The Divine Word Missionaries had an active presence at the Ignite Conference 2026 in Brisbane, a youth gathering that offered attendees four days of faith, dynamic worship, and community.

Vocations Coordinator for the SVD Australia Province, Fr Joe Jacob SVD attended, along with Deacon Gusty Siga SVD, meeting the young participants and sharing the charism of the Society of the Divine Word with them.

The conference was held from September 24 to 27 at St Laurence’s College in South Brisbane, and was centred around the theme ‘Ascend’, which was drawn from Isaiah Chapter 2:3, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord”.

Hosted within the Archdiocese of Brisbane, the gathering was supported by Archbishop Shane Mackinlay, alongside Ignite Youth and the Emmanuel Community.

This national Catholic youth conference drew more than 1,200 participants including high schoolers, young adults, families, teachers, and priests from across Australia. 

“It was wonderful that, along with Deacon Gusty, I was able to attend the Ignite conference for the first time and represent the SVD AUS Province to foster and promote the SVD vocation,” Fr Joe said. 

“We joined more than 40 stalls promoting various Congregations and Catholic ministries throughout the gathering.

“And, to my surprise, four young people expressed their interest in joining the Divine Word Missionary congregation in the near future.

“It was a moment of joy, filled with gratitude towards Jesus, who called me and entrusted me with the responsibility of being the Vocation Coordinator of our SVD Province.”

Fr Joe said the liturgies were the focal point of the gathering, through which the participants were “ignited and moved by the Holy Spirit”.

“The atmosphere was defined by the celebration of Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and explosive daily rallies with powerful live worship led by Emmanuel Worship,” he said.

“Moreover, the conference provided spiritual formation for the young people through various keynote presentations, workshops led by 10 incredible global and local speakers, and practical real-world ministry formation.

“Attendees also experienced an outdoor festival vibe, complete with food trucks, creative arts from Catholic performers, and small group sharing designed to help young people take their faith back to their local parishes and schools.”

Deacon Gusty, who has been serving his diaconate at St Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Marsden, Brisbane, and will be ordained to the priesthood on November 21, said the Ignite conference had a big impact on him as he prepares for his priestly ministry.

“For me, the highlight was seeing thousands of young people come together to share their faith, support one another in prayer, give thanks, and celebrate through praise and worship,” he said.

“It was inspiring to witness their energy, joy, and openness to God. As a young person myself, I see great hope for the future of the Church in these young people. Seeing them celebrate their faith so openly reminded me that the Church is alive and that young people have so much to contribute to its mission.

“Ignite reminded me that young people are not only the future of the Church; they are also an important part of the Church today. As a future missionary priest, I hope to continue learning from them, walking with them, and helping them discover their gifts and their place in the mission of the Church.”

Deacon Gusty said that he and Fr Joe took turns at hosting the SVD vocations booth so that they could each experience some of the conference sessions as well.

“Many young people came to our stall to ask questions and learn more about the Society of the Divine Word. We also tried to make our stall welcoming and creative so that young people would feel comfortable approaching us and discovering more about SVD life and mission,” he said.

“It was encouraging to meet young men who were interested in learning more about the Society. Some even registered their details so that we could follow up with them and continue the conversation about a possible vocation. It reminded me that sometimes a simple conversation can be the beginning of someone’s journey of discernment.”

He said that as he looks forward to beginning his ministry as a missionary priest, the Ignite experience taught him a lot about how to connect with young people.

“Promoting vocations is important, but I realised that it is not only about inviting young people to consider the priesthood or religious life. It is also about being present, listening to their stories, understanding their experiences, and meeting them where they are in their lives and faith journeys,” Deacon Gusty said.

“I learned that young people need someone who is willing to walk alongside them, listen without judgment, and offer encouragement as they discover what God might be calling them to do. I believe this is an important part of missionary life: not simply telling people about God, but witnessing to His love through our presence, relationships, and willingness to accompany others.

“Another thing I learned from Ignite was the importance of building and maintaining relationships with different people, teams, and organisations. An event like this brings together people from different backgrounds and ministries, and I could see how much can be achieved when people work together towards a common goal.

“It helped me appreciate the importance of communication, teamwork, and maintaining connections beyond a single event. As a future missionary priest, I believe these skills will be valuable in working with parishes, schools, youth groups, other religious communities, and different organisations.

“Mission is not something we do alone; it requires collaboration, mutual support, and a willingness to learn from one another.”

PHOTOS:

TOP RIGHT: Fr Joe Jacob SVD and Deacon Gusty Siga SVD at the SVD stall during the Ignite youth conference in Brisbane.

MIDDLE LEFT: Fr Joe and Deacon Gusty in front of a banner showcasing the Ignite conference theme of 'Ascend'.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Fr Joe and Deacon Gusty with other clergy and young people at the conference.