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A&B Diocesan Catholic Youth Service

Archive for category The Redshirts (LYSG)

Redshirt Leaders Weekend in Lourdes

Jun 4

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Every year some of the Redshirt Leaders accompany Ray for a weekend in Lourdes. This normally happens around May, and it provides a good chance to make some bookings, assess some locations and activities and to meet with key people including the hotel staff and the youth service. It also gives new leaders a chance to familiarise themselves with Lourdes ahead of the hecticness of the summer!

Some of the leaders, together with Nick Harvey from the main pilgrimage

It is now less than two months until the Redshirts get on the coach and head for Lourdes.

N.B. Spell check seems to think that “hecticness” isn’t a word. We disagree!!

An epic Lourdes fundraising weekend

Apr 28

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This last weekend saw two amazing fundraising activities to raise money for Lourdes 2010. On Saturday there was the Lourdes Spring Spectacular and on Sunday the Lourdes sponsored walk.

Members of the Youth Service Group (you know… the Redshirts!) turned up to both to help out, and had a fantastic time.

Redshirts 2010 – Application Deadline February 19th

Feb 2

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Yes, that’s right… the deadline for applying to be a Redshirt in 2010 is February 19th.

If you haven’t got an application for yet, talk to Ray in the Youth Office and he will sort you out (contact details down the page on the right. You have to scroll a bit!)

Redshirts 2010… Application forms AVAILABLE NOW!!

Jan 19

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..I know, it’s exciting isn’t it.

If you are interested in being part of the Youth Service Group 2010, then get in touch with Ray (ray.mooney@dabnet.org) and he will send you an application form.

Click on the Redshirts page (link above) for more info about what the group gets up to in Lourdes.

You can also click the links to the right to see what the experience has been like in previous years.

Redshirts ’09… the last stand

Dec 13

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This weekend saw the last official act of the Redshirts 2009. The last part of their journey as a group.

It all began with a day together at DABCEC in the spring, and continued through their overnight at Guildford, the trip to Lourdes, the reunion at DABCEC and then finally this last weekend together at Dalesdown.

It was a lovely end to a fantastic journey. Of course, for the individuals the journey may not end there. All will have the chance to go to Lourdes again, maybe even as part of Redshirts 2010… so it’s not really the end of anything, just the last time that this years Redshirts will be together as a group. If that makes sense??

Anyway, enough waffle… here are some pictures of the weekend:

Redshirts helping out at the Richard Stewart Lecture

Oct 30

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The Richard Stewart Lecture is held each year in the diocese, and aims to celebrate some aspect of ecumenism i.e. how we co-operate with Christians of other traditions. This year’s lecture was particularly interesting as it was given by H.E. Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, the Archbishop Emeritus of Westminster, and former Bishop of our own diocese.

The Redshirts were invited to help out by marshalling, working the doors (in a non-bouncer way!), helping people to their seats and in a number of other roles.

Some of the Redshirts in the Narthex at Worth

Some of the Redshirts in the Narthex at Worth

Eight of the Redshirts turned up to help and their assistance was greatly appreciated. Bishop Kieran even thanked them especially in the presence of the Cardinal.

Engaging in acts of service around the diocese is a huge part of the vision of the Redshirts. The group originated in the A&D Lourdes pilgrimage, but is now spreading in its scope.

If you want to know more about the Lecture, then Independent Catholic News has a great article.

The Redshirts in Crawley

Sep 15

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This weekend about 40 of this year’s Redshirts gathered together at the Friary Hall in Crawley for a chance to catch up and reflect on their time in Lourdes. It was an amazing weekend, and we were grateful to Bishop Kieran for dropping in and for Fr. David Parmiter for coming to celebrate Mass with us on Saturday night.

Here are some photos…

Redshirts 2009 – share your memories…

Jul 31

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Well, the week in Lourdes is over. It was amazing.

Redshirts serving in Lourdes...

Redshirts serving in Lourdes...

Redshirts 2009, post a comment and let us know how you found it. What were the highlights? How did you grow during the week?

A final report before we go home…

Jul 30

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Very soon we will leave for the train station to help the pilgrimage load and prepare the train. After that we hit the road with our pilgrimage for 2009 at an end.

Since yesterday we have had an amazing 24 hours.

We did the talk yesterday afternoon. A few hundred people turned up, and all were very impressed with our drama, singing and testimonies. In the evening we had a celebration, variety show and a final night prayer and walk to the grotto.

This morning Bishop Kieran celebrated the final Mass. Very sad, very moving, but also a sense of great joy. What an amazing week.

Preparing our final Red Carpet

Preparing our final Red Carpet

Two of our leaders, Pete and Ruth...

Two of our leaders, Pete and Ruth...

Bishop Kieran celebrates the final Mass

Bishop Kieran celebrates the final Mass

You have NO IDEA how long it took to get this shot!!

You have NO IDEA how long it took to get this shot!!

Legends of Pegging…

Jul 29

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For the uninitiated, we should explain that ‘pegging’ is a time honoured tradition in Lourdes. The basic idea is to attach a peg to somebody’s clothing without them noticing. The peg normally bears a short message.

Hannah, Dan and Oli pose after their successful pegging of two Archbishops!

Hannah, Dan and Oli pose after their successful pegging of two Archbishops!

After the International Youth Mass this morning, Hannah and Dan between them pegged both Archbishop Kelly of Liverpool and Archbishop Nichols, who is the Archbishop of Westminster and Chair of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales!

…nice!

When interviewed, Hannah Fricker said ‘what can I say… I’m a pro. I’d just like to thank my parents, all the Redshirts, and Daniel.’