Sharing Faith in the NT -Mission Trip 2019

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers what you say, the way you live, in your love and your faith.” 1 Timothy 4:12

St Edmund’s has been visiting Darwin and the surrounding region for the last 9 years and has built some very strong bonds with a number of communities. The College has been leading retreats for schools and it is with great pride that when our Pelican emblem is recognised in many regions that we are welcomed into the communities with open arms. There is no mystery that the success of the mission has been down to the simple decision to go each year and to keep developing the relationships that we have made. Over the years many students have worn the mission T-shirt and for that given year they are the custodians of this experience. Each student has enriched the trip in their unique way and has shared their gifts and talents.

A big thanks to our team for 2019 Hayden Pepper, James Tually, Justin Teng, Alister Hobson, Symon Refuerzo, Henry Scheckenbach, Lachlan Bradshaw and Mr Masters.

The week compromised of running retreats at St John’s College Darwin, O’Loughlin College Darwin and visiting St Francis Xavier College in Daly River. The boys did a fantastic job leading retreats, building rapport with the students that they encountered and shared their understanding of faith. Our boy’s authentic witness very quickly broke down any nervousness or anxiety that the students that we ministered to might have been feeling. The students also helped out with some numeracy lessons and played in AFL games with students from Maningrida and Tiwi Islands at the Michael Long Learning Centre in Darwin. A truly blessed experience where our boys learned about the concept of deep listening or ‘Dadirri’.

Dadirri means inner, deep listening and quiet, still awareness. It is a ‘tuning in’ experience with the specific aim to come to a deeper understanding of the beauty of nature. Dadirri recognises the inner spirit that calls us to reflection and contemplation of the wonders of all God’s creation.

We pray that each day we may deeply listen to the needs of the people that we interact with, that we listen to our own thoughts and conscience and that we are open to listening to Gods call in all that we do.