Looking Ahead
What a mad year 2008 turned out to be! Ask most people what their memories are and it will most certainly include the speed of how all things economic seemed to go from great to dismal. The well trodden conversation path of "Guess how much my house is worth now?" seems to have disappeared from people’s vocabulary on all parts of our island.
2009 is going to be a challenging year for all in society. We are now entering an era of uncertainty of all the norms that we have taken for granted for the past twenty years.
In contrast when I look back at 2008 from the angle of how our youth ministry has progressed it has been astounding, both in the macro and micro levels.
We have more parishes with regular groups meeting in most parts of the Diocese. We have more leaders coming forward to serve and indeed as I write these notes 37 youth leaders from our diocese have signed up for the youth leaders w/end. On the Youth Council front we produced a three year strategic plan and had a dynamic new Youth Council elected. Events organized are now getting more professional and attendances are growing. We have invested in our people through training bursaries. Our schools work continues to grow apace. Indeed in 2008 we worked with literally hundreds of young people and adults through all the different spheres of our schools programmes.
As we look forward to 2009, the Youth Council endeavors to be courageous in its plans. re-acting to the needs that are arising. We have a major six month project planned to invest in schools work to undertake a pilot programme to see what and how our schools work might look like. It is a step of faith! We have enough funds to cover our costs for six months only and in these difficult financial times we are under no illusion that it will be difficult to secure funding for the long term, but that is when we need to rely on God to worry about these things and continue to concentrate on building the Kingdom through equipping people to deliver this necessary ministry.
I want to personally thank the bishop for his continuing support for all we do and allowing us to take risks . And the wider Diocesan committees, Rectors, Vestries, Schools, M.U, C.I.Y.D., youth leaders and parents for all their unwavering support.
In 2007 Bishop Paul encouraged us, attending Diocesan Synod, to consider the implications of all the work we do, continually asking the question; Revolution or Evolution? I am glad to say that youth ministry in the Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross is striving to be both.
Thank you
Mark