 Socialising... new YOOM members
Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral crypt followed by a social dinner at a local city pub launched the first gathering of the Young Order of Malta (YOOM) on the Feast of the Assumption, August 15, thus marking the birth of the youth arm of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta in Sydney.
At the invitation of the national chaplain to the Order, Fr. Anthony Robbie, a group of young Catholics in Sydney founded the society to facilitate another way of putting faith in practice.
“YOOM is a new means for young Catholics to show their love for the Church and the practical effect of it on their lives in caring for others,” said Fr Anthony Robbie.
“It was a wonderfully encouraging experience to see so many dedicated and generous-spirited young Catholics keen to start up a new apostolate within the Church,” he continued of the launch.
“We had people making friends for the first time and a lot of interest in taking up the social apostolate of the Church,” Fr Robbie further commented.
Recognising the opportunity to provide a fun and enjoyable means to go out into the community to help those in need, a member of YOOM’s founding executive, Conor Power, said there could be no better time for the group’s establishment than now – post World Youth Day.
“The time is right! Pope Benedict has charged all young Catholics to be witnesses to the saving love of Christ,” Power said.
“On top of this, the need for young people to help the elderly has never been greater. The older generations of Australian society are becoming more and more isolated and it is about time we realise just how much we owe previous generations for what they have done for both our nation and the Church”.
Under the same mission of the Order of Malta, YOOM will engage its young members in the service of the poor and sick, and to living ever more fully the values of the Catholic Faith.
Regular social events are planned with a view to engaging together in charitable activities such as visiting the homes of the sick and elderly and providing assistance to the poor.
As well, YOOM is not exclusively for university students, says Power.
“There are a number of university students like myself from a range of institutions across Sydney. However, YOOM is not just a group for uni students - we have teachers, plumbers and nurses to mention only a few.
“The feature we all have in common is our youth. Ranging from 18 to 35 years of age, and with many members in their early to mid-twenties, there is a great sense of joy and enthusiasm about the works of mercy and the opportunity to be able to meet people of the same age and mind-set in a relaxed social setting,” Power continued.
He adds: “It is easy to forget that in the elderly and sick Jesus Christ is there too. This is a wonderful opportunity for me to show my love not only for God but for all of my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ”.
UPCOMING YOOM EVENT DETAILS:
YOOM’s next event will be a Trivia Night to be held September 27 at St. Dominic’s, Flemington.
Then on October 15, YOOM will host a presentation by a Knight of the Order of Malta, Jim Dominguez CBE AM, on the humanitarian works of the Order.
For regular updates sign up to the YOOM Facebook group.
Want to know more about the Sovereign Order of Malta?
“YOOM can be understood best in the context of its historical tradition,” says third year Campion College Liberal Arts student, Conor Power, 24.
The Sovereign Order of Malta is a lay religious Order of the Catholic Church dating back to the 11th century. Originally formed as a monastic community, the Order ran a Hospice in Jerusalem to care for pilgrims of any religious faith or race.
During the crusades, the Order was obliged to take on the military defence of the sick, pilgrims and the Christian territories in the Holy Land.
As well as being one of the most ancient lay religious Orders of the Catholic Church, and a Sovereign State in its own right, the Order also enjoys recognition as an independent subject of international law.
For more info visit: www.smom.org.au
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