Youth Ministry

CYMFed Youth Ministry Congress – The Sage, Gateshead...

Paul Murphy writes...

"I was delighted to recently attend and represent Redemptorist Youth Ministry at The CYMFed Congress which was held this year at The Sage in Gateshead (Newcastle Upon Tyne) on 16 March 2013. CYMFed is the Catholic Youth Ministry Federation, and as an organisation it seeks to help shape and support Catholic Youth Ministry in England and Wales.

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This wonderful and uplifting event was attended by over 600 people, including Youth Ministry teams, school chaplains, parish catechists and young people. They came from all parts of UK, and it was a great day for those involved in Youth Ministry to come together, to meet one another and share our experiences, challenges, ideas and resources.

Catholic Youth Ministry Podcast...

Click here and hear the Catholic Youth Ministry Podcast.

Among many other subjects, including the election of our new Holy Father, you can listen to

our Youth Minister Paul Murphy talk about his work with young people and youth ministry.

Well done to the Middlesbrough Diocesan Youth Mission Team!

Newly Appointed Co-ordinator for Youth Ministry...

paul murphy It is with a great sense of joy and humility that I introduce myself as the newly appointed ‘Co-ordinator for Youth Ministry’ in the London Province of the Redemptorists.

This is a newly created and exciting post in the London Province and I feel deeply privileged to take up this wonderful opportunity to develop links with young people and young adults throughout the Province and to accompany and guide them on their ‘faith journey’.

In this article I give a brief flavour of who I am, where I’ve been and my hopes for the post as Co-ordinator for Youth Ministry.

Who am I?

Well I am a 37 year old (or should that be ‘young’) Scotsman who hails from deepest Lanarkshire, from the traditional steel town of Motherwell. I am a Chartered Educational Psychologist by profession, having worked in Glasgow and Elgin for the past 7 years in schools and nurseries, helping to assess and support children and young people with a variety of additional support needs. I have always been keen to become involved in parish life, particularly in encouraging young people to share their faith.

Up until now I have always worked on a voluntary basis as a lay member of the Catholic Church, but am delighted to now be embarking on the mission of supporting young people as Co-ordinator for Youth Ministry with the Redemptorists.

C.Ss.R., Youth Ministry...

Please pray for the success of the Redemptorist Youth and Vocation Ministry preparation meeting in our Redemptorist house in San Sperate (Italy) this week (2nd-6th July).

London Province RYVM coorindator Roisin Coll, the chair of the Youth Secretariate, Dominic O'Toole CSsR and RYVM member, Andrew Reid will participate in meetings along with Redemptorist representatives and young people from across Europe to prepare for the International Congress due to be held there next year (2013) in August.

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Youth Gathering in Kinnoull...

Kinnoull, (Perth in Scotland) played host to the most recent London Province Redemptorist Youth and Vocation Ministry (RYVM) gathering from 16-18th March.

Youth from the Redemptorist parishes of St Patrick’s Edinburgh, St Mary’s Clapham and Bishop Eton in Liverpool came together for a weekend of reflection, friendship and celebration.

The theme of the meeting was ‘Make a Difference’ and a range of activities and liturgies filled the weekend. Highlights included ‘Stations of the Cross’ as the group climbed Kinnoull Hill, a prayerful Lenten evening liturgy held in the Church followed by a St Patrick’s Day celebration on the Saturday night. The group, led by Roisin Coll and Fr. Dominic O’Toole C.Ss.R., was delighted that Fr Ed Hone C.Ss.R., was able to join them for the weekend and give so generously of his talents and time.

Here is what sisters Melissa and Jaclyn thought of the weekend:

'The weekend brought us all together as a group and as a Redemptorist youth community. We thoroughly enjoyed the meeting in Kinnoull and it was a great chance to meet new people from other Redemptorist parishes and we became closer with everyone who was there. The activities were really enjoyable and we had great fun too. The only negative about the weekend is that it wasn't long enough! We would love to go back and can't wait for the next RYVM gathering.'

If you are aged between 16 and 35 and interested in finding out more about RYVM please contact Paul