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Next week, the biggest youth gathering since WYD08 will take place at a beach-side conference centre, forty minutes north of Sydney. And whist Benedict himself will not be there this time, this will still be one event certainly not to be missed.
Held at the Collaroy Conference Centre, the iWITNESS CONFERENCE is being organised by the co-ordinators of Theology on Tap, the highly successful event which for the past year has regularly gathered over 500 young people in Sydney to talk about faith-based issues. “With summer temperatures rising, I can’t imagine anywhere better than the beach to spend four days learning about the Catholic faith,” says Lewi Barakat, one of the conference organizers and a regular at Theology on Tap. “And in addition to Collaroy’s amazing beach, this great weekend will also provide an inspiring and relaxing place to talk about the legacy of Pope Benedict’s journey to Sydney and what we can all do now in the post-WYD08 world.” Activities at iWitness will range from talks given by high profile speakers such as Cardinal George Pell and Professor Hayden Ramsay, to team group challenges, free time on the beach, candle-lit Rosary processions, all punctuated by Daily Mass, Adoration and Confession. “Also don’t forget The Amazing Pilgrimage” says Jessica Langrell who is helping to co-ordinate the leisure activities. “It will be The Amazing Race with a twist – I can’t wait!”. The organisers of iWitness are young students themselves, so they know what works and what does not work for young people. “I think the success of Theology on Tap is that it manages to combine serious theological discussion and formation with a fairly casual atmosphere” says Amy Vierboom, who is one of the conference organisers. “That’s the aim of iWitness – to take that next step, of really diving into the faith and getting some real answers for tough questions, but to do all that in a social atmosphere, meeting new people and having fun while exploring the faith.” For many people,the major draw card will be the stellar list of speakers and topics, with Robert Haddad speaking on ‘The Bread of Life’, Fr Tony Percy, Jonathan & Karen Doyle from Choicez Media speaking about God’s plan for sexuality, The Nashville Dominican Sisters speaking on a range of topics, and Peter Holmes speaking on “Taking God at His Word”. The Conference will kick off with Bishop Julian Porteous, and will also feature Prof Hayden Ramsay speaking on morality and relativism, while the Cardinal will speak on the topic “Rock Solid – the Church and the Papacy”. SINGLE DAY &OVERNIGHT iWITNESS PACKAGES The conference organizers have also announced new packages which now make it easier for young people from all over Sydney to come to the event – even for just one night. § Full DayPackage for $75 (Lunch+Dinner) § Overnightpackage for $99 (incl lunch+dinner+breakfast+accommodation) § FullConference for $198 (4 days, all meals) § FullConference, 20% group discount when booked in groups of 5 for $160 per person “The overnight package will be great for anyone who wants to come up to hear Cardinal Pell speak on Saturday evening, walk along the beach with him in the candlelit Rosary Procession, and stay overnight for breakfast the next morning.” For the full conference schedule, click here http://www.ndstms.com.au/index.php?action=view&view=36316 So how difficult is it to register? “Not hard at all!” laughs Amy. To book a place, send an email to
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RSVP NOW! To book your place, send an email to:
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