TO LIVE A LIFE OF SERVICE
Members of Clonard Youth Ministry Team receive awards By Brendan Dineen (Youth Ministry Coordinator, Clonard Monastery) To live a life of service forms part of the mission statement of Redemptorist Youth Ministry in Ireland. Over the last several years many young adults have become involved with Clonard Youth Ministry at various levels. This group has developed and evolved into a very strong vibrant and committed group of young adults. They volunteer at various events and projects as well as taking part in faith and personal development programmes. Clonard Youth Ministry plays an active part at the Annual Solemn Novena. During the nine days, many of the young people take on various roles such as car park stewards, webcam operators, sorting petitions and as Church stewards.
They also help organise and lead a wonderful celebration of the children’s Novena and take a leading role in organising and participating in the youth session on Sunday evening. This session was the largest of the nine days with a wonderful prayerful and inspirational atmosphere created by the participation in the liturgy of these young people. Another example of a life of service is the Clonard Youth Ministry Outreach Programme. Last July, we had another successful summer programme. During a great week when the sun shone, the young people were able to put their faith into action through various activities. The ministry outreach has become an established
project within the area and we have built up strong professional relationships with many people within the community. The young volunteers are well respected and the project is well received as a valuable aspect of the ministry of Clonard Monastery. For many people, it is the only contact that they have with the church. The Novena and the Clonard Outreach are just two examples of the ways young people are living a life of service to others. In recognition of their great work, many of them have received awards such as the John Paul II Award. In February this year, eleven young people of them received the Papal Cross Award for outstanding contribution to their church
and community. All of the young people who volunteered in Clonard over the last year were recognised at a prestigious award ceremony in the Belfast Waterfront Hall, hosted by the Millennium Volunteers Organization, where they received certificates in recognition for over two hundred hours service to church and community. It can be easy to stereotype and condemn all young people for the actions of a few. When we recognise the great work young people play in both their church and community, the awards that they receive are just a small token of recognition for the part that they play in a living a life of service to others.
Certificates for 200 hours of Volunteering
Receiving their John Paul 11 awards Some of the Youth Volunteers at Clonard Monastery
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