At Hearts Aflame summer school in Marton (l-r): Mark Holden, Christchurch; Bishop Charles Drennan, Palmerston North; Luana Durston, Hawke’s Bay; Fr Thomas Azzi op, Australia; Jonothan Parkinson, Rotorua; and Kathleen Chow, New Plymouth. Photo: Sue Seconi
WelCom March 2018: Ninety young people from around New Zealand gathered at Nga Tawa Diocesan School in Marton on 29 December last year for the start of the 26th Hearts Aflame 10-day summer school.
This annual event for young adults, aged 18‒35, provides an environment to encourage and challenge maturity and growth in each person’s relationship with the Lord and the Church.
Every day is shaped by daily Mass, morning and evening prayers, lectures, discussions, Adoration, as well as leisure times and social-gathering. A pastoral team is available along with priests for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Fr Neil Vaney sm and guest Paul Ninnes from the Real Talk Ministries in Australia were guest speakers. Paul Ninnes’ well-received lecture entitled ‘winning the battle for sexual purity’, discussed how pornography affects the brain and relationships.
Sue Seconi