Tag: Disciple Diaries

It was at World Youth Day in 2008 that Tomazs's life took a pivotal turn. He encountered the transformative teachings of The Theology of the Body (TOB) delivered by a passionate speaker, Dr Christopher West, who resonated with his search for meaning.

Over the last decade, the Chinese Catholic community has become a powerhouse of faith and active evangelism, experiencing surging attendance numbers and deeper engagement across the wider archdiocese.

When 56-year-old Steve Lia casts his fishing line into the waters of Parramatta River, the avid fisherman isn’t waiting for the tug of the hook on his line, but the tug of God’s voice in his heart.

From the moment she took her first breath, Mary Profilio’s world has been shrouded in silence. Born deaf, her world has been, at times, one of isolation and struggle. But, in the depths of her heart, an unshakeable voice guides her: the divine voice of Jesus Christ.

One of Australia’s top stunt truck drivers Stuart Brady went from building his business empire to becoming a leader of Catholic men, along the way learning what real success is about and inspiring his own son to enter the seminary

Arriving in Australia with Olympic badminton dreams and her Muslim faith, Mia found herself stripped of both during the COVID-19 pandemic. Catholic friends made her feel welcome, and introduced her to Jesus.

Growing up in a devoutly Catholic Lebanese family, Jamie Alam began rebelling against his strict upbringing as a teenager, even questioning the very existence of God. That was until a life-changing moment saw those doubts disappear overnight, transforming him into an unwavering pillar of strength with an eye to be a future leader of his parish.

With her fiery Auburn hair and tanned visage, one can still see in Maree Ataya, the hint of a Northern Beaches "Stevie Nick’s" the enchanting rebel resplendent in vibrant tie-dye and flowing skirts. But it’s also a past filled with the dysfunction of those turbulent times.

Growing up the child of Greek migrants, Gina never felt connected to her Orthodox faith. But when her husband fell gravely ill, she prayed silently, grasping onto a faith she only remembered from her childhood for strength. And as her husband made a miraculous full recovery, it wasn’t just his health that felt revived and reignited.

The extraordinary faith journey of Andrew Condoleon reads like the script from a Hollywood movie. From a tennis prodigy bound for Wimbledon, to an ice addicted, street gang member, Andrew’s transformation into a leader of his parish and an inspirational fixture among the booming Sydney Catholic men’s movement will have you praising God.

Carl hopes his return to the faith and daily involvement in parish life can inspire other Catholics, especially the youth, to bring their energy to help renew their own parishes.

As a young girl growing up in Vietnam, Quyen Phan hoped to become a Buddhist nun. God had other plans for her, writes Darren Ally in the fourth instalment of Disciple Diaries