Encounter Day: A Journey of Storytelling and Connection

Encounter Day at Holy Spirit College Lakemba, facilitated by the Lasallian Mission Services Young Lasallians team, provided a rich and transformative experience for 70 students across our Lasallian Community. The day offered students an opportunity to reflect on their personal stories, deepen their connection with their faith, and build meaningful relationships as they approach their final years of schooling. Through a series of thoughtfully designed workshops, students explored the power of storytelling—learning how to share their own journeys and listen to the experiences of others.

The day was divided into two main workshop streams, each designed to help students explore different facets of their identity, growth, and connection to the wider Lasallian community.

Workshop Stream 1: Ways to Share My Story

The first stream focused on the power of personal narrative and how students can effectively share their own stories. Facilitators led by example, sharing their personal journeys before guiding participants through exercises to help them craft and express their own narratives.

• A: Culture – Facilitated by Lydia Avia-Aumua, Associate Director, Lasallian Mission Services
  Lydia shared her personal journey as a Christian Samoan woman, reflecting on how she built confidence in her cultural identity. Participants reflected on how their own cultural backgrounds influence their stories and shape their lives.

• B: Confidence Building – Facilitated by Ryan Parkins, Youth Minister
  Ryan shared how building confidence played a key role in his personal growth during his time as a Lasallian Volunteer in remote Balgo, WA. This session explored how confidence empowers students to share their stories with strength and authenticity.

• C: Service – Facilitated by Maroun Azzam, Former Lasallian Volunteer
  With decades of experience as a Lasallian Volunteer in Papua New Guinea and Lebanon, Maroun shared how service became an integral part of his personal journey. Participants reflected on how their own service experiences connect them to others and shape their narratives.

• D: Music – Facilitated by Koe Evangelista, Youth Minister
  Koe’s passion for music and its role in his life took centre stage in this workshop. Students explored how music can be a powerful tool for expressing personal stories, especially for those who find music at the heart of their identity.

Workshop Stream 2: Storytelling through Challenges

The second stream focused on how to share the challenges we face in life, while maintaining the essence of who we are. Facilitators led students through discussions on how to navigate life’s difficulties while staying true to themselves and their faith.

• A: Wellbeing – Facilitated by Lydia Avia-Aumua, Associate Director, Lasallian Mission Services
  Lydia emphasised the importance of wellbeing during challenging times. She guided students in reflecting on how they can prioritise self-care and incorporate wellbeing into their personal narratives as they move forward in life.

• B: Navigating Ambiguity – Facilitated by Julie Alibrandi, Director of Operations, Lasallian Mission Services
  Life is often filled with uncertainty. Julie’s workshop focused on how to manage ambiguity and share personal challenges authentically. Students learned practical strategies for embracing life’s unknowns with confidence and resilience.

• C: Growing in Faith – Facilitated by Oliver Bautista, Retreats and Programmes Coordinator, Lasallian Mission Services
  Oliver shared how his faith has served as a guiding light through personal challenges. This session invited students to explore how their own faith can help them navigate obstacles, turning struggles into powerful stories of hope.

• D: Relationships – Facilitated by Gabriella Papallo, Youth Minister
  Gabriella led a session on navigating relational challenges, particularly during difficult times. She encouraged students to reflect on how storytelling can deepen connections and foster empathy, even through struggles in relationships.

Keynote Speakers: Insights on Personal Growth and Service

In addition to the workshops, Encounter Day participants were fortunate to hear from two inspiring keynote speakers who shared their own stories and provided valuable tips for navigating life’s challenges while remaining the authors of our own stories.

• Damian Khoury – Young Lasallians Coordinator
  Damian’s keynote focused on personal growth, embracing change, and recognising the potential within. Drawing from his diverse life experiences, Damian spoke about how stepping into new challenges and embracing change has shaped his journey, from the world stage to his role as Young Lasallians Coordinator.

Key Takeaways:

• • Be open to yourself: Embrace your true self and recognise your potential.

  • Embrace and share your story: Your experiences and personal narrative matter, and sharing them can empower both you and others.

  • Let your light shine: Don’t stop showing the world your unique talents.

  • See the potential within: Recognise that we can all grow, overcome challenges, and contribute meaningfully to the world around us.

• Christina Gilio – Youth Team Lead, Vinnies
  Christina’s keynote focused on faith, resilience, and service. She shared how her faith has guided her through the challenges of working with communities affected by natural disasters and the rising cost of living. Drawing from her recent experiences in Broken Hill, she spoke passionately about the collective responsibility we all share in addressing these pressing issues.

Key Takeaways:

• • The Power of Faith: Faith can serve as an anchor during difficult times and sustain those working to help others.

  • Responding to Community Needs Together: While the challenges faced by communities in need can feel overwhelming, we are not meant to carry the burden alone. Support and collaboration are key to addressing these needs effectively.

Both speakers reminded students that their personal journeys, challenges, and acts of service hold profound value—not only in how these experiences shape who they are but also in how they can uplift and serve others. Their powerful messages reinforced the idea that we all have a role to play, both in our own growth and in serving the wider community.

A Word of Appreciation

Following the event, Br. Ambrose Payne, District Administrator, expressed his gratitude for the warm hospitality shown to the Lasallian Mission Services team and the success of the day. In his letter to Kevin Griffiths, Principal of Holy Spirit College, he wrote:

"To say that I have had glowing reports of the hospitality offered to our Lasallian Young People at the recent Encounter Day that have even reached me in Rome would be an understatement. Your school community has made us so welcome that we consider ourselves to be 'part of the place', a feeling engendered by the warmth of you and your community’s welcome of the Lasallian Mission Services Team."

Br. Ambrose also shared his appreciation for the use of the College's contemporary facilities, which supported the smooth delivery of the programme, and praised the overwhelmingly positive feedback from students and facilitators alike. He concluded his letter with:

"Encounter Day provided students with a faith-filled retreat experience centred on the Lasallian values of faith, service, and community."

A Day of Connection and Reflection

Encounter Day was a powerful reminder of the importance of storytelling as a means of connection—both with ourselves and with others. Through the guidance of the Lasallian Mission Services Young Lasallians team and the inspiring facilitators of each workshop, as well as the enriching insights from Damian Khoury and Christina Gilio, students left the day with new tools for sharing their stories, reflecting on their journeys, and connecting more deeply with their faith and community.

As they head into their final years of schooling, they carry with them a renewed sense of purpose, strengthened relationships, and the confidence to face whatever challenges lie ahead.

Source: Kate Mason, District Communications Manager