Doru Costache - Promises And Hopes

[Published in The Greek Australian Vema, October 2009, 11]

Promises and Hopes: The 9th State Youth Conference of NSW By Revd Doru Costache This year, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia has organised in Sydney the 9th State Youth Conference of NSW, between 9 and 11 October. The event was mainly hosted by the Greek Orthodox Parish and Community of Archangel Michael (Crows Nest) after being inaugurated through a doxology presided by His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos in the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Theotokos (Redfern). Thus, on the evening of Friday, 9 October, the parish priests, religion teachers and youth representatives from throughout NSW were led in prayer by His Eminence (assisted by His Grace Bishop Seraphim of Apollonias and other clergymen), who also delivered an exhortation inviting the zeal and commitment of the participants. In the address, Archbishop Stylianos reflected on the crucial importance of the ecclesial tradition, which can guide and inspire the Orthodox Christian youth and the entire body of the Church as well. His Eminence likewise reiterated his deep conviction that the future of the Church depends on God and the enthusiastic work of the youth. In the conclusion of the exhortation, Archbishop Stylianos expressed his best wishes to all the participants and for the success of the Conference. The doxology was followed by a reception in the Hall of the Archdiocese, offering the youth delegates (numbering 150) opportunities to make acquaintance and informally address topics related to the theme of the Conference. On Saturday, 10 October, the proceedings of the Conference were coordinated by His Grace Bishop Seraphim. Proceeding with the opening prayer, Bishop Seraphim conveyed His Eminence’s blessing and addressed a word of encouragement for the participants to speak their minds in truthfulness and to think of the Church’s wellbeing. After His Grace’s address, the two keynote speakers (Mr Peter Kariatlis and myself) presented their papers. The first paper, offered by me and bearing the title Church, Youth and Society in Light of the Letter to Diognetos: A Traditional Approach to Contemporary Issues, undertook to explore the wisdom of an ancient Christian text and its relevance to our current circumstances. The paper presented by Mr Kariatlis posed the meaningful question Where Do I Fit In? Youth in the Church, endeavouring to point out that Christian youth are part of the Church and beneficiary of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, together with the responsibilities pertaining to their ecclesial membership. Both papers were received with enthusiasm, making them the object of a wide range of questions and comments from the participants. In fact, after each paper there were sessions of group discussion whose outcomes had been represented by the succinct reports, proposed by the group leaders within the closing plenary session. Among the most important suggestions and proposals coming from the groups, the following are indeed worth mentioning: the need to build a more functional and widely representative website of the Central Youth Committee; the establishment of fellowship groups for all parishes; the need of networking and organising more actions in common, involving two or more fellowship groups; the perspective of organising the State Youth Conferences annually instead of biannually; the

organisation of catechetical lessons for youth and young adults through the Archdiocese and the parishes etc. Answering the questions and comments, His Grace Bishop Seraphim encouraged the participants to be committed to their very positive ideas for the benefit of the Church. Also, His Grace invited the young Orthodox to assume a more active and complete role in the Church, not only with reference to the specific youth activities (non-liturgical in nature) but more so through their participation in the Divine Liturgy and the Holy Eucharist. Furthermore, Bishop Seraphim highlighted the need for the Christian youth to become consistently involved with, and supportive of, the program for Scripture teaching organised by the Archdiocese in the public schools. Finally, given that for now the perspective of an annual Conference is not feasible, His Grace promised that he will invite the delegates next year to a half day discussion and lunch, in order to analyse what has been accomplished after the 9th State Youth Conference of NSW. The deliberations closed through prayer by His Grace Bishop Seraphim. The same evening the delegates were hosted by Fr Christos Triantafyllou and the Parish and Community of All Saints (Belmore), for a Youth Dinner Dance. On Sunday, 11 October, the delegates took part in the Divine Liturgy celebrated by Bishop Seraphim in the church of St Michael (Crows Nest), receiving Holy Communion. In his homily, His Grace reminded the participants of the centrality of the Holy Eucharist for any ecclesial undertaking and the personal formation of Christian youth. The Divine Liturgy was followed by a common meal generously offered, as in the previous day, by the Parish and Community of St Michael, in the presence and with the effort of its parish priest, Fr John Daskalakis, the members of the Committee and the ladies of the Philoptochos. The Conference was indeed a tremendous success, both from the point of view of the organisation and the outcomes.