Holy Rosary Church in White Hills was buzzing last Saturday night as the newly formed parish youth group stepped up to lead the Mass, and the parish couldn’t have been more proud.
From readings and prayers to the offertory and music, the young people organised the entire Liturgy as one of their first acts of ministry together.
Not everything went according to plan (a technical hiccup meant the entrance hymn music didn’t play), but when the voices lifted, they more than made up for it – pure, heartfelt, and, as one parishioner put it, “like angels.”
Fr Boniface reminded the congregation that handing over responsibility to young people isn’t about perfection – it’s about participation. “They may not know everything yet,” he said, “but they’re eager to learn. And this is exactly the place to do it, in a parish community that supports them, encourages them, and gives them space to grow, mistakes and all.”
After Mass, youth leader Angel shared information about the upcoming Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF), encouraging parents and teens to get on board. Sandhurst Youth Ministry Officer Jessan Tano followed up with a word about the role of Sandhurst Youth Ministry (SYM), highlighting how it’s there to walk alongside parish youth groups, helping them dream, plan, and bring their faith-based initiatives to life.
Holy Rosary’s youth group may be just getting started, but they’ve already shown what happens when young people are trusted, supported, and given the mic, something truly beautiful.