Every year when I sit down to write a ‘Year in Review,’ I reflect on what the most important parts of my year were. I consider what parts of my life had the greatest impact on me, and how I may have impacted others. And I reflect on what lessons I have learned throughout the year. It can be an incredibly sobering experience that really puts what matters most into perspective.

So many people write a ‘Year in Review.’ Honestly, I wouldn’t blame you if you’re sick of reading them. So I’m not going to write a ‘Year in Review.’

Instead, I’m going to share with you my reflections on what 2023 has taught me. It’s not going to be entirely structured . It’s just going to be me reflecting on what I’ve learnt and what matters most to me now.

Change is, I suppose, inevitable. But it’s what we make of it that matters. Earlier this year, I experienced a significant change that, to be quite honest, devastated me. I probably wasn’t the only one who felt like I was experiencing a great loss. In fact, I know I wasn’t the only one. But I think what really made this change difficult to comprehend was that it was taking away something that had really helped me on my own journey the previous year and was continuing to do so.

But you know what? Looking at what happened after that change came about, I feel like there have been such incredible things that have made up for the sense of loss I was feeling earlier in the year.

That change put me in a position where I realised that I wanted to do more. I wanted to serve others as much as I could and help them to grow in their faith.

Ash Wednesday this year was the real turning point for me. It was on this evening, after attending the Sacrament of Reconciliation, that I realised just how beautiful the Rosary was. I began to develop a devotion to Our Lady, who I thank every day for bringing me closer to her Son. I discovered the beauty of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. It never ceases to astound me that we are able to come and spend time in the True Presence of Jesus Christ. It is also so wonderful to know that there are 24-hour Adoration Chapels where Jesus is waiting for us to come and visit Him all the time. I really wish I had understood and truly discovered Adoration earlier in my life, but I know God’s timing is perfect, and He brought me to His Son when I was in need of a greater relationship with Him.

In order to continue to deepen my relationship with Christ, I decided to start going to Mass at least a little more often than just once a week for Sunday Mass. It started with attending a First Friday Mass at Mary, Queen of the Family Parish, Blacktown. I noticed that the parishioners were praying the Rosary together during the time of Adoration, and so I began to pray my own Rosary. I was so happy to be there that I decided to come back the next Friday, and the Friday after that, and so I became a regular attendee of Friday Adoration and Mass at Blacktown.

After some time, I stopped praying my own Rosary by myself and joined in with the other faithful Catholics who were praying it together. I think it was after I read that it is so much more powerful to pray it together, given that when we do it is like an army going into battle against evil.

After a while, I was asked to lead the third decade of the Rosary whenever I was at St Patrick’s on a Friday night. I felt so privileged to be able to not just pray with others, but to lead them in prayer.

But I think the greatest thing to come out of becoming part of the community at MQOF Blacktown is the opportunity I have been given to help out with the youth that are part of the Parish. This has been one of the great highlights of my year, and I feel privileged to have had the chance to get to know such good people.

I think something I really lacked when I was going through a dark period in my life was good solid people to lean on (other than my amazing family, of course!). I feel like I have now found those people.

Last year, I was introduced to two people who I only knew by name as the leaders of the youth at Blacktown Parish. I only really got to know them a little more over the remaining six months of the year, meeting them here and there at events mainly.

It wasn’t until the change occurred this year and I began going to MQOF more often that I really got to know them.

I feel honoured to have been there to witness the beginning of their initiative to get the youth of the Parish to engage more with the Sacraments, running a Victus program every First Friday with Adoration, Reconciliation, Holy Mass, and Fellowship following Mass, often with a great talk to help young Catholics to continue to develop their faith and grow in their love of God.

I felt even more privileged when I was asked to lead the Rosary on these Victus nights. It is such a beautiful experience to lead people in prayer. Being at MQOF and praying the Rosary with others, I have ended up learning prayers that I never knew before, including the Memorare and the Prayer to St Michael the Archangel.

I was also asked to be the Reader at Victus nights for Mass. It is always a privilege to be able to proclaim the Word of God, and I am so grateful to have been able to do so on many occasions.

In doing all of this, I have gotten to know and grown closer with two people who I am truly grateful to God for. Cryste and Blake, I know you’ll read this. So consider this an appreciation post.

Blake worked hard to get the youth established at MQOF. As Youth Minister, he had the task of engaging the youth and providing them with opportunities for formation. One way in particular that he was able to do this was by getting Simon Carrington, a gem of a speaker on Theology of the Body, love, and chastity, to come out MQOF to give a series of talks. It was so heartwarming to see so many young people attending these talks. Simon is a really great guy with such an important message.

While Blake was working behind the scenes to make things happen, Cryste was using the gifts and talents that God has given her to engage and connect with the youth and keep them involved in Parish life. She used her skills to put together engaging content and get the Victus program off the ground.

When Blake departed MQOF Parish, the youth were left without a Youth Minister. Having worked closely with Blake and Cryste, I saw how valuable the work they were doing in the Parish was, how it was having a profoundly positive impact on the youth, how even youth from other Parishes were coming to MQOF for Victus.

Having just returned from the World Youth Day pilgrimage, Cryste and the youth were thrown in the deep end. But even in the face of such a challenge, she stepped up as Youth Coordinator and has volunteered countless hours to enrich the faith of MQOF youth. It has been a great privilege to work alongside Cryste as part of the core team for youth at MQOF and I am in awe of the way she has kept the youth going strong at the Parish and her dedication to serving the Lord. God has truly blessed the youth of MQOF with a brilliant leader.

It would be remiss of me not to make mention of the Annual Christmas Gala at MQOF as well. The youth of the Parish worked so hard and put in so much effort to write, produce, and put on an incredible and entertaining musical built around the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ. As someone who has been helping out with the youth for a little while now, I am so proud of what they have accomplished. They are so talented. If you weren’t at the Christmas Gala this year, or even if you were there, you need to come next year. These young people are some of the best and MQOF is lucky to have them.

Blake, thank you for being such a good friend and helping me in my journey of serving the Lord this year.

Cryste, I am so grateful to you for allowing me to be a part of the youth team at MQOF. Thank you for trusting me to help out and serve God by serving the young people of the Parish. And thank you for being such a wonderful companion on my journey of faith this year.

God has truly blessed me, and I am so grateful to Him for these two dedicated servants of God.

To all the youth at MQOF, if you happen to be reading this, thank you for making me feel welcome and part of your community. You are all good people, and it has been so lovely getting to know you all.

It is my hope and prayer that MQOF youth will continue to thrive in 2024 and the years to come.

As I have continued to grow in my faith throughout the year, I made the decision to take up serving at Mass. After undertaking a highly informative and well-run Acolyte course in the Archdiocese of Sydney, I have had the opportunity to serve at several Masses. It is always a special privilege to serve the people of God in any way, especially in the Holy sacrifice of the Mass.

I am also thankful to God for helping me to finally complete my university degree. I have now achieved a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, majoring in Creative Writing and Journalism. And while I am glad to have finished my studies, I must say that I’m not entirely sure that journalism is something I want to pursue anymore. I think that, as a writer, I want to be able to do good rather than just be a part of entertaining people with negativity. I want to be able to give back to the community in some way. I have also developed a great love for the liturgy, which is something I am considering pursuing more. I’m honestly not really sure where I’ll end up at this stage, but I know that God will guide me to where I need to be.

I was just saying to someone the other day that God has a way of placing us where we are needed to continue to build His Kingdom and help bring others to Him, to be His representatives here on earth.

I also had the incredible opportunity to attend the Sydney Catholic Youth Purpose Conference this year, where I had the privilege of hearing both Matt Fradd and Jason Evert speak and got to meet more good and faithful Catholics.

And I also finally got to see my favourite band, OneRepublic, live in concert this year. It was absolutely worth it.

I think for me this year has been one where I have experienced so much growth, especially in my faith and prayer life. It has been a year about building community, about understanding my faith, sharing it with others, and walking alongside them on the journey towards eternal life.

I think it goes without saying that I wouldn’t be where I am today without my family, and I am grateful to God for them. They are always there to support me and I am blessed to have them.

But I think what this year has really taught me is that everyone needs a good community that they can be a part of. For me, that community needed to be faith-based, and I am so happy that I have finally found that community. I am grateful to the community at St Bernadette’s, which will always be my home Parish. I am also grateful to have met some great people at St Paul the Apostle Parish, Winston Hills. But I think what I really needed this year, what I’ve really been looking for, is a good community of young people who love God and want to share the faith with others, and I am so glad to have found that in MQOF Youth.

I feel truly blessed that God has brought certain people into my life, answering the prayers I made back when life wasn’t so great. I understand now that God was listening. He was just making me wait, and I know now that the wait was so worth it.

I am so grateful for these people that God has blessed me with. It has been such a wonderful experience getting to know them more, watching them achieve incredible milestones, and, above all, to grow in holiness with them throughout the year. I hope God will continue to shower us all with blessings in 2024 and beyond.

Glory to God, man. Without Him, without my faith, I really don’t know where I’d be right now. I think that even in the darkest moments of my life, it’s my faith that has been the one thing that has kept me from going over the edge. Faith is such a beautiful thing to have. While we all inevitably fall at times, as is part of our human nature, God is always there to help us back up. He is so good. He loves us so much, even when we are struggling, even when we are at our lowest, even when we have fallen into sin, even when we don’t love Him. He wants us to seek Him out, He wants us to come back to Him when we have fallen, He wants us to love Him even when it’s hard to do so. He wants each one of us to be with Him in His Heavenly Kingdom one day.

God is so good. I’m so glad to actually have a proper relationship with Him now. And I’m so glad to be able to share that with others. I am so unashamedly Catholic, and I have so much love for Our Lord and for Our Blessed Mother and all the Saints. I have done so much reading on the Church and the Saints this year, including reading through the Catechism of the Catholic Church. And while the Church may go through its own struggles and stray from the teachings of Christ at times, I know that we have such a beautiful faith, that God has given us such an incredible gift, and that Jesus Christ has already won the battle against sin and evil.

Viva Cristo Rey!

Thanks be to God for another year.

May God Bless you all.