Derry Youth Community looking for volunteers aged 18-25 years
Young people from the Derry diocese and beyond are being offered the opportunity to live in community for almost a year as part of an exciting ‘faith in action’ initiative for youth.
Known as the Derry Youth Community, six young volunteers, aged 18-25 years, will live together in accommodation in the city for 10 months and work with other young people in schools and parishes throughout the diocese.
Jennifer O’Kane, the youth ministry leader for the Parish of Templemore, will be working closely with the youth community and has great expectations of the benefits to the young volunteers as well as the school and parish communities they will interact with.
Service
The former post-primary religious education teacher told The Irish Catholic: “It is our hope that the experience of living in community will develop and deepen the faith of these young people and the sense of service in their lives.
“They will be involved in outreach work through retreats and faith renewal activities in both primary and post primary schools, as well as in parishes.”
Explaining that training will be given in public speaking and giving retreats, which will lead to a qualification, Jennifer believes that the work experience gained will be invaluable in terms of future education and work prospects.
Saying that there will also be a fun element, with opportunities for leisure activities and socialising, and the use of music, drama, sports and art in their work with other young people, she added: “We hope we will provide a life enhancing experience for the young people who come together to live in community.”
In addition to free accommodation, with no food or utility bills to pay, the young people will receive a monthly stipend.
Appeal
“It is hoped that the initiative will appeal to young people considering taking a year out and who are interested in exploring their faith. We are working on the premise that the young people who come to join the community will already have a strong faith and will be excited about the prospect of exploring and sharing their faith with other young people,” Ms O’Kane said.
Fr Paul Farren, of the Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre, remarked that the heart of the project was “young people evangelising young people”.
Seeing this as the way forward, he said: “We need to get more and more people to talk about Jesus and encourage others to come to know him. Communities like this exist in the Church and the future of the Church is communities of faith and people giving witness.”
Some young people have already expressed interest in the initiative, which will get underway in August. Selection will be by interview and the deadline for applications is 12noon on Friday, June 6.
Further information and application forms can be obtained from the website, www.derryyouthcommunity.com, or from St Eugene’s Parochial House, telephone 028 71 262894.