MAGiS,
the Ignatian young adult ministry, has renewed its goals for a strong young
adult ministry with the appointment of a more youthful board, greater
coordination and support and increased activity with young adults.
The
outlining of the new MAGiS structure follows the release of a comprehensive
review of the World Youth Day program, MAGiS08, which found that the event had
a strong impact on young adults' spiritual formation.
The
newly-appointed board will be chaired by young adult and former Loreto Mandeville
Hall student Prue Gilbert. Two other young adults will also sit on the board:
Rachel McLoughlin of CLC Adelaide and James O'Brien of MAGiS Sydney. 'Not only
did we want a younger chair, we wanted younger members on the board as well',
said Fr Richard Leonard SJ, Delegate for Mission Formation.
MAGiS
is the first-ever jointly owned and governed work of the five Australian
Ignatian families: Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (the Loreto Sisters),
Religious Sisters of the Sacred Heart (RSCJ), Sisters of Charity (RSC),
Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJ) and Society of Jesus (Jesuits). Representatives
from the five Ignatian Congregations include Diana Hayes RSCJ, Maureen Burke
IBVM, Maureen Merlo FCJ, Anne Taylor RSC and Richard Leonard SJ.
At
a function held to launch MAGiS into 2010, Richard said it was important that
the ministry have 'a shared vision, a unified purpose and a structured
organisation'.
MAGiS
will start advertising shortly for a national coordinator as well as four
part-time state coordinators. 'We want a sophisticated structure to do the job
as well as we can', said Richard.
Reflecting
on her own experience as a MAGiS member, young adult and new board member Emma
Easton said the experience had enabled her to 'grow and to teach people about
my passion, which is learning about the Catholic faith through liturgy'.
Seeing
the diversity of nationalities at the MAGiS08 gathering, said Emma, 'was when
the meaning of the universal church hit me.'
Australian
Provincial Fr Steve Curtin SJ said that MAGiS08 was the beginning of a
significant outreach to help young adults deepen their faith. 'We know that
young people have enormous potential and it's a great privilege to work with
them.'
Fr
Curtin thanked the outgoing National Director of MAGiS, Fr Edward Dooley SJ,
and the Ignatian schools for their ongoing support of the program. He also
reinforced the importance of the role played by each of the five Ignatian
congregations in the MAGiS partnership.