To me dearest followers and readers,

As you are probably aware I’m volunteering with NET ministries Australia, doing full time ministry on behalf of the Catholic Church, living in Melbourne, running retreats, camps, Youth Groups, Young Adults meetings and so much more. This year my team and I have ministered to around 5000 people. NET is a full time volunteer commitment and we are responsible for raising our own sponsorship in order to ensure that NET can continue to run and keep up its amazing work.  I still have a sizable amount of mine to raise, so if you’re able and willing to donate it would be greatly appreciated;
Westpac New Zealand:
a/c name: NET Ministries
a/c number: 03 0252 0008869-00

Westpac Australia:
a/c name: NET Ministries
BSB: 034 010
a/c number: 162 527

make sure you mention my last name “Gray”
and feel free to email me with any questions at katiemarion@hotmail.co.nz

 You can visit the NET website by following the link below

http://www.netministries.com.au/

AMDG

It's about what's on the inside

The other day I was sitting in adoration and I was thinking about Jesus sitting in the monstrance and I was thinking about myself and then Jesus and then... Well you get the idea.

What it made me realise was that people love Jesus regardless (granted not everyone but all Catholics) of what form he comes in, whether we can see Him or not. For instance we are happy to sit in front of a tabernacle with the knowledge that God is there and we still show Him honour, love and reverence. But when he is exposed in adoration it is something truly special, He is so vulnerable, Jesus fully exposed for us, for the world to see. It’s so amazing, and it's not as though Jesus hidden in the tabernacle isn't special but Jesus exposed on the altar is exceptionally amazing.

In this time I came to realise that it sometimes like us. Others know we are special and worthy of respect, people around us know that we deserve respect but when we allow ourselves to be exposed, when we show off all that we are then we too become quite exceptional. When we allow others to see us, deeply, vulnerably then we too can make manifest the glory of God in the world. We are still special when we are hidden away but something so much more when we are ourselves, boldly and unafraid.

My encouragement, be yourselves brothers and sisters allow yourselves to be seen and bring Him glory.

AMDG

A well overdue update.

I am currently on mid-year break as I write this update and I have been reflecting a lot on my time so far this year in Melbourne and I think it only fair that you can have a glimpse into my life.

Ministry:

The bulk of our ministry in Melbourne is working with young adults, which at first was a VERY daunting thing for me, I'm only just 19 and the people we work with the most are around 25. I have been very intimidated by this reality but now after a few months I can also see that it is an awesome opportunity because it means we can have awesome in depth discussions, bounce ideas of each other and I get the chance to learn so much more than I would otherwise.

We have done a lot of prep work for World Youth Day, the only downside is we don't actually get to go. We have helped form all the leaders, meet all the pilgrims and heard all of the logistics. But alas.

We get go to something called 'Cultur-ED Cafe' which is where guest speakers come in and share / are interviewed and we all have a meal together.

We go to the Holy Hour at the Melbourne Cathedral and now I play guitar and some other team members sing and together we do the music there once a month.

We have done some school ministry also; we've encountered about 2000 people (I think) from running retreats and going to youth groups.

In terms of being a tourist in a big city I have a blast. Melbourne is a VERY cool city and our house is in a fabulous location, about a 15 minute tram ride from the city and we have a tram stop right outside our house. My highlights from being a tourist have been getting to go to an AFL game at the MCG, we also went to international laughter day at Federation Square in the city and one of my team sisters was dubbed best female laugher in Victoria, quite the achievement. I am definitely looking forward to exploring the city a lot more when we get back.

In a few days I'll be heading back to Brisbane for mid-year training, which I have no doubt will be an awesome experience and then back to Melbourne!

Until next time my friends.

AMDG

A brief snapshot.

I'm sorry for being such a poor correspondent to you all but I feel as though you seriosuly deserve to SEE a bit of my life and my team, so here are some photos:

Official team photo: Gabriel, Robert, Myself (Katie), Rebecca and Maddie

Team photo in a cool graffiti alley in Melbourne

Doing a drama to the song 'Dare you to Move' on a retreat

Robert being very prayful as he prepares to alter serve for Mass

Team photo at breakfast on Easter Sunday morning

 

Helping out at a Vietnamese Youth Camp, this is us with all the other leaders

I will try to write and post photos more regularly, but I feel like I say that a lot so please just bear with me.

AMDG

life in Melbourne

Since last we spoke.

I have been living in Melbourne for about six weeks now and in that time we have experienced Melbourne’s worst heat wave since the 90’s, been on a boat cruise around the Melbourne Harbour to celebrate St Patricks day (even though it wasn’t on St Pat’s day), we have been FREEZING cold (or at least I have) hung out a lot and have spent some time doing ministry.

 

In depth.

When we arrived we all felt SERIOUSLY lied to about what to expect as far as Melbourne weather goes we were told to expect to be cold, wear jumpers and jeans… Getting of the plane we were greeted with 30 something degree heat which didn’t cease for a week. Our first weekend in Melbourne saw us helping out at the Vietnamese Catholic Youth Association of Melbourne’s annual retreat which was awesome. It was held at an adventure camp an hour or so from here so as well as everyone being stinkin’ amazing which made helping out and sharing the good news of Jesus easy and so much fun we also got to do a few awesome outdoor activities like kayaking, flying fox, human swing, we had fun participating in obstacles courses and team activities, GREAT way to kick off our ministry. We attended Holy Hour at the Cathedral and occasionally help out there, we’ve been to a couple of schools running RE classes and retreat days and we’ve even been to a couple Youth Groups.

 

We live across the road from a beautiful little Church and everyone has been so welcoming! We live right across from a tram stop and our house is in a fantastic location, only 10 minutes from the city centre and we have a beautiful park only a couple minutes’ walk from our house.

On Easter Sunday we thoroughly celebrated our risen King. We had a FANTASTIC breakfast went to Mass and then headed into the city to hand out happy eater cards and eggs to people we met. Our dinner was definitely one to be envied and a couple team members even decid3ed to end the night with a food fight. It was a good day.

Sorry it has been so long since I last posted, upon arriving in Melbourne my computer promptly broke but now it’s fixed so hopefully I will be able to give more regular updates.

 

AMDG

Teams!

Hey all, I just wanted to give you all a beyond brief update that is; teams have been announced and I am on the Melbourne Diocesan team! Hopefully I will have photos soon but not today. My team consists of 5 people ranging in age from 18 (me) to 30, each of us are from a different country we have a Kiwi, Aussie, Irish, Indian and American. Last year I thought my team was multi cultural but wow THIS team certainly one ups last year on the international front.

 

I am doing well but please continue to pray for me and my team this year.

 

AMDG.

Here we go again.

Once again I find myself in a rather familiar situation.  I am back in Brisbane and am about to embark on another year serving with NET ministries Australia. But first off to Peregian on the Sunshine Coast for initial training. Although everything that is physically happening in my little world has a lot of similarities to last year it all feels so very different. Everything and everyone (or just about) that I associate with NET is no longer at my side and I am in a very different state of mind then this time last year and I won't lie I am nervous about this year, excited but SCARED. The only thing of real importance from this update is that I beg your prayers for the team I will be a part of this year and for any challenges that will come my way.

 

God Bless,

AMDG