Dominic O’Reilly describes the work of the Down and Connor Young Adult Ministry team for over 18s
For as long as I can remember being involved in the life of the Church I have had an active interest in youth ministry. Youth ministry is engrained in the daily life of our Church. However, when our young people reach the age of 18 and leave school to go on to third level education or work, what do they do then?
At this stage they are no longer youths; they are young adults and require an appropriate ministry for this stage of life. Young adults desire to belong in their church and for too long this has been denied them, to an extent.
In the Down & Connor diocese we are experiencing an awakening to this particular ministry. In 2012 three young adults were willing to look at how the diocese could utilise this ministry and ensure that the young adults could take an active role in their church.
This was compiled into the Benedictus Report (available to read at https://youngadultministrydconnor.wordpress.com)
Discussions
In this report the facilitation team outlined how through various discussions with diocesan bodies and young adults themselves there were four key areas which needed to be addressed to ensure the development of young adult ministry.
These are: communication (within the diocese and to young adults), support and access (how can the diocese support these projects), faith development (authentic Catholic teaching), and outreach (how can we reach out to others?). The diocese still has an awfully long way to go to ensure that these objectives are met, but at the very least the Down and Connor Young Adult Ministry team (DCYAM) are making the attempt through a variety of ways.
One of the ways this is done is through nights known as Watch & Pray. A Watch & Pray evening will take place in a different Church of the diocese on each occasion. There will be a celebration of the Eucharist, social time followed by a time spent in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
There will be silence, some form of input from a speaker, music and stillness.
The night is normally capped with Benediction. It’s incredibly simple and provides a good foundation for our young adults to connect with each other and the more they are formed in their faith the better they will be able to pass it on to others.
The most recent offering was given the title Watch & Praise and was held in the convent of the Sisters of Adoration and Reparation on the Falls Road, Belfast.
This was an opportunity to rejoice in all that has been good for the life of DCYAM including the conscious decision to ask the intercession of the foundress of this order, Ven. Mother Marie Therese Duboche as our patron for the year.
Privilege
Speaking after the event, Sr Maire McAteer said: “As a sister of Adoration and Reparation, it was a privilege to welcome DCYAM to our convent for a Eucharistic vigil of prayer and praise. I admire the courageous young adults of Down and Connor and encourage all young adults of faith throughout the country to rise up in a similar manner!”
Speaking after the night one of the participants, Catherine Gribbon a medical student from Belfast, remarked, “I was invited to Watch & Praise by some very good friends and I am so happy I went! For me, Watch & Pray nights are an opportunity to take time out; to pray, to reflect and to spend time with Our Lord in the Eucharist. It has allowed me to meet other young adults in Down & Connor and to become part of a strong community of faith.”
Finola Bradley, a French and Spanish language student also commented, “I have learned the true importance of taking time to spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and I have seen the benefits in my everyday life. Through the Watch & Pray evenings, I have also found an extremely supportive network of young people who have helped me grow in faith and have helped me learn what is to be a young Catholic facing the challenges of a secular society.”
This begs the question; where does DCYAM go from here? Part of the future of DCYAM involves travelling further afield in the diocese and building strong links with fellow young adults and religious throughout the diocese. Our numbers are certainly few and this means there is a greater impetus on the diocese to help promote and support this work at a diocesan and parish level.
I believe strongly in this work. If we do not engage then we risk losing an entire generation of Catholics who so greatly desire a place to belong and take an active role in the life of their Church; surely this is worth pursuing.
*For more information on the Down and Connor Young Adult Ministry team (DCYAM) see http://www.facebook.com/youngadultministrydconnor