By Giselle Lapitan

This article was published in Province Express

Jess Woodward has surrounded herself with the best people, and this has prepared her for her newest role as MAGiS Queensland Coordinator.

Outside of MAGiS, she enjoys teaching developmental music to children and babies. ‘Through working with young children I have learnt to go with the flow, and to multitask’, Jess says. ‘I have learnt that the promise of 'special' marshmallows can cure most upsets, and that the way to calm a room is to sing a familiar song. If only this worked with adults!’

‘I have been most surprised to learn just how much young people long for stillness and silence. I once thought I was being pretty brave taking a youth group of teenagers into a quiet dark church to have ten minutes of personal prayer time, listening to some music. But they loved it!’

‘I think our worlds have become noisy and disconnected, so young people really respond when there is a chance for deep contemplation, and real relationships’, she says.

However, her real passion lies in interfaith dialogue, where she serves as both local and international advocate in her role as Youth Ambassador for United Religions Initiative and one of the ‘Red Frogs’ Chaplains at Schoolies Week on the Gold Coast.

‘I have fallen in love with the idea that people of different faiths could work together for the greater good. I am especially interested in the idea of a dialogue of service, working together wherever the need is in the community.’

‘I have found that involvement in interfaith dialogue has purified my own faith, calling me to answer questions I never would have thought to investigate’, Jess said.

It was in 2009 that Jess’ work in interfaith dialogue neatly came together with MAGiS. Along with eight other women, she was selected for the Young Catholic Women’s Interfaith Fellowship, an opportunity for leadership and faith formation whilst studying a post-graduate certificate of interfaith relations at ACU in Canberra.

A fellow participant in the program, Madeleine Marson, now the Victoria Coordinator for MAGiS, spoke so enthusiastically of MAGiS that Jess was encouraged to look them up in Brisbane.

Jess’ work and ministry has led to a rich tapestry of relationships she can draw insights from. Her commitment to interfaith dialogue inevitably brings an appreciation of unity amidst diversity. This explains how she has the gift of bringing together a variety of experiences and relationships into a coherent vision.

‘I am passionate about creating communities where young adults have the space to question and learn about the richness of our Catholic faith, to experience the joy of fellowship, and opportunities to serve’, Jess says.

‘I believe that I can bring to MAGIS Queensland a shameless enthusiasm to lead an inviting community of young adults who can grow into a mature faith and discern where they are going in life. I can walk with them, because as a 26-year old, I am on this journey myself!’