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Final Preparations For National Parish Youth Conference

Thursday, 23 February 2012

Preparing for the National Parish Youth Conference which takes place in Tullamore this Saturday. TC805

THE 3rd National Parish Youth Conference kicks off in Tullamore on this Saturday 25th February. The theme of the Day is 'Our Faith Lets Celebrate!' 
Speaking before the event, Conference organiser Ciara Molloy explains: 'The aim of this conference is to give an opportunity to young people to discuss and share their experiences of faith in a fun and friendly atmosphere. This day will be packed with topical discussions, interesting talks and open forums. We hope that you will be inspired to attend our conference to make your voice and opinions heard. What we need most in our world are enthusiastic young people who are willing to work together for a better future."
Tullamore Junior Parish Pastoral are delighted to have Andrew O Connell and Nicola Marshall as the main speakers on the day. Andrew will give the opening presentation and ask the question 'What's there to celebrate?'
The organising committee are delighted to welcome Nicola Marshall who travels from London specially for the conference. She will share her experience of Youth Ministry in London as well as introduce Youth Alpha to all present. Youth Alpha has been up and running in Ireland since September with the employment of Jonny Somerville by Alpha Ireland as a full time youth worker. Since September he has been running a number of Youth Alpha Courses in post primary Schools in Dublin Sligo and here in Tullamore. 120 young people in the 3 local post primary schools here in Tullamore completed the 10 week course before Christmas which was led by Jonny and the Parish team.
Other speakers on the day include Bishop Kieran O Reilly, currently the youngest bishop in Ireland, Michelle Molloy a leaving cert pupil from Tullamore College, Hannah Evans from Trocaire, and Ger Brennan. Gerard Gallagher will also be joining us on the day. He has worked with young people for over twenty years  and since 1994 with Catholic Youth Care in Dublin archdiocese His book, 'Are We Losing the Young Church?,' puts together, for the first time ever, a history of youth ministry in Ireland. He sees it as a history of fragments, with no strategic plan, but full of vibrancy and fun. The key question is: does the Church really want the youth or not?
The MC for the day will be Will Faulkner from midlands 103, who will ensure lively discussion from both speakers and all those in attendance, encouraging everyone to engage and ask the hard questions!
The Tullamore Junior Parish Pastoral Council was founded in September 2006 by members of the Tullamore parish team who believed that young people should have more of a say in the running of their parish and their church. From just an idea at a boardroom meeting, Tullamore Junior Parish Pastoral Council grew from a small group of around 18 members to the council that it is today with over 27 members and many huge achievements under it's belt. It's members hail from all of the local secondary schools in Tullamore and Kilbeggan with members aged from 12 to 18. Sr Genny explained 'the councils main aim is to give young people a voice on parish and church affairs and try to involve them more in church life'.
The Junior Parish Pastoral Council was the founder and first ever host of the National Parish Youth Conference in 2010. The conference was well attended by young people . The groups shared ideas on how to improve their local areas, explore the reality of young peoples lives and learn from each other's experiences and ideas. The conference was so successful that it was decided to make it an annual event.
Bishop Michael Smith has been of great support to the Junior PPC and has met with them many times over the years. Bishop Michael is delighted that such a conference is taking place. He believes that 'Young people are the future leaders of our parishes in the life of faith. We owe it to them to give them every support and they in turn will encourage us to build a Church of hope and confidence in God's presence'.
Fr Patrick Donnelly commented that: 'Our hope as a Council is that every parish across Ireland will be represented by young people between the ages of 12 - 18 years of age. The Conference provides an excellent opportunity for young Catholics to express their views, share ideas and receive support from each other. We also hope that it will contribute to the renewal of the Irish Church at the grass root level.'
There are many people working to empower young people in Ireland. The unique aspect of this conference is that it is our friendship with Jesus Christ that is bringing us together on this day. Ciara Molloy, the chairperson of Tullamore Junior Parish Pastoral Council, has chosen the following piece of scripture for the day.
When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.  And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvellous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.  Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.  May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen. (Epherians 3: 14 - 21)
The venue for the conference is St Mary's Youth and Community Centre Tullamore, Registration is at 9am the cost is €5 and the day concludes at 5pm For more details contact www.tullamoreparish.ie

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