The setting was Nga Tawa Diocesan School in Marton from January 1-10.

Into its twenty-ninth year, 2021 was the first-time registrations closed 3 months out from the event, after reaching the 120 capacity.  If the number of those who miss out increases over the next couple of years, then the leadership team will consider another, bigger venue, so no one is excluded.

From left: Catharina Lee, Anna Rayner, Gino Tapia, Azhure Durston and Seth Sison.

“Nga Tawa suits our needs, and we would be hard pressed to find any other boarding facility that works as well for us. We would have to really think and pray hard about going bigger, a bigger school can change the culture we like to keep Hearts Aflame small and friendly.” said Jemma Brunton, director of Hearts Aflame.

The summer school is run on the smell of an oily rag and, with no permanent funding from the Catholic Church, it relies on individual people who believe in this deepening of faith experience, to financially contribute to make up the shortfall.

Geared for 18-35-year-olds, “Hearts” – as it is affectionally called – is about entering into a time of formation in Catholic theology, philosophy and spirituality, within a rhythm of daily Mass and prayers of the Church. Led by a gifted pastoral team, there is also space for leisure and fun activities.

A special highlight was Auckland Auxiliary Bishop Michael Gielen celebrating Masses on January 6 and 7, and leading an evening session titled “Living Fully Alive in Christ”.

“In the night session, he asked participants to ask God for a courageous vision for their lives, to identify the dream God has given them and to boldly choose to take steps to bring that dream to life,” Miss Brunton said.

The leadership team, made up of 11 from throughout New Zealand with Fr John Adams of Christchurch as chaplain, continually communicate throughout the year to pray and to especially discern the subject topics that need to be introduced. This year, they chose as the theme Rejoicing in the Cross.  Salvifici Doloris isan apostolic letter on the Christian meaning of human suffering by St John Paul II, and was the document that underpinned the theme.

               Learning about the faith

The Covid-19 pandemic did pose a challenge for the planning team and meant that a decision had to be taken whether to cancel this year or not. The pros and cons of doing Hearts Aflame virtually was considered, should there be a lockdown at the time.

“In our prayer, we got a strong sense that everything was going to be okay. Interestingly the name of the parish church where the team had their final planning weekend is called St Roch,” said Miss Brunton.

St Roch, who was born in 1295 in France with a sign of the cross on his chest, performed miracles of healing during the black death plague by making the sign of the cross over them.

In the nine-day countdown to Hearts Aflame, the leaders and other hearts aflame supporters each fronted a novena prayer to St Roch through their facebook page.

Lecture topics at the 2021 Hearts Aflame were broad, offering the richness of Catholic faith by experts in their fields. Among the topics were Maria Pais’s lecture on the Theology of the Body, “You are what you watch” by Brendan Malone, “The Gospel of suffering” by Sr Maria Singer LSP, “The Saints who toiled from place to place” by Fr Pat Breeze, SM, “Catholicism 101” by Fr Benedict D’Souza, SM, “Made for love” by Jennifer and Tim Goulding, and “Introduction to Canon Law” by Fr Marcus Francis, to name a few.

           Support given in prayer

Feedback from participants was positive.

“Being surrounded by holy and devout young people and religious who strive to truly live the Gospel of Christ was special,” said first-timer Catharina Lee, from Wellington.

“I’ve never been to a place with people who are more alive in the Catholic faith, and more on fire and to see God touch more and more people’s lives in New Zealand. We learn so much and the friendships are life long,” said second-timer Anna Rayner, also from Wellington.

Gino Tapia, another Wellingtonian, said: “Hearts has been a great opportunity to escape from our busy everyday lives, and to get closer to God and experience his great love in many forms”.

Seth Sison, also from the capital, said, “Hearts is a wonderful place to meet faithful Catholics from all over New Zealand. The priests are extremely knowledgeable regarding the faith, and there is a strong sense of community”.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed Hearts Aflame 2021 as it has allowed me to connect with other faithful youth,” said Azhure Durston from Napier

Asked if they plan to return next year, the answer was quick “Yes”.

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This year, “Hearts” – as if is commonly called – attracted 95 participants from around the country for the annual 10 days of prayer and formation. Lecturers from New Zealand and Australia came to share their expertise and wisdom. Some 2000 young people have experienced this Catholic summer school since it was established 27 years ago. It remains as strong as ever.

Designed for the 18-35 age group, participants have become the promoters themselves, encouraging their friends that they’ve got to go.

Held in the beautiful grounds of Nga Tawa Diocesan School in Marton, the summer school is handy to the main bus routes, near State Highway 1 and Palmerston North Airport, which is only 30 minutes away.

“Young people live extremely busy lives. The world is busy and yet the inner hunger still remains for stillness, peace, healing and introspection. They come to receive and grow in knowledge and faith,” said Jemma Brunton, head of the national leadership team.

The rhythm of the day at Hearts is set around morning/evening prayer, lectures, Mass and meals, with time for one-on-one talks with priests and adults and space to relax.

Key to the success of Hearts Aflame is the leadership team continually communicating and reflecting on topics.

This year, a new session called “Hot-Topics” was introduced, with the idea to help participants understand Catholic teaching, thereby enabling them to engage in conversations with love and compassion.

“One of the topics covered was divorce and remarriage and Fr Michael Therese, CSJ (Congregation of St John) from Christchurch looked at philosophy of freedom, nature and gender,” said Jemma. “They [the sessions] were hugely popular.”

A variety of other topics was available too.

To mention just a few of them – Grace Carroll from Wellington presented a two-part seminar on Pope Francis’s statement on the theology of the Revolution of Tenderness. Peter Holmes, a lecturer from Notre Dame University in Sydney, spoke about men of God – the theology of masculinity. Fr Robert Krishna, OP, the chaplain at Melbourne University, spoke on “Called to be Body of Christ” and Fr Neil Vaney, SM, from Wellington spoke on holiness.

Of the participants this year, first-time “Hearts” participant Katherine Abbott from Tauranga said she loved the summer school and would be back next year. Sandy Marks, from Whanganui, said he received a great deal of grace during his first time experience.  It was a source of spiritual renewal for him. Chris Blackford, from Wellington, has been to “Hearts” four times and he said the atmosphere rekindles his faith.

The post ‘Hearts’ deals with hot topics appeared first on NZ Catholic Newspaper.

“Nga Tawa is competitive in terms of financial costs for the facilities we get to use,” said Jemma Brunton from Wellington, leader of the national leadership team. The budget is run on the skin of an oily rag but with generous benefactors, lecturers and leadership members donating time, they financially break even.

Being a boarding school, sleeping accommodation and catering are inbuilt. Lectures are held in classrooms, the old hall is tastefully transformed into a sacred space for Mass, exposition and prayer. The main hall becomes the primary area for social gatherings. Nga Tawa’s locality is central and close to Palmerston North airport, main highways and bus terminals.

The 10-day event, also affectionately named “Hearts”, started on Friday, December 29, 2017, with arrivals and registrations.

“We deliberately hold a retreat day on the first Saturday to help everyone slow down and prepare them to enter into the spirit of the days ahead,” Ms Brunton said.

Open to young adults aged 18 to 35, this annual event — which this year was themed “Faithful to his Promises” — encourages and challenges participants to mature in their faith as well as their relationship with the Lord and the Catholic Church. Each day is shaped by daily Mass, morning and evening prayers of the Church and small group discussion sessions. There is plenty of free time for relaxation or physical activities in the college’s swimming pool and tennis courts.

The leadership team communicates frequently throughout the year (Fr John Adams from Christchurch is the chaplain) and the team discerns the lecture topics which are always relevant. Statements or documents from Pope Francis are also considered.

“This year guest lecturer Paul Minnes from Brisbane spoke on winning the battle for sexual purity — looking at issues relating to pornography and how this effects the brain and relationships,” Ms Brunton said.

“Problems and possibilities for evangelisation in a profoundly secular culture” was another popular topic, led by Fr Neil Vaney, SM. A “Young Catholics and MP David Seymour’s End of Life Choice Bill” lecture was presented by the Nathaniel Centre and this lecture also pulled in big numbers.

“We’ve included Catholicism 101 for those who haven’t been Catholic school educated, which covers the basics of the faith,” Ms Brunton added.

Rosemary and Alan Blackie from Auckland were the first to introduce Hearts Aflame to New Zealand in 1992 based on an Australian model called “Disciples of Jesus”.

“Many of our young people back then were flying to Australia and not only paying for everything themselves but returning home spiritually ‘on-fire’,” said Mr Blackie.

He ended up going himself to experience the two weeks convinced that the Catholic Church in New Zealand needed and would benefit from such a programme. He immediately set about forming a pastoral team and established what is now known as Hearts Aflame.

Retired from leadership, the Blackies often attend Hearts Aflame offering prayer ministry. Along with Fr Vaney, who has been involved for many years, they continue to be valued living treasures of Hearts Aflame. “We simply couldn’t run Hearts Aflame without them,” Ms Brunton said.

This year’s “camp Mum and Dad” were Bernadette and Steve Joyce from Christchurch.

One first-time participant said that many friends had strongly encouraged her to attend Hearts Aflame down through the years, but other things kept cropping up to stop her. She now regrets not listening to them and coming earlier.

The post Hearts Aflame fosters deepening of faith appeared first on NZ Catholic Newspaper.

Attendees at Hearts Afl ame 2015 with Bishop Charles Drennan (centre, right) from left, Paul McCardle (Wellington), Lucy Clements (Auckland), Gerard Trolove (Canterbury) and Sarah Southen (Christchurch).

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