An Overview of Antioch
Everything that you need to know About Antioch

What is Antioch?
History of Antioch
What are it's Aims?
The Antioch Weekend
Content of Weekend Talks
The Follow Up
Starting Antioch in A Parish

What is Antioch?
Antioch is a parish-based ministry of youth to youth. It is for young people of high school age (equivalent to Years 10, 1l and l2) and a little older. It is a spiritual program that begins with a weekend experience and has a strong follow-up. It offers youth an ongoing opportunity to listen, discuss and better understand what it means to be a Catholic today. Antioch takes its name from the place of one of the fist known Christian communities. "It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians" (Acts 11:26).
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HISTORY
Antioch originated at the Univetsity of Notre Dame, indiana, U.S.A. about 1960, as a campus programme. There was a strong Cursillo influence in its formation, though some of the originators of the programme, such as Ralph Martin, later became active in the Charismatic Renewal. Two weekends of this type were held at the University of N.S.W. in 1974. They were very successful but there was no follow-up.
Since 1973, Antioch in the U.S.A. has been adapted for youth of high school age in parishes and the outlines were subsequently modified by one of the leading couples in the Marriage Encounter Movement, Gerry and Mary Mandry of New York.
In this form in 1981, it was brought to Australia by three teenagers, Byron, Teresa and Claire Pirola. Together with their family and friends, they formed a team of 24 youth, a priest and two married couples, and launched the first weekend in Maroubra Bay parish, Sydney in September, 1981. Since then, it has spread to all states, and further afield to New Zealand, Fiji, Philippines, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. The Movement was recently introduced into England and Hungry.
Many factors have contributed to Antioch's rapid growth in Australia, most especially the vitality and spirituality of the youth themselves and of their families. The support of priests and religious has been important, and the M.S.C.s have played an especially strong supporting role.. Pr. Chuck Gallagher, S.J. of New York, and his Pastoral and Matrimonial Renewal Centre, have had a close association with Antioch. The Centre's principles for"lay activation" were used in introducing Antioch into Australia.
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What are it's Aims?
To help our youth develop a love of Jesus and of His Church through an experience of community - a community where they are always welcome and where they can find a relevant and supportive environment.
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THE ANTIOCH WEEKEND

Format:
The weekend begins on Friday 7.30pm and ends on Sunday 9.30 pm. It consists of talks, discussions, shared prayer, music and recreation. There is a strong emphasis on scripture and the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist

The Team:
20-25 young people present the weekend. They gives all the talks and lead the discussion. A priest and/or religious and a married couple are also part of the team. An established community would spend two months or more in preparation for a weekend. A community information would take three to six months. In all the detailed preparation for the weekend, the overall consideration in judging the preparedness of the team is the love of the community.

Participants:
These number 40-80, including the team. Age range is 16-20 (equivalent to Years 10- 12 and a little older). Antioch draws on a wide range of young people from "swots" to "surfies" and from "ragers" to "goody goodies".

Venue:
The weekend is held in a parish centre, or local school. All meals are prepared and served by volunteer parishioners and younger brothers and sisters (the God Squad). On Friday and Saturday nights, the participants are welcomed into the homes of parishioners in "sleep groups", i.e. separate groups of five boys, or five girls. Participants bring sleeping bags and sleep on the floor.

Prayer Support:
The weekend has a very strong prayer support from parishioners and other Antioch communities. Each participant has a special "prayer family" for the weekend.

Cost:
A donation (currently $35.00) is suggested from each person attending the weekend. This covers food, drinks, bibles (each participant receives a pocket-sized Good News), candles, postage, printing, etc.

Symbols
The Symbol of Antioch is a rock and a rose. Young people decide if they will be like a rock which is hard, cold and never changing, or a rose, which Lives and can grow into a thing of beauty and gives joy to many. Back to the Top

CONTENT OF WEEKEND TALKS
All talks given on the weekend follow an established outline. The talks are written by youth, workshopped by adult supports and are read on the weekend. All talks rely heavily on personal sharing and emphasise the relevance of the Gospels to life expleriences. The following is a brief summary of the content of the talks.

Friday Night/
Introduction: Given by weekend leaders (boy and girl). A warm welcome and explanation of the format and style of the weekend. Followed by sharing.
God's Call: Each one of us has a personal call from God. It's up to us to respond. Sharing.
Meditation on Prayer: Explains that prayer is an awareness of our union with God, which takes many forms. Creates a relaxed but motivational approach to prayer. Sharing in sleep groups.

Saturday
Meditation on Life as Giving: Jesus loves each of us personally and gave His life for us. Our lives can be an extension of that life of giving. No sharing.
Self Image or God's Image: (Given by mature youth). We project an image to make us more acceptable to others, but God loves us even when we don't live up to our image. We are made in His image. Private written reflection.
Work of Christ: Christ is our bridge to the Father. We can participate in His work. Scripture is an important way of finding out more about this. Sharing. Distribute New Testaments.
Being a Christian: A Christian is one who puts Jesus in the centre of his/her life. It is much more than just being a good person. Sharing.
Christian Community: We are all called personally to belong to a community that is Christ-centred. Sharing.

Sunday
Meditation on the Eucharist: In the Eucharist, we celebrate the Bread of Life (Communion) and the people bound together in His Body. No sharing.
Church and the World: (Given by mature youth). We are the Church - a Christ-centred community of people in love. Sharing.
Mission: We carry out Christ's mission in our daily lives, as individuals and as a community. Sharing.
Following Christ: A re-evaluation of lifestyle, attitudes, behaviour. Written reflection.
Working for Christ: (Given by weekend leaders). To make this weekend the start of a growth experience, we need to make a personal commitment to Christ in some specific practical way and join regularly in the follow-up weekly prayer meeting. Sharing.
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THE FOLLOW UP
The Weekly prayer meeting: Is the official follow- up to the Antioch weekend. It is usually held on a Sunday night between 7. 30 and 9. 30 pm. and consists of a talk, share groups, shared prayer, music and fellowship. As on the weekend, it is run by the youth themselves, with adult support.
Midweek Mass: Attending a parish mid-week Mass together has become an established part of the community life. This is not an official part of the program, but has arisen spontaneously in Australia.
Apostolic activities: Are practical ways of building community also, and members are active in many areas such as parish liturgy, visiting the aged and sick, pro-life, etc.
Social activities: Are not formally part of the program, but they arise spontaneously and increase the sense of belonging to the Church community.
The purpose of the follow-up is to help our youth live as effective members of the Body of Christ, and to grow in their personal relationship with the Lord and with one-another. Ah members should feel free to come and go and yet always be welcomed back.
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STARTING ANTIOCH IN A PARISH
Method: Antioch Spreads from parish to parish. An interested parish sends a team of ten young people, together with a married couple and a priest and/or religious, to experience a weekend. This is followed by a formation period of 3 - 6 months, during which the original group invites others to join them, one at a time, until a community of 20-25 young people is formed. When ready, they then put on their own pariah weekend, which in turn is attended by a team from another interested parish. Behind all this activity, prayer is the key ingredient needed in the preparation. It is recommended that two weekends per year are held in each parish. When a weekend is being held for the first time in a parish, two or three experienced leaders from another community should be included in the presenting team. This provides background support and helps
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