Ascend: Waterford & Lismore Youth Ministry

Upcoming retreat in Knockadoon for college students!

Our thoughts are with all affected by this terrible tragedy.

Statement from Bishop Cullinan on the deaths of two young men yesterday.

My deepest sympathies to the families of Gilbert and Abuzwa who died so tragically yesterday morning. The news has shocked the city that two boys have died in this tragic accident. May they rest in peace and may their families and friends find the strength they will need. We also think and pray for the bus driver and all those affected by this awful tragedy.

We were privileged to represent the diocese at "Into the Deep: Building Intentional Young Adult Ministry in Ireland" with over 150 others involved in youth and young adult ministry in diocese and lay organisations across the country. Great keynote talk from Fr Stephen Wang and some real opportunities for sharing and listening during Conversation in the Spirit in the afternoon, before finishing with Mass celebrated by Archbishop Eamon Martin. Excited to see how we will move forward together for young adults ministry in a more intentional way in the church in Ireland!

It's exam time! Please keep all students in your prayers today, especially any who are nervous at this time!

Remembering all exam students as they begin their Junior Cycle and Leaving Cert exams tomorrow! Come Holy Spirit!

Such a beautiful day at the today in Knock! Great to see out in force and meet with ministries from all around Ireland! Super homily from Bishop Phonsie and amazing sunshine! Couldn't have asked for more!

For any exam students in Aglish, Ballinameela & Mount Stuart Parish !

Reminder of Exam Mass
Friday 24 th May 7.30 pm
All welcome to pray for students
Blessing for Exam students
A blessed prayer pack will be in church if anyone cant make it & want to bring home for students

Yesterday Pope Francis accepted a second miracle associated with Blessed Carlo Acutis, clearing the way for his canonisation. The news was met with huge joy and celebrations all across the world, as this young Italian boy who died at the age in 15 quickly became a source of inspiration to so many, including here in our own diocese! Carlo will be the first millenial saint! Want to know more? Scroll through our posts or download our free Gamechanger Resource pack on www.waterfordlismore.ie/youth-ministry

Happy Feast of Mary, Mother of the Church!

Are you aged 13- 18? Camp Creideamh is a one week (6 nights), stay-on-site, full-board camp for teenagers with lots of fun, friendship and growing in faith, running from June 9th - 15th in Knockadoon, Co. Cork.

The camp activities include Mass, prayer, catechesis, various sports, hillwalking, music, quizzes, movies, etc. Camp Creideamh seeks to foster Catholic identity and is fully committed to the teachings of the Catholic Church. The camp will feature daily Mass and daily recitation of the Most Holy Rosary. The camp has a beautiful chapel on site.

For more info: https://campcreideamh.ie/

Happy feast of Our Lady of Fatima! Do you know what happened at Fatima in 1917? Check out the story here!

The Annual Pope John Paul II Award Ceremony is always a special night in the Diocesan Calendar. This year 60 young people from around the diocese achieved a Pope John Paul II Award and many of them were in attendance on Thursday night with family and school staff to receive their award from Bishop Cullinan.

Speaking on the night, Pope John Paul II Diocesan Coordinator Nodlaig Lillis commented: "It’s not always the most popular thing to do, or the easiest thing to do, to step away from the crowd and decide to do the good thing, to make a real difference. But you are the ones who stepped up, you are the ones who committed your time and your talents.."

Quoting the words of St John Paul II at World Youth Day Toronto in 2020 she encouraged the young people: "You are the men and women of tomorrow. The future is in your hearts and in your hands. God is entrusting to you the task, at once difficult and uplifting, of working with him in the building of the civilization of love."

A heartfelt thanks to all the recipients of this year's award for the many ways they have served their parishes and communities, and also to their Award Leaders, the clergy and parish staff, schools and Pope John Paul II Award Committee that make these Awards possible.

Just home from our inaugural and absolutely epic Diocesan Pope John Paul II pilgrimage to Medjugorje with students from De La Salle College, Ardscoil na Mara and Coláiste Dún Iascaigh. Our young people represented themselves, their schools, parishes and diocese so well, and had an amazing and personal experience of faith for the past week. They all really enjoyed the pilgrimage, having Mass and rosary each day, climbing mountains and hills, praying the Stations of the Cross, meeting visionary Ivan, leading music at St James’ Church, participating in a beautiful candlelit procession as well as some chill out football and basketball sessions and our own prayer and testimony sessions too, not forgetting our Awards Ceremony on the last night! We already can’t wait for the reunion!!!

Huge thanks to all who prayed for us, supported the pilgrimage financially, to Bishop Cullinan and Fr Breen for their spiritual direction and fun, to Philip, Katarina, Milkica and all the Joe Walsh Tours Pilgrimages team, to all our leaders, but most of all to our ten incredible teenagers who were a pleasure to bring on pilgrimage and have given such hope to all who met them!

We carried your intentions with us!

We look forward to sharing our highlights video with you over the coming days! Enjoy some of our photos!

Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus-Waterford City Holy Family Mission Diocese of Waterford and Lismore

Reminder that there are still spaces available for this weekend's Cherished Retreat for ladies aged 18+

Wishing Bishop Phonsie every blessing and good health on the anniversary of his ordination as Bishop to our Diocese.

"Rooted in Christ", a Cherished Retreat for Women aged 18+ on April 26th - 28th at Glencomeragh House, Kilsheelan, Co. Tipperary. €220 full board accommodation.

"Whether you have been at a Cherished event in the past or are coming for the very first time, please know you are so welcome at our "Rooted in Christ" retreat!
Cherished began two years ago as an outreach to women: to provide opportunities to gather and grow together in faith as women of God.
Over the course of this our third annual retreat, we will listen to inputs and testimonies, have opportunities for quiet prayer as well as communal Mass, Adoration and Rosaries. We will have the chance to encounter the heart of Jesus personally in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and our Healing Service. We will spend time with the other amazing women on the retreat, enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Glencomeragh House, and hopefully discover more of what it means to be a woman who is rooted in Christ!
Open to all women over the age of 18, we invite you to come and bring and open and expectant heart: expect the Lord to do beautiful things in your life this weekend! And remember, you are a Cherished Daughter of God the Father!"

Mass | Adoration | Rosary | Healing Service Confession | Testimonies | Creative Workshop | Fellowship | Tea & Chats!

For more info contact: Shauna (087) 1378364
To book: [email protected] or call 052- 6133181

Thank you Youth 2000 Ireland for the fantastic retreat at the weekend in Waterford!

For young adults aged 18 - 35. Join the Sisters of Mary Morning Star for "Enlighten" - a time of fellowship, bible, prayer and music! Next meeting Friday April 19th!

Upcoming Frassati Hike for young adults on April 20th, led by Fr Shane O'Neill. Our Frassati Hikes are inspired by the life of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati whose passion for God and the outdoors led to many hikes and outdoor adventures with his friends. See www.waterfordlismore.ie/youth-ministry for more information

This weekend! Don't miss out! Register at www.youth2000.ie

For those aged 16-35, Youth 2000 retreats are where you'll hear fantastic talks, great music, be part of some beautiful prayer sessions and make great new friends!

Pope John Paul II Award participants, make sure to check in with us at the Ascend stand to earn a top up for your parish hours! 😉

Last week we ran "Called to Greatness", a workshop for Pope John Paul II Award students at St John's Pastoral Centre! Plenty of fun and games, with pizza and chat, a discussion on the "Take the Risk for Christ" video for the Year of Vocations to Diocesan Priesthood and three fantastic testimonies from Monsignor O'Mahony, Sr Maureen Fitzgerald ASCJ and Fr John Harris! Thanks to for all their help on the evening too!

“God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it if I do but keep His commandments. Therefore, I will trust Him, whatever I am, I can never be thrown away... He knows what He is about.” St John Henry Newman

Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus-Waterford City

Have you checked out our Stations of the Cross Resource pack which accompanies a stunning live-action version of the stations performed by Holy Family Mission, available to watch on our Diocesan YouTube Channel?


https://waterfordlismore.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Ascend-YM_Stations-of-the-Cross-Resource-Pack.pdf

What a great day we had at our TY Retreat Day in Mount Melleray this month, despite the poor weather on the day! Plenty of music, games, goody-bags, talks, midday prayer with the monks, a great testimony and workshops, including some interactive prayer spaces and a tour of the abbey! This is the first time since Covid this Diocesan Retreat Day has been offered and already we can't wait for next year!

Thanks to all who helped Ascend Youth & Young Adult Ministry to make it possible, especially the monks and staff at Mount Melleray Abbey, Holy Family Mission, the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus-Waterford City and especially Gerard Hanley of Alpha Ireland who joined us on the day! Special thanks to the students and staff who made the effort to be there on the day! Roll on next year's retreat!

Our final To the Heights online task for Pope John Paul II Award students is available on https://waterfordlismore.ie/pope-john-paul-ii-awards

Complete the task and submit the Google Form and we'll be in touch with your award leader!

Remember, all hours and reflections must be completed and submitted by April 15th this year and our award ceremony will be on 9th May!