Indonesia – Philippines – India: Feed-back on World Youth Day 2008 - An international preparation in Indonesia

International MAGiS experiment with an Indigenous Australian community

Testimony of Tencia, rscj postulant from East Timor (now novice)

Beth, Era and Tencia

The MAGiS Experiment  was the pre-World Youth Day program organized by five congregations (one of which is the Society of the Sacred Heart). Experiments were immersion experiences in a multicultural and spiritual community. As presented by Beth, rscj novice, the six of us who represented RSCJ-Indonesia were assigned to go to an Experiment with an Indigenous Australian community in Bowraville, a town 524 km north of Sydney. We were with a group from the US and Australia. The Experiment was facilitated by Penny Sturrock and Alex Gorman, both alumni of Kincoppal-Rose Bay, Diana Hayes, rscj and Mary Shanahan, rscj. Our Experiment group conducted a children’s camp in the school for indigenous Australian kids. We spent the days playing with the children, feeding them, and doing art works with them. We also visited and prayed at a memorial for 3 children who had been murdered some years ago.”

For me, MAGiS has been like a gift from God, something very precious for my life-because I have been able to have many experiences with God and also with young people from different countries, ethnic groups, cultures and languages. These experiences taught me to love more, to give more and also, certainly, to receive more from God. MAGiS is very different for each person, and the response of each person is unique. The experience of MAGiS has brought me closer to the heart of the Lord. It has opened my mind and the eyes of my heart to be able to love more, to be more patient and generous, to serve and to give without expecting reward, and also to receive with a sincere and open heart.