The Diocese of Parramatta has donated a new car to the Parramatta Young Christian Workers (YCW) and Young Christian Students (YCS) so they can continue their ministry with students and young people in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains.
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta, handed over the keys at a ceremony at the Bethany Centre in Parramatta on 26 September, at which he blessed the car and offered a prayer for safe journeys within it. He also praised the work of the YCW and YCS for “equipping young people to live the Christian life”.
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta blesses a car donated to the Young Christian Workers (YCW) and Young Christian Students (YCS), whose ministry is based in the Diocese of Parramatta. Image: Diocese of Parramatta
YCW Youth Engagement Officer Irene Baik said having a car was becoming more important for the group, especially as the cost of living was increasing and making it harder for young people to get around.
“There’s a lot of the times when young people can’t get home after events or even for the workers who travel from destination to destination,” she said.
“We do a lot of school visits and our school visits range from the Blue Mountains to Marsden Park around Western Sydney, so having this car is giving us the means to get around to those places and actually do the mission that that is required from us, and that we want to do.”
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta (left) presents Young Christian Workers (YCW) Youth Engagement Officer Irene Baik (centre) and National Australian Young Christian Workers President Sean Gehrig with a car donated to the Young Christian Workers (YCW) and Young Christian Students (YCS), whose ministry is based in the Diocese of Parramatta. Image: Diocese of Parramatta
National Australian Young Christian Workers President Sean Gehrig, who also works with the Parramatta YCW and YCS, said that the new car is “instrumental” to the work that they do.
“It allows us to get to young people and assist and support the actions they are undertaking,” he said.
“It also creates a relational space where workers can strengthen the bonds between ourselves and those we outreach to.”
YCW and YCS are supported by the Diocese of Parramatta and work in partnership with the Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese Mission Team.
