Fourth Week of the School of Mission

The fourth week of the School of Mission focused on the topic ‘Holy Spirit’. Fritz Mascarenhas and Fr Francis D’Souza were the speakers for the week. The week was filled with new refreshing insights of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit being a person and not something that did not matter. The Holy Spirit, the third person in the Trinity certainly has a depth of personality that includes Consoler, Paraclete, Healer and Creator. He bears gifts for the children of God. He wants to be present in our lives today.

The week included not just the teachings but ministries as well that brought more meaning to what was taught. The prayer ministry at the end of the week included the renewing of our baptismal promises with the lighting of candles.

Fr. Francis led the time of ministry exposing the Blessed Sacrament and carrying the Sacrament to each individual.

Everyone in some way experienced the touch of the Holy Spirit.

The week began with the ground shaking literally and ended with hearts being stirred up and warmed with the love of the Holy Spirit.

Sharing by one of the participants of the School: 

For me the Holy Spirit is like a coach. If I allow him, he can do great jobs within me. I have to be totally open for him to guide me, to instruct me, to lead me and to show me the path that leads to the eternal happiness – God. But I know that if I need the Holy Spirit to work in me I need to accept and to co-operate. The more I open myself to the Holy Spirit the more be given because the Holy Spirit is always a giver.

- Jonathan Debattista 

(Malta)

Third Week of the School of Mission

The second week SOM teaching was as on ‘Sin & Salvation’ where the participants were challenged to distinguish the various voices in their lives – the world, the flesh, the devil and God. They focused on the theme of ‘Surrender’, where they looked into the surrendering of sins that they are holding on to, as that had become an obstacle in their relationship with God. Sin wasn’t just about the rejection of the will of God the Father but it also showed disobedience towards God by not trusting in Him and His goodness.

Participants got the opportunity to recognize the love of God through His sacrifice of Jesus. It was constantly emphasized during the week that God loves us and wants us to experience true freedom, which happens through the surrender to the lordship of Jesus. Various therapies to combat sin were introduced to restore their relationship with God. It is important to not just know about Jesus but to really know Jesus.

The prayer ministry session had participants placing their sins (on a paper) at the cross, entrusting themselves to the mercy of God. The night ended with songs of victory and praise!

Please keep the participants in your prayers as they’ve just started a new week on the topic of the Holy Spirit.

“Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

- Romans 8:39. 

Testimony of one of the participants:


During the week, I understood how important it is to believe in Jesus. I have learnt that I have to trust and cling onto Him, because by my own efforts I can do nothing. I have also experienced the treasure of the Bible. To know Scripture is to know JESUS!

- Dominik Moser

Second Week of School of Mission 2016: Father - Heart of God

In the first week’s teaching on the ‘Father heart of God' as we sorted out some of the wrong images we may have of God based on our upbringing, we also heard the story of the prodigal son. We gleaned new insights from the father who runs to his son not just out of compassionate love but also to protect him from the shame that would fall on the son when he entered the village as he had squandered his inheritance among the gentiles and so was subject to undergo a shaming custom done by the townsmen.








The final session of the “our Father” was geared for all the participants to have a personal relationship with the Father as Jesus had done so with his disciples. Alongside the teachings were times of reflective adoration and a prayer ministry time to experience the father's embrace and hear words of affirmation. A blessed week indeed.








Testimony of one of the Participants of the School:

During the teaching on the Father Heart of God, I asked God numerous times why He called me to the School of Mission; for I personally know the Father Heart of God, and how merciful and loving He has been to me. I wasn't sure that the teaching was relevant to me. What I discovered was that my challenge was not knowing and trusting God; rather, it is with getting to know, trust and live in communion with other people in a healthy way. My history is such that it knows too well the fruit of rejection, neglect and abuse. I have traditionally and consequently kept people at a safe yet unhealthy distance. I met a Catholic priest earlier on in the year who spoke about how sometimes we just need to be the image of God with skin on so that others can find healing and God in any given situation. What I have found is that the Father Heart of God for me is so big that He has called me to live in this community for five months so that others can be the image of God with skin on to me. I know that through their love and support, I will find healing and a better, healthier way to live; a way that is more aligned to how God originally planned it. I know that, through tapping into His grace, I will be leaving St Gerard's Monastery in March a totally transformed and new creation. What that is going to look like...at this stage, I have no idea; but I am excited by the prospect. Life with my loving Father in heaven is an exciting adventure; and I know because I know because I know that all He wants is the best for me.

- Rachel Blackaby

First Week of School of Mission 2016: Bonding Week

The participants of the school of mission got a taste of the school in the bonding week. It was a time of getting to know each other and was the beginning of forming new friendships. Each had an opportunity to share their different life stories and also their individual call to the mission school.

The week also consisted of a lot of games, a picnic day and a music jamming session. The games were a time for the participants to discover their inner child as some of the games involved their artistic skill in drawing and acting on the spot and some others involved water where they had to think on their feet.

The participants got to explore a bit of Wellington and surrounding scenic areas as we spent time at Rivendell in Kaitoke Regional Park followed by sport at Avalon Park and spent some time enjoying the view from the Mt Victoria lookout.

The Jamming session was a way to let loose, to sing and give thanks to God with one’s whole being. We saw the participants enjoyed praising God with their voices and musical instruments, some even trying their hands on certain musical instruments for the first time.

The bonding week was indeed a time for the participants and the staff to get closer to each other and work to the goal of being rooted in Christ by being ourselves and loving each other the way Christ has called us to.

Testimony of one of the Participants of the School: 

My highlight was the picnic with everyone in the community. I felt that through this bonding week, I was able to settle in comfortably. I didn’t feel like a stranger as everyone were very friendly and generous. It also helped me to get to know each of them as a personal level through their life stories. It made me feel like home and I am now prepared for the upcoming week of teaching. I know that I am in a safe and secure place where I can seek God earnestly with all my heart. 

– Louisa Cyprinus