• Preca Community at the Summer Preca Family Weekend at Adare , Victor Harbor

 

MISSION TODAY

The Preca ministry in Adelaide has evolved from the traditional youth ministry to a more inclusive approach where all are welcomed in a vibrant faith community. At the heart of the Preca Community are young people, youth and young families from all cultural backgrounds. As a community we strive to be holy so as to inspire others to be holy, to learn so as to make Jesus better known and loved and to be community builders so as to increase Preca. 

Preca provides a weekly opportunity for all to come together on Friday nights at the Nazareth Senior Catholic College Campus between 7-10pm. It is a time to celebrate our faith and family life. There is time for a variety of activities: recreational sport, community prayer, learning groups, weekly birthday and anniversary celebrations and just hanging out with friends in a relaxed and safe atmosphere. Our style is simple, genuine and gentle. 

Youth aged between 12 and 22 who are interested in nourishing and discovering more about their faith can join the Come & See Youth (CAS Youth) which also meets on Friday nights. There are several age specific groups and activities including monthly Sunday afternoon excursions and an annual three day camp. Youth take leadership roles to lead groups and larger activities. In 2018 CAS Youth presented an enactment of the Stations of the Cross to all the parish on Palm Sunday. A Parents’ Night was also organised as a sign of gratitude towards parents and grandparents. 

An emerging trend is parents are taking on leadership roles in the Preca Community. A case in point is the monthly Family and Youth Mass which evolved from the Third Sunday Mass which Preca pioneered in 2006 and now is run by parents with the support of the Preca Members. Parents also lead adoration on Wednesday night at Our Lady of the Manger Chapel, the Children’s Choir and help organising the Winter and Summer Family Weekends.

Preca Ministry in Adelaide is focused in the inner western suburbs and its main Preca Centre is located in Brompton. Preca also has a centre at Elizabeth where a weekly faith journey and a monthly Taize’ prayer meeting are held.

At the Preca Centre in Brompton an organic garden known as ‘Preca Community Garden’ has been developed in the backyard with the support of the Charles Sturt Council. The garden provides neighbours with the opportunity to organically grow their own vegetables in raised wicking beds.

For more information about the garden see us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PrecaCommunityGardenAdelaide
Front view of Preca Centre at Brompton: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.8982925,138.581205,3a,75y,313.28h,92.98t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sogY09dLTRfylN_6PReYEUA!2e0

 

FOUNDATION

Preca was founded in Adelaide by Horace Cassar and Harry Brincat (1935-2018) who both migrated from Malta to join their families in 1953. Eventually they rented a house at 95 East Street from the MSC community and started catechetical ministry at the parishes in Norwood and Hindmarsh. Ministry flourished so quickly that Horace and Harry made a request to the mother house in Malta for help. In reply two missionary Members, Emmanuel Mifsud and Charles Azzopardi arrived in 1957. After three year Charles headed for Peru as a missionary, was ordained a priest and eventually founded a Preca Community in Lima.  In Adelaide new members joined Preca and ministry was expanded to the parishes in Seaton, Evandale and later on in Elizabeth.

 

Emanuel Mifsud with Early Adealide Group 499x334

Emanuel Mifsud with early Adelaide group, early 1960s