From the Director’s Desk:

NETworks Issue 2, 2012 - 1

NETworks

NET Ministries AustraliaPO Box 889PaddingtonQLD 4064Ph: +61 7 3217 5299Fax: +61 7 3217 5288www.netministries.com.auinfo@netministries.com.au

This week I read two quotes from Mother Teresa which really inspired me and reminded me of our mission here at NET Ministries. “A life not lived for others is not a life” and “Many people mistake our work for our vocation. Our vocation is the love of Jesus.” We have an amazing opportunity through this ministry to give our lives for others and to spread the essential purpose of life: to be known and loved by our God, and to give that love to others. I cannot think of a better way to live my life and we invite you to do the same with us.

This year marked the 30th Anniversary of the beginning of NET Ministries in St Paul, Minnesota, USA. Congratulations to all the team at NET USA! Our staff here at NET Australia, sent well wishes through a short DVD, honoring their mission in the States. We also sang them a memorable “ditty” which I am sure will be remembered in the archives of NET History as the most ridiculous presentation by any NET staff in the world! Nevertheless, on a more serious note, the hearts reached for Jesus and the Church, through the witness of many NET teams over 30 years, are worth their weight in heavenly gold, and we thank NET USA, for their faithful and tireless participation in the work of the “new evangelisation”.

A l i fe l ived for others. . .Issue 2, 2012

(Continued inside on

page 2)

Inside This Issue:Uganda UpdateArchbishop’s DinnerNET Alumni NoticeboardIgnite Conference

‘Many people mistake our work for our vocation. Our vocation is the love of Jesus.’

...the hearts reached for Jesus and the Church are worth their weight in gold...

NETworks Issue 2, 2012 - 3

A l i fe l ived for others. . .(Continued from front page)

On our other international fronts, Michael and Lisa Forbes and their daughter Claire have just arrived home from a very successful visit to NET Ministries, Uganda. Michael was able to further develop some projects which have been started in Uganda to help sustain the mission. He also carried out a pastoral visit with the team during their NET formation program. Further, there is a ministry to women (who through their poverty stricken circumstances), have found themselves enslaved into the sex industry in Kampala City. This outreach was founded by one of the ex NET Uganda team members. Staff members and their families are currently trying to support this outreach. It is such a blessing to know that the work you begin, through NET Ministries, has such far reaching effects in the world. Just the fact that we have been able to establish teams in Uganda is amazing. However, hearing of the fruits of individual team members, in the years following their formation on NET, is so rewarding. I offer this encouraging news to you by way of thanks for your prayerful and financial support, without which, we could not make this ministry in Africa possible.

In another area of the globe in Donegal, Ireland, we have also been privileged to offer our services to the NET teams. Rebecca Crouch, one of our long term staff members has moved to Ireland this year to serve NET staff, under the leadership of Mr Tony Foy. Shayne and I are, once again, heading overseas to help train four Irish teams for 2012. It is such a privilege to be able to assist in the “new evangelisation” of the Irish Youth.

Finally, we are very proud to announce the ordination of yet another past Netter, Michael Gallacher. Michael co led our National Team in 2003 and I was blessed to supervise that team. Shayne and I travelled to Melbourne to be present at his ordination which was a wonderful celebration. Michael celebrated his first mass for NET Ministries here in Brisbane a few weeks ago. What a blessing for us to see so many single people, married couples, priests and religious emerging from NET Ministries. Thank you for the part that you play in all of these different aspects of our ministry.

Above: Michael Gallacher on NET in 2003;Celebrating Eucharist for NET Ministries; Far Right: Michael in front of the NET wall of fame’.

NET Uganda Michael Forbes

In July I travelled to Uganda with my wife Lisa and daughter Claire. This is the third time we have been there and each trip has been more inspirational and uplifting than the one before. The faith in God and hope for the future of young Ugandans is amazing to behold.

This year’s trip was very busy and included: aid projects (education, animal husbandry and more); business projects (mentoring and finance); a mathematics teaching initiative (look at www.khanacademy.org); time with the NET team and a Ugandan wedding. Among many highlights, two that really stood our were the drama that the NET team performed at the wedding and the time spent with the Ugandan Netters, sharing their hopes and dreams for the future.

Many thanks to Fred Mawanda, Director of NET Uganda, for organising the trip and to the Ugandan NET team for opening their house to Claire. I have a personal vision of NET Uganda and other ministries in Uganda being financed by a share in the profit of businesses that are owned and run by Ugandans who are part of the wider NET community.Please contact us at NET if you are interested in this or in aid and development projects in Uganda.

Mid-year break started with a three day long retreat where we had time to catch up with each other and hear about all the ministry that had been done in the first half of the year. It was also a time to rejuvenate, share, and have fun. It was amazing to hear some of the victory stories from the first half of the year from all of the teams. Hearing about what all the different teams are doing in their ministries really opened my eyes to the huge number of people we are reaching this year. It also made me feel so blessed to have the community my team and I have in Melbourne and excited to get back out there and continue our ministry, though after a much needed break.

After the mid-year retreat we all set off for our two week break, where many went back home, stayed in Brisbane, or visited other parts of Australia. For myself it was a great experience. Being from Canada I wasn’t able to go home for the break. Instead I spent it with new friends I had made this year, together we shared stories of what our year had been like so far, what we were looking forward to in the second half and checked many of the beautiful places out around Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

At the end of our two week break we all met up again for our mid-year training. It was amazing to

participate in praise and worship with everyone together again. Being able to praise in such a large group for me, really intensifies the presence of Jesus. We also heard great talks about how to approach and prepare for the next half of the year. One of the major points I took away from one of the

talks was how to love my team. I have been given the blessing of an amazing team, and hearing ways to love each member of my team even through the tough times was really helpful. I came away with a conviction to really use the last few months on NET to show love to each person and to fight for a strong relationship with them. Another point that stood out for me was to search for the giver, not the gift. To look for God instead of feelings and ground my faith in that.

When mid-year training ended it was sad to leave everyone again but I had a

new excitement and eagerness for the second half of the year. I was excited to grow even closer as a team and to build strong relationships so that when it comes to the end of the year I will end it with a family not just a team. It was also an excitement for the ministry. I was ready to give everything to the next few months so that I, with my team could finish the year knowing we gave everything we could to our ministry.

“...know that the work

you begin, through NET Ministries, has such

far reaching effects in the

world.”

Editors Note: Staff travel overseas is either self-funded by the staff members (especially to Uganda) or paid for by our NET partners (Shayne and Shanelle at training in Ireland).

“...together we shared stories of

what it had been like so far...”

Mid-Year SharingFelicia Borges Shanelle Bennett

Executive Director2003 - Michael Gallacher on NET (middle back)

2012 - Michael as a newly ordained priest with Shanelle and Shayne Bennett.

Michael Forbes (far right), wife Lisa and daughter Claire (front middle) with a team of Ugandan Netters.

Felicity Borges is on the 2012

Melbourne NET Team

NETworks Issue 2, 2012 - 2

Top row (L-R): Nattasha Pennington, Sarah Tyler and Tina Smith (NET staff members):Mark West, Peter de Keratry and Kathleen West; Mark Bennett (Alumni) with Mons Randazzo; Paul Shakhovskoy (Staff), Br Mark Fordyce;Jim Wallace (Guest Speaker) with Shanelle Bennett (NET Director);

Bottom Row (L-R): Luke McMahon, Tom Duncan, Fr Pius Jones; Mark Lysaght (Board), John Brady, Pat Keady (Alumni); Rosie Hayes (Alumni) with Jillian Pearce (Staff)Scott Booth with Adalbert Imperial;Michael Whitney (Alumni), Mark Doyle (Staff) and Patrice McKay (Board);

Highlights of the dinner included the work of MC Jo Hayes, the “Two Brothers” drama presented by Michael Otto and Stephen Mierendorf, a powerful speech from our guest speaker Jim Wallace sharing the story of his faith journey and a great testimony of the impact of NET from ex-Netter Abe Hewitt.

The 2012 Archbishop’s Fundraising Dinner for NET Ministries was a great success by any measure. Very shortly after his announcement as the new archbishop of Brisbane, Archbishop Mark Coleridge agreed to host the dinner, which was less than two weeks after his installation.

It was great to see so many people who were attending their first NET Dinner this year. In 2013 the NET Dinner will be our Gala 25th Anniversary Dinner. Watch out for details coming soon.

A r c h b i s h o p ’ s D i n n e r 2012

NETworks Issue 2, 2012 - 6 NETworks Issue 2, 2012 - 7

ENGAGEMENTS:

Leigh Hellis (09) & Lauren Hoban

Jeanette Brodner (08-09) & Steve Touzin

Catherine Hurrell (10) & JT Armentrout

Pat Walters (02,03,05) & Dorcas Homare

Adam Gilbert (10) & Laura Handley

* If you have an announcement for the noticeboard please email

kym@netministries.com.au

The journey to finding our 2013 netters:

NoticeboardNET Alumni

WHO COULD FILL THESE SHOES in 2013?

Our 2013 target is bigger than we've ever had before - 64 netters. At our current tally, we still need around 40 young men and women to serve God through NET Ministries in 2013.

So this is a shout out to all our Alumni and HERO's (Honorary External Recruiting Officers) to pray for our future netters, but also to be encouraging anyone who you think would be willing to serve God to think about applying for NET, we are always ready to take details and give them a call to chat to them about it.

At the end of September, NET will join with Emmanuel Community to run the Ignite Conference in Brisbane. Ignite is the largest Catholic Youth Conference currently held in Australia and we are very excited to be a part of it all! As the conference comes closer, our staff are busy preparing for what is to come. Two of our staff serve on the Ignite Planning Team and over half of our staff will be presenting workshops and ministering to young people. More than 20 of our NET Alumni will be presenting and helping with various roles over the 4 days. Some of the NET Staff and Alumni will also join with emmanuelworship, leading the worship ministry for the conference.

Igni te Conference to ‘Awaken’ fa i th

The National Team will run the “Blaze” Stream, for grades 8-10 and a few of our local teams will bring young people from their local areas to experience the conference. All of the teams will be leading small groups, in which they will journey with a group of young people and support them throughout their time at Ignite. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to be on the frontline and evangelise to the young people of Australia, being a part of some of them experiencing the love of God for the first time and helping with the formation of young Catholics, while also recruiting some of our volunteers for next year!

If you are at Ignite, come and visit us at the NET stand for a chance to win a 64G iPad.

WEDDINGS:

Lauren Lawrence (08-09) and Isaac Weickert (09)

in Houston, Texas

Rebecca Wilson (09-10 & present staff)

and Michael Whitney (09 & staff 10-11) in Brisbane.

Both weddings were held on 18th August 2012 BIRTH NOTICES:

Suze (nee Brown, 05) & Steve Czapracki (04-05 & staff 09-10) welcomed their third child

Elizabeth Margaret on June 26.

Caitlyn (nee Ray, 05, 07 staff 08-09) & Mark Bennett (Canada 03/04 Uganda 04, Australia 08, staff 05-09) welcomed their

second child, Sophia Shanelle on June 8th. (named after our executive director)

Michael Otto (08-09 & staff 10-present) & Laura (nee Moore, 07-08 & staff 10-12) welcomed

their first child Joseph Xavier on April 19.

Ben Baker (05,06 & 08) & wife Eva welcomed their firstborn Isabella Margaretia on May 8.

Both Baby Joseph & Isabella were born very premature but are at home and doing

very well now – Praise God

On Facebook? Why not f ind NET Ministr ies Austral ia then LIKE us to stay updated with news and events!

The drawing (on front page of newsletter ) of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta is

used with permission .

The art ist is Mariola K. Paini , ‘The artist of the Saints ’

This and more of her drawings of the Saints can be found on her website:

m a r i o l a @ s a i n t s g a l l e r y . c o m

NET Ministries 25th ANNIVERSARY:

2013 marks the 25th Anniversary of

NET Ministries Australia. The main Alumni activities

will take place on Saturday 22nd June.

Mark it in your diaries!

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