National Parish Youth Conference: "Life is a Gift"

04 Feb 2013

The Fourth National Parish Youth Conference, on the theme of “Life is a Gift”, will take place in Tullamore on Saturday 23 February 2013.

To download the poster, please click here.

One of the main guests is Joan Freeman from Pieta House, who will speak about Suicide in a way that is appropriate to the young people present. Other speakers include Jonny Somerville who is the National Coordinator of Youth Alpha Ireland, and Scott Evans the author of Closer Still. Will Faulkner from Midland 103 will be the MC. There will also be workshops as part of the day as well as music and a youth friendly prayer service at the end.

Timetable

Morning Session

9.30am – Registration

9.50am – Music by “Ruaille Buaille”

10.00am – Opening Addresses by Margaret Kelly, Chariperson of Tullamore PPC and Niamh Burke , Chariperson of Tullamore Junior PPC

10.15am – Opening Liturgy followed by Interviews by Joan Freeman, Pieta House, and Ciara Molloy and team with Music by Ruaille Buaille

12.00pm

WORKSHOPS

  • Youth Alpha – Jonny Somerville
  • Setting up a youth prayer group – Annette Evans
  • Setting up a Junior Parish Pastoral Council – Sr Genny Hassey
  • Setting up a youth music group – Without Walls

1.10pm                 Lunch with music by Ruaille Buaille

Afternoon Session

2.10pm – Interviews with Scott Evans, India Project & panel discussion with music by “Without Walls”
3.00pm – Worship and talk
4.00pm – Review of Day
4.15pm – Home

Contact details

Website: www.tullamoreparish.ie  click on JPPC
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 057 9321587 (ask for Genny)
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/patrick.donnelly.3762?fref=ts
http://www.facebook.com/jppc.tullamore?fref=ts

Postal Address:

Tullamore Junior Parish Pastoral Council,
Tullamore Parish Centre,
Benburb Street,
Tullamore,
Co Offaly.

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.

Jonny Somerville

Jonny Somerville is from Dublin. Jonny has been working for Scripture Union for the last number of years and is National Co coordinator of Youth Alpha Ireland and has worked tirelessly in Youth Ministry. Over the last two years he has been running a number of Youth Alpha Courses in post primary Schools in Dublin Slig, Mullingar and here in Tullamore. 170 young people in the 3 local post primary schools completed the 10 week.

Joan Freeman

About 8 years ago, Joan Freeman, a practising psychologist, closed down her own counselling business and dedicated her time finding out how she could help people who were suicidal – what would be beneficial to them and help them get through their dark time. After three years of research, she opened up Pieta House in Lucan, Co. Dublin which quickly became a respected and recognised service for those who were suicidal. Having counselled many people in the past who were self-harming, Joan realised that this was a topic never discussed and rarely understood, and she decided to also help people with this debilitating issue.

In five years, Pieta House has grown to almost 40 therapists and admin staff, and the demand for their  service hasn’t let up. In January 2011 they opened up two new Centres – one in Ballyfermot and one in Limerick. As 80% of their income comes from Fundraising Events, they rely heavily on the support and encouragement of their Volunteers and Friends of Pieta.

Scott Evans

Scott Evans is an Irish author and speaker with 10 years’ experience in youth ministry. He is the author of “Closer Still”. Over the last ten years he has completed a degree in Applied Theology and Youth and Community Work, worked as a local youth pastor, assistant manager and eventually manager of a national youth and schools team. For the last four years he worked as Director of Youth Ministry for Southeast Ireland.