Christ offers real Reasons for Hope

Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Canberra-Goulburn Diocese will give the keynote address on "Lord, Increase Our Faith" alongside many other local and inter-state guest speakers including Canberran author of "Young Men Rise Up", Fr Ken Barker MGL.

The answers to the hot topic of 'How To REALLY Love' will be granted by Melbourne's JPII lecturer Dr Adam Cooper, while the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecelia originally from Nashville, Tennessee will discuss topics such as "Should I follow my feelings?" and what the Bible has to say about women.

Regular features such as daily Mass, 40 hour Adoration, the Men's & Women's Forums and Saturday afternoon sport will all be experienced at this year's Reasons for Hope which will help bring these young people closer to Christ and His way for living out Christian manhood and womanhood.

It will also be an ideal post WYD08 opportunity to meet like-minded witnesses to the Faith as well as make new friends from all over NSW and Australia.

On Sunday, Reasons for Hope will stage its first "Faith in Action Forum" which will offer practical ways to respond to Pope Benedict's call to be witnesses.

Young volunteers from St Vincent de Paul will discuss how young people can become dedicated to helping the poor in Australia alongside campaigners against inappropriate advertising on the sides of roads and in public spaces who will also be at Reasons for Hope giving away inspirational messages and ways to get involved at your local level.

Recognising the need for faith and politics in the public square, Reasons for Hope will also provide ample opportunity to speak to politicians who are living out these parallel vocations on a daily basis.

Now in its 11th year, Reasons for Hope will be co-hosted by principal sponsor, the Thomas More Centre Youth which are an organisation that calls upon young people to put their Faith in Action.

Reasons for Hope 2009 has attracted several supportors including the Illawarra Catholic Club, the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, the Catholic Women's League (Archdiocese of Sydney), Artes Christi as well as Woodbury Estate: Makers of Fine Handcrafted Furniture.

Reasons for Hope will be staged at the Benedict XVI Retreat Centre in Grose Vale west of Sydney's CBD and very close to Richmond train station.