Mission Blog: Students Become Ambassadors for Mission Australia

Year 10 students, Adele Carrick, Sascha Finlay-Collins, Ciara Smithies, Evlynn Biju, Grace Kinsella, Sofia Marra, Maya Zammit, and Myra Lee, have been selected to participate in the Mission Ambassador Program (MAP) in the Perth Archdiocese.

MAP is designed to provide leadership opportunities for Catholic school students who feel called to bear witness to the missionary work of the Church. This year, MAP will be a collaborative initiative between Catholic Mission and ACRATH (Australian Catholic Religious Against the Trafficking of Humans) to empower student leaders to be a missionary voice, promoting overseas projects that rescue, protect, and support the victims of human trafficking.

The Program

The Catholic Missions Schools Engagement Coordinator will collaborate with a College staff member, and together, they will work out how best to encourage and support the participating students. Once trained, the students will be able to conduct the Mission appeal in their own parish in a way that showcases the missionary heart and focus of their school community. The additional aim of the program is to strengthen the relationship between schools and parishes.

Students will also expand their understanding of the missionary teachings of Pope Francis and the social justice issues around human trafficking. This will also involve advocating for slave-free consumer practices in our local communities.

Benefits of the program

Participants will:

• Experience the welcome and affirmation of a parish community.
• Attest to the missionary works of the Church in rescuing, protecting, and strengthening the rights and dignity of the most vulnerable.
• Gain an authentic and tangible sense of being a voice for the voiceless.
• Grow as Christian leaders by experiencing the impact their voice can have on the parish community they are sent to.
• Encounter a deeper sense of missionary awareness and commitment to faith-based action.
• Live out the College Mercy value of ‘Justice’ by promoting respectful relationships and equity for all.

In addition, Parish communities will experience the passion and evangelising potential of these young people as they showcase their faith and concerns for social justice.

We wish these students all the best as they commence their training, and we look forward to hearing all about their experiences at the conclusion of the program.