

Saturday evening we had a formal dinner, had fun getting all dressed up, then broke bread and drank wine, just like Jesus did back in the day. What a lovely way to finish a beautiful week. After dinner there was also a Talent Show, heaps of raw talent, plus lotsa random content...

All in all, I had an amazing time, encountered God in a real, authentic way, met so many genuine, real, holy people - Mom was right, there was no part of me that regretted my decision to go. If only I could attend next year... *sigh*....

The South Sydney Community - My Australian Family <3
(some key people are missing)

My small group for the week!