Hearts Aflame Catholic Summer School for young adults was held recently in Christchurch at Rochester and Rutherford Hall of University of Canterbury from 30^th December 2016 to 8^th of January 2017. It is an annual gathering of young adults from all around the country to enliven and deepen their faith and knowledge, through formation, community and prayer. The school consisted of days of retreat, lectures and presentations on a variety of topics on the faith, ordered with the rhythm of daily Eucharistic adoration, Holy Mass and the chanting of the liturgy of the hours – Morning, Evening and Night Prayers.

The young adults of the school were joined by speakers and lecturers among whom were religious sisters, brothers and priests of the community of St. John, the Beatitudes community, sisters of Nazareth, seminarians and priests from the Christchurch diocese, Marist and Opus Dei priests, laity including teachers, musicians, and theology lecturers from Good Shepherd College.

The theme of this year’s summer school was ‘SEEK’- “It is Jesus that you seek when you dream of happiness.”- St John Paul II

The school began with a weekend retreat conducted by Fr. Peter Fitzsimmons, relating the scriptures of the journey of the Magi to seek the Child Jesus to our own personal spiritual journeys; Zacchaeus to an encounter with the person of Jesus; the parable of the Good Samaritan to compassion and self-giving; Mary and the Nativity to humility; and on Vocation – our call to be a saint and apostle through baptism.

We celebrated the New Year with carols and midnight Mass for the feast of Mary, the Mother of God, followed by festive fireworks.

The main lectures began during the following week. The lecture and presentation topics included: Catholicism 101, Sacred Music, Apologetics, Liturgy, Current Issues in the Church, Church History, Prayer, St Teresa of Kolkata, the Gospel of Mark, Theology of the Body, Catholic teaching on Human Sexuality and Natural fertility management, Pure of Heart, The Last Things.

There were also sessions explaining Eucharistic Adoration, the Divine Office, Praise and worship, prayer of intercession, the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, Lectio Divina and Vocations testimonies on consecrated religious life, marriage and priesthood, Goal Setting and Discernment.

The evening sessions included Praise and worship, Reconciliation and Prayer ministry, Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction, Taizé prayer, a Catholic Trivia Quiz; Catholic Café on the topic ’In the world but not of the world’ about using our gifts and talents for others, and living like a Catholic; and a talk by Fr. Chris Eaton on ‘The courage to follow Christ’ about vocation, our call to holiness.

There were many opportunities for fellowship and discussion at meal times, and within small groups named after saints. Also, we were tasked with a small group challenge during the week, of decorating a tablecloth incorporating our group saint, a heart and the theme ‘SEEK’.

Our last night of the school was celebrated with a Final Dinner, judging of the small group challenge, Eucharistic Adoration and dancing – including Jewish dancing.

As we were sent out with the closing Mass on the Feast of the Epiphany, Fr. John Adams the chaplain of the summer school, drew the comparison of the Magi travelling back from Jerusalem, to our own journey, that after Hearts Aflame we will return home a different way – that we  would be changed.  Pray for the participants of the school, that in our life’s journey we may become what God is creating us to be.

Photos by Christie Shor

St Thomas Aquinas small group, from left: Hans de Ruiter, Tony Johnstone, Elise Westcott, Celia Kueh, Fr. Michael Therese Scheerger, Samuel Pitcaithly, Jochebed Mabazza