National Parish Youth Conference: ‘Our Faith, Let’s Celebrate!’
The Tullamore Junior Parish Pastoral Council is currently planning their third annual National Youth Conference, which will take place on Saturday 25 February 2012 in St Mary’s Youth Centre in Tullamore. This event will see various young people from all over Ireland converging on Tullamore to enjoy an exciting and inspirational day.
The aim of this conference is to give an opportunity to young people to discuss and share their experiences of faith in a fun and friendly atmosphere. The day will be packed with topical discussions, interesting talks and open forums. The chairperson of the JPPC remarked that: “We are delighted to have Bishop Kieran O Reilly and Ger Brennan as guest speakers, also Andrew O Connell, Jonny Somerville from Youth Alpha Ireland, and Michelle Molloy. The event will be facilitated by Mr Will Faulkner from Midlands 103. There will also be a variety of bands to entertain throughout the day, including Ruaille Buaille, Shalom and Coláiste Choilm.
The theme of this year’s conference will be ‘Our Faith, Let’s Celebrate!’. The Council is working endlessly to ensure that this year’s event will be as productive and as exciting as last year’s event. Father Patrick Donnelly commented that: “Our hope as a Council is that every parish across Ireland will be represented by young people between the ages of 12 – 18 years of age. The Conference provides an excellent opportunity for young Catholics to express their views, share ideas and receive support from each other. We also hope that it will contribute to the renewal of the Irish Church at the grass root level.”
Annie Kehoe, Vice-Chairperson of the JPPC stated that “the aim of this conference is to provide young people with the opportunity to express views, values, beliefs and opinions in a welcoming and supportive atmosphere. Especially in current times, our church has never been in such great need for new ideas and fresh perspectives. We believe that this conference is undoubtedly a stepping stone in the right direction. We look forward to a successful day and hope that everyone leaves with new ideas and opinions.”
Further information:
National Parish Youth Conference
‘Our Faith, Let’s celebrate”.
25 February 2012
St Mary’s Youth and Community Centre Tullamore
M.C
Mr Will Faulkner
Speakers
Mr Andrew O Connell
“What’s there to celebrate”
Mr. Jonny Somerville
Growing in faith
Interviews by
Bishop Kieran O Reilly
Mr Ger Brennan
Michelle Molloy
Cost
5 euro
Lunch
Pizza will be provided on the day at a cost of 3 euro.
Guests may also have lunch in the town itself as the centre is close to cafes and restaurants.
Parking
The Parish car park is adjacent to the Parochial House, with a pedestrian exit onto Store St.
The car park is free of charge. Directions to the car park and venue will be available on the Parish Website in the coming weeks www.tullamoreparish.ie.
The Speakers
Will Faulkner
Will Faulkner is the presenter of Midlands Today. Will is the youngest person to front a flagship programme on Irish radio and also serves as the Director of Programming at Midlands 103. He holds a first class honours degree in Journalism and Media Communications and has worked for various broadcasters including CKR FM, Independent Network News, 98FM and KCLR 96FM.
Bishop Kieran O Reilly
Bishop O’Reilly was born in Cork, he entered the Society of African Missions in Wilton, Cork in 1970. Ordained for the Society on the 17th June 1978 he served in Liberia for two years before studying for a licentiate in Sacred Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. From 1984 to 1989 Fr Kieran was lecturing in Scripture at the major seminary in Ibadan, Nigeria. Since 1990 he has served on the Irish and International Councils of the Society of African Missions. At the time of his appointment Fr. Kieran was serving his second term as Superior General of the Society. As a member of the Union of Superiors General attended and contributed to two Synods of Bishops in Rome Bishop Kieran O Reilly was appointed Bishop of Killaloe by Pope Benedict XVI on 18 May 2010. He is currently the youngest-serving Bishop in Ireland. He was ordained Bishop on 29 August 2010.
Jonny Somerville
Jonny Somerville is from Dublin and is married to Susan and they have recently had a baby called Luke. Jonny has been working for Scripture Union and Alpha Ireland for the last number of years and has worked tirelessly in Youth Ministry. Since September he has been running a number of Youth Alpha Courses in post primary Schools in Dublin Sligo and here in Tullamore. 120 young people in the 3 local post primary schools completed the 10 week course before Christmas which was led by Jonny and the Parish team.
Andrew O Connell
In 2006 Andrew O’Connell became the first layperson employed by a religious congregation in Ireland to promote vocations. He is Communications Director for the Presentation Brothers and a member of the National Executive of Vocations Ireland which resources religious vocations directors. He is also a columnist with “The Irish Catholic” newspaper. He holds a PhD in Chemistry.
Ger Brennan
Ger Brennan plays football for Dublin and St Vincents. He won the 2007 O’Byrne Cup for Dublin against Laois at O’Connor Park in Offaly . Ger won his first Dublin Senior Football Championship medal with St Vincents in 2007 in the final against St Brigids at Parnell Park. He then went on to win the Leinster Senior Club Football Championship final against Tyrrellspass of Westmeath. Ger was awarded the honour of being chosen as the Leinster club player of the year for his performances in the Leinster club championship with St Vincents. Ger Played as part of a victorious Dublin squad to win the All Ireland Senior Football Championship in a rousing match against Kerry.
Ger has spoken at many Youth Events recently on the importance of faith in his life. He is aslo involved in preparations for the 50 International Eucharistic Congress which will take place in June.
Michelle Molloy
Michelle Molloy is a Native of Tullamore and has been involved in parish life from an early age. She is a founder member of the first ever Junior parish Pastoral Council, which was founded in September 2006. Recently as part of a school project Michelle work with “Gemini Ireland” – Self Help Africa where she joined young people from various parts of Ireland and spent some time in Zambia visiting projects which were funded by the different schools represented. Michelle is currently studying for her Leaving Certificate in Tullamore College.
Contact details
Website www.tullamoreparish.ie click on JPPC
Email: [email protected]
Telephone 057 9321587 (ask for Genny)
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tullamore-Junior-Parish-Pastoral-Council/122404544471101
Postal Address:
Tullamore Junior Parish Pastoral Council,
Tullamore Parish Centre,
Benburb Street,
Tullamore,
Co Offaly.
National Youth Conference
25 February 2012
St Mary’s Youth and Community Centre Tullamore
Timetable
9.00am Registration
9.30am Opening Address Mrs Margaret Kelly, Chariperson of Tullamore PPC
Ciara Molloy , Chariperson of Tullamore Junior PPC
9.45am Opening Liturgy Music by Shalom
10.00am Format of the day Mr Will Faulkner
10.15am Opening Talk Andrew O’Connell
10.35am Group Discussion and feed back
11.00am Refreshments Music by Colaiste Choilm
11.15am Youth Alpha Mr Jonny Somerville and Team
12.25pm Music
12.30pm Spot Light Interview with Michelle Molloy
12.50pm Lunch Music by Ruaille Buaille
1.50pm Will Faulkner
2.00pm Spot light Interview with Bishop Kieran O Reilly
2.20pm Music by Colaiste Choilm
2.30pm Spot light Interview with Ger Brennan
3.00pm Small Group Discussion followed by feed back
3.45pm Music by Rualiie Buaille
4.00pm Summary of the Day
Panel Discussion Will Faulkner Bishop Kieran O Reilly, Andrew O Connell, Michelle Molloy Jonny Somerville, Ger Brennan Ciarra Molloy
4.30pm Closing Liturgy
5.00pm Depart
