Talented youth team begin work

By Matthew Biddle 

FIVE enthusiastic young Catholics from near and far will form this year’s National Evangelisation Team (NET) for the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn.

The new team arrived in the Archdiocese on February 22, after spending six weeks in Queensland with other members of NET who will serve in other dioceses around the country.

Twenty-year-old Victorian Andrew Lemalu and 23-year-old Carmel Bonaventura from Newcastle will be this year’s team leaders.

They will be joined by 20-year-old Harmony Miller, from Melbourne; Daniel Bottesini, 18, from Brisbane; and 18-year-old Emily Milan, who hails from Ottawa, Canada.

The Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn’s National Evangelisation Team for 2016: back row, from left to right, Andrew Lemalu and Daniel Bottesini; front row, left to right, Carmel Bonaventura, Harmony Miller and Emily Milan. PHOTO: DAVID GEORGE

Archdiocesan parish and school youth ministry liaison officer Joshua Goldsbrough told Catholic Voice the members of the new team were looking forward to beginning their work in the Archdiocese.

“This year’s Canberra Goulburn team are super fun and friendly and they are also really talented, especially when it comes to music,” he said.

“They all seem really excited and passionate about getting out and meeting all of our young people and sharing their story with them.”

Mr Goldsbrough said the team’s primary roles would include hosting retreats and activity sessions at schools and parishes around the Archdiocese, as well as working with youth groups.

“I am always looking for ways to utilise the team while they are here, including some work in our public schools and supporting some of our catechists in primary schools,” he said.

“Over the last couple of years we have also been working on a mentoring program to support some of schools that have youth ministry teams or classes. Our NET team will also be available to support all of our Deanery Assemblies throughout the year.”