Q&A with MARY-ANNE DELUCA 

Mary-Anne Deluca, 23, of Blackbutt Region, was named Young Citizen of the Year in Newcastle on Australia Day. She has also been awarded a Young Women's Interfaith Fellowship by the Council for Australian Catholic Women. From Canberra , where the Fellowship experience is based, she responded to some questions…

Q What course have you recently completed? What are your career aspirations post-Fellowship?

A I recently completed a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Psychology Studies and Linguistics.

I will return to Newcastle to study a Master of Teaching (primary). I am passionate about education and passing on our faith to the next generation!

Q Which schools did you attend?

A St John's Primary Lambton, St Pius X High School Adamstown and St Francis Xavier's College Hamilton where I was blessed to have great teachers.

Q You were named Young Citizen of the Year because of your work in connection with WYD08. Please summarise your involvement.

A I was a member of the dedicated Blackbutt Regional WYD Team, which met weekly for a year. Our task was to find accommodation for our overseas pilgrims. We also organised fundraising events including a Polynesian night, a trivia night, and the “Paschal Lamb” drive. The proceeds funded the catering and transport for our pilgrims and local community who enjoyed the events, social service activities, liturgies and Masses which we organised during Days in the Diocese.

I was also a member of the Youth Advisory Council, led by Vice Chancellor Teresa Brierley. This group of enthusiastic young people from all over the diocese held fortnightly meetings to organise and plan the Corroboree event at the Foreshore. It was so awesome that we were trusted with such a responsibility. A highlight for me was telling my story of how the Holy Spirit has touched and changed my life!

Q What were some highlights of your WYD- SYD 08 experience?

A I must admit that I did not expect the Pope's arrival to be the highlight of my experience but it was. I remember running to Barangaroo with my cousin Angelo as we were late. When we arrived I could not help but feel the spirit of anticipation and joy build in the crowd. We were surrounded by chanting and a colourful sea of people and flags, raised high and proud. As the Pope spoke the crowd was silent and still. What struck me about the Pope's address was how universal his message was. His inspired words included and resonated with the young and the old. The message felt personal and helped raise our minds to the power of the Holy Spirit, active in our everyday lives.

Q What are your hopes for the impact of WYD08 on our diocesan and/or national church? Do you hope to go to Madrid in 2011? 

A My hope is that the spirit of WYD08 will live on in the hearts and minds of all who attended. I strongly believe that our beliefs can be made accessible to the young and I am hopeful that, inspired by the Holy Spirit, young people will work together in their communities to rejuvenate our church.

Young people have so much to offer our community of faith, and Pope Benedict affirmed this at WYD. The Holy Spirit has given gifts to each person and this is reflected in the diversity of gifts that young people have to share. My hope is that our church will be a place where young people feel welcome, encouraged and eager to get involved.

WYD 2011 is at the top of my to do list!

Q How have you found the Fellowship experience so far? What impact do you think it will have on your future directions?

A At first I was a little nervous about the move to Canberra but I was quickly put at ease. The eight other women are passionate about what they believe in and this common element unites us. I can truly count them as my friends.

I am provided with meals, accommodation and transport which allows me to dedicate my time to study, prayer and reflection - and sightseeing!

We are kept busy with the intensive nature of our course but I am learning new perspectives everyday which challenge the way I think. I am really grateful for this experience which has already been so rewarding.

I believe that we will all return with a fresh outlook and a willingness to be involved in our communities. We feel confident that we will have enhanced communication skills and knowledge about the importance of dialogue, and of living out our Christian faith through action.

Please visit www.cacw.catholic.org.au and go to “News and Events”.

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