Jan 20
What are you doing on Saturday April 17th?
Well… let us tell you what we’re doing.
On April 17th at St. Wilfrid’s School in Crawley (the place we had Youth Gather) there will be a new Catholic youth event for those aged 14-20.
Have a look at the encounter website for more details
Flickr.com user: dtcchc
..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.
On Sunday January 3rd the newly selected team of World Youth Day leaders met together at DABCEC for an initial day of praying, reflecting and planning.
It was a very tentative first step for us all… mostly just about getting to know eachother and mapping out the ‘road to Madrid’ over the next nineteen months. We heard some interesting stuff from Ray and Lucy about preparations being made by the diocese and we also had a chance to get together in small groups and talk about what we felt was needed in terms of a preparation programme. Some fascinating ideas came out of that, both in terms of preparation and formation for the leaders and also in terms of what’s going to happen when we get the whole group together.
It seems like we’ve got a great team. There is a good mix of people and they all seem to get on well together. We are now at the start of a very exciting journey… Keep us in your prayers.
Dec 21
Plans for Madrid are steaming ahead! Here at the Youth Office we are excited about our new Team Leaders, and we ask you to pray for them as they continue preparing for 2011. We are looking at places to spend our Days in the Diocese; Ray and Lucy will be heading over to Spain in January to check some places out.
We shall be publishing application forms online on 1 March and also sending them to all those who have contacted the Youth Office, expressing an interest in going to Madrid. Interest is high so we encourage you to apply early on!
Very best wishes for a peaceful, happy and blessed Christmas.
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:
This Sunday about 25 people gathered at DABCEC for the final day of selection for World Youth Day leaders. This was the last of three selection days, each of which aimed at exploring what World Youth Day is about, what leadership is about and what Ray needs to consider in selecting his team!!
At the end of the day, Ray thanked everyone for having taken part in the process and told them that they would know the leadership team soon…
Have a look at the Twitter feed on the right hand side of this page for some photos of the day.
Nov 25
We are pleased to announce the launch of our youth prayer website for Advent 2009. Each day has a reflection and a prayer, all of which takes about a minute each day.
Nov 22
As well as being the Feast of Christ the King, today is also National Youth Sunday. On this day we pray for our young people and we celebrate the role that they have to play in the Church.
What happened in your parish this weekend?
Leave a comment and let us know…
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
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.
Well, Youth Gather is over for another year, and what an amazing day.
Highlights included a very lively Mass, a 6-mile walk, live music from a Jazz Band, Praise & Worship with Adoration and a lovely final liturgy from St. Richard’s. Guests included the A&B vocations service, a few local charities, CAFOD, and many others.
Here are some of the photos, courtesy of our Twitter Feed and a few staff at St. Wilfrid’s…
Mass
Bishop Kieran and the other celebrants at Mass
Gathered in 'the wedge' at St. Wilfrid's
..and some more people
The Jazz Band from St. Paul's performing for us
A great chance to plug World Youth Day 2011
Make up your own caption... answers on a postcard
Make up your own caption... answers on a postcard
