WEDNESDAY SUMMARY
Day 4: 4th December, 2002.
For some reason, most people enjoyed themselves until late in the night as though it were the last day… but roll call in the morning brought all the sleepy lambs back to the breakfast table, followed by morning prayer and a stirring talk on the Oblate founder, Eugene de Mazenod, by Br Gerard (alias Gezza Bell) and Daniel Kelly. This provided an insight into the difficulties of St Eugene's life and how it can still inspire us today. Lisa Faulkner (Vic), Greg Gardner (SA), Helene Costin (Vic) and Damien Coyle (SA) gave a brief over view of some of the organizations around our cities which we can all get involved in (Edmund Rice Camps, ROSIES, Antioch, Marist Young Adult Ministry, Disciples of Jesus, etc.).
After the talks and a cuppa, the big group broke into the sub-groups for Liturgy prep, Cooking and Cleanup. After lunch we had some group photo sessions, followed by the beach for a few hours. At 4:40pm we regathered to summarise our experience this week into a Statement of Faith. This was a great time of sharing and inspiration.
After a dinner (served on time for the first time this week by Group C—guess who's writing this!) of roast chicken, Jonno wedges and salad, we cleaned up and prepared for the grand finale of the week: our shared Eucharist.
The newest Oblate priest in Australia, Fr Paul Smithers OMI (or less formally known as your Lordship), joined us for dinner and Eucharist, where he gave the final blessing. He was touched by the spirit and enthusiasm of the youth gathered at Gerroa.
We started celebrating our Eucharist gazing out over the beach in the early darkness, with a raging fire visible only a few kilometres away over the bay. It gave a very spiritual setting to the end of a awesome week of community, faith and friendship. The fire, reminded us of the need to strip away all the deadness in our lives so that new life can spring up in our hearts. We began singing The Summons, during which Lisa and Lauren walked slowly through the group touching people on the should and raising them up—this had a very powerful effect on many of the group, as though God had touched them and was calling them. We then processed down to the beach and celebrated the Rite of Reconciliation by blessing sea water and being sprinkled to remind us of our Baptismal promises. This was followed by the Liturgy of the Word, Homily by the Fin-sta (in bare feet on the sand, just like Jesus) and prayers of intercession.
The singing during Mass was brilliant, but the closing hymn, Shout to the Lord, went off with a bang! This carried on into an all out singing and dancing frenzy with modern music. After the buzz settled a bit, a couple of young talent time gigs were performed by the Vic's and South Aussies (who took the micky out of the Vic's in spectacular fashion).
The youth then sang their way into the wee hours of the morning—some managing to escape sleep altogether and still function the next morning! Must be the Power of Love!
