Stories of discipleship
As part of the "Go Make Disciples" program at the Archdiocese of Sydney, we are able to share the associated stories of discipleship that are emerging, a fruit of the Holy Spirit drawing people to the truth and love of Christ. The "Disciple Diaries" are these stories.
These stories are personal, powerful, and life changing, these stories are the "Go Make Disciples" program in action.
This video series shows the impact of Christ on our lives, transformative experiences in the midst of everyday life.
The series includes the following.
| 1: Careena |
Careena Craven grew up in a household where faith was a stranger. Now she's preparing to become a leader in her parish. |
| 2: Erin |
From a young age, 34-year-old Erin Gillard always harboured a yearning to serve God. She shares how even a shock diagnosis couldn't dissuade her from serving God. |
| 3: Anton |
Summernats "grand mullet" winner Anton Medvidovic grew up in faith, but strayed and found himself in a dark place. Fraternity and the witness of other men brought him back to God. |
| 4: Quyen Phan |
As a young girl growing up in Vietnam, Quyen Phan hoped to become a Buddhist nun. God had other plans. |
| 5: Carl |
Carl hopes his return to the faith and daily involvement in parish life can inspire other Catholics, especially youth, to bring their energy to help renew their own parish. |
| 6: Andrew |
The extraordinary faith of Andrew Condoleon reads like a movie script. From a tennis prodigy bound for Wimbledon, to an ice addicted, street gang member, Andrew’s transformation into a parish leader and an inspirational fixture among the Catholic men’s movement is inspiring. |
| 7: Gina |
As the child of Greek migrants, Gina did not feel connected to her Orthodox faith. But when her husband fell gravely ill, she prayed silently for strength, grasping to a faith she only remembered from her childhood. |
| 8: Maree |
With her fiery Auburn hair and tanned visage, we can still see in Maree Ataya, the hint of a Northern Beaches "Stevie Nicks", 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. |
| 9: Jamie |
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. |
| 10: Mia |
Mia Nurlia’s progression from a devout Muslim badminton athlete in Indonesia to a Catholic hopeful is a reminder that faith can take many forms and that, in the face of adversity, we can discover joy, connection, and purpose. |
| 11: Stuart |
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. Today Stuart is a regular at menALIVE events where he shares his story to help other men become better fathers. |
| 12: Mary |
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 through the shadows: the divine voice of Our Lord. Mary Profilio’s heart heard the voice of Jesus. Her faith was first given clarity by her loving mother, Philomena, when, as a child attending Mass, the words of the Gospel would literally fall on deaf ears. |
| 13: Steve |
As a fisherman Steve finds solace in nature and the rhythms of the sea, but once upon a time, this connection was devoid of the divine. It was just over a decade ago that Steve described himself as a "God believing atheist" who firmly held onto his belief that faith was unnecessary. |
| 14: Anne |
The Catholic Chinese community has become a powerhouse of faith and active evangelisation and helping drive this revival are passionate parishioners like mother of two, Anne Wu. But growing up, Anne never felt close to Jesus, or her faith, until an event set her on a path that inspired her to help awaken the "sleeping giant" of Sydney's faithful. |
| 15: Tomasz |
As the son of Polish immigrants, Tomasz grew up with Catholicism in his heart, but not necessarily in his blood. Catholicism had always been an intrinsic part of his culture and identity, but he never had a relationship with God. It was at World Youth Day in 2008 that his life took a pivotal turn when Tomasz encountered the transformative teaching of The Theology of the Body delivered by Christopher West, a passionate speaker who resonated with his search for meaning. |
The full short video series is available as a Youtube playlist at the link below.
Disciple Diaries from the "Go Make Disciples" program
Original material by the Archdiocese of Sydney