The continuation of a new style of immersion gave Year 11 students Darcy Hilder, Charlie Fay, Corey McDean, Tom Hopkins, Katie Townsend, Evie Martin, Jamie Mitton and Tyla Cavallaro an opportunity to experience a range of Marist services offered in the Western Sydney area. 

Huge thanks must go to Miss Wilson for assisting.

The questions reflected upon in this year’s program included: What does it mean to have a future of hope?  How can we see things differently? What is God calling me to do?

The MAP participants began their program by meeting up with the Marist Youth Ministry (MYM) team.

Students competed in a boys v girls cooking competition and then moved on to discuss what it means to be a young Marist and how to get involved in ministry.

Many thanks to the MYM team (Jerick Perez, Monica Gonzales, Patrick Corke and Supi Taufa’ao) for their time and guidance.

Students spent their second day of the program becoming aware of the Marist 180 (M180) services.

Staff of M180 and students shared stories and the reason behind why they are Marists.

They completed a number of activities designed to challenge their ideas about the lack of support for people on the margins of our society.

Finally, they painted a Marist tree connecting words of hope and love for the future.

Thank you the staff and volunteers of Marist 180, especially Angela Bekesi, Nick Fe’ao and David Lamb.

The final day of the program involved experiencing the wonderful works of LaValla200 and the Baabayn Group.

Br Noy Noy and Red Bend students organised a barbecue while the other students ran games.

Two new bikes were given to the children to use at the centre.

Thank you to Br Noy Noy and the amazing Baabayn women, volunteers and kids of Mt Druitt.

We may not have the answers to why such good people in our world experience such marginalisation, but we can be certain that Marists are there.