Welcome to Animateyouth.org. For all the upto date information on youth ministry across the Diocese.

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Weekly Text You can now receive and Animate monthly text. All you need to do to subscribe is email text@animateyouth.co.uk then you can keep up with all Animate’s news if you at home, at work or away studying. Facebook A facebook group has been set up for the World Youth Day Group. If you want to join search for the profile ani mate (first name ani-surname mate) and ask to be our friend. We will role out a more general facebook group soon, so watch this space.

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Summer Festival (UPDATED!)

The Summer Festival returns this year and will be held over the first weekend of July. Saturday 4th July for those aged 11-14 (Yr 7 - Yr 9). Sunday 5th July for those aged 15+ (Yr 10 +). It was a success last time (even though the weather wasn’t) and it will take the same format this time around. On both days there will be games, speakers and discussion. There will also be a wide range of workshops to choose from; music, drumming, prayer, t-shirt design, drama, cooking. Both days will finish with Mass and a Disco with the possibility of live music and barbecue. We are still currently in the planning stage and more info shall be coming out soon but please keep the dates free in your calendar.

!!!Click Here for More information about the Summer Festival!!!

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Next Youth Alive(NEW!)

Next Youth Alive: St Mary’s, Lowe House, St Helens on July 5th at 6.30pm Youth Alive will be a mass next month, as we celebrate the end of our Summer Festival 2009 and say farewell to our youth pilgrims going to Lourdes this summer. It will be a great celebration, as we welcome Bishop Vincent Malone as the main celebrant and we are hoping (weather dependant) that it will be outside as well!!! It will be a mass full of lively music (which will be music used in Lourdes so it’s a great chance to get to know it) and a chance to meet new people. After mass the festival will continue with a BBQ and fun including live music in the Life and Soul Cafe, which costs £2 (for those who haven’t paid for the whole day already) and will finish at 10:00p.m.

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Youth Night - TGI Friday!!!

TGI Friday is a new venture for Animate Youth Ministries. It is the name of our new weekly youth night down in our new Life and Soul café. Everyone likes to relax at the end of a week working hard at school, college, or uni, especially during exam time, so what better way to do that than to come down to the Life and Soul café in St Helens. It will be a place to come and spend the evening with other people of your age group as well as spending time each week doing different activities which may include exploring a different topic or theme, or simply chilling. There will be food and a tuck shop available during the evening and each week we will finish the night with a time of prayer.

TGI Friday!!! The basics... Who? Those aged 15-19 (Yr 10+)... When? Every Friday 7p.m – 9p.m... Where? Life and Soul café, Crab St, St Helens, WA10 2BE... How Much? £1 entry, bring extra for tuck shop.

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A.O.L. Lourdes Youth Pilgrimage Sponsored Bike Ride (UPDATED!)

On Saturday the 6th of June 17 riders set off along the Transpennine Trail covering a distance of 40 miles to raise funds for the youth pilgrimage to Lourdes. The weather forecast was for heavy rain and strong wind... and it wasn't wrong! Starting from St Josephs Church, Penketh, at 10am the route took us along a designated cycle route (Route 62) using cycle lanes, canal tow paths, some quiet roads and disused traffic free rail lines, all riders made it safe and well to Southport... other than our front marshal Pete Jones who had a bit of a slip... on asking if he was ok? Pete responded "I'm fine... I'm just gutted I ripped my tights" and carried on leading the way. Star of the day was 13 year old Beth Reynolds who bravely tackled the full 40 mile ride. An excellent day all round and dates are already being set for the event to continue next year.

Congratulations to all riders who took part...

Penketh-Southport (40 miles)- Gary Cunliffe, Phil Hodge, John Callaghan, Jennifer Callaghan, Jonathan Swift, Chris Dale, Andrew Howie, Pete Reynolds, Beth Reynolds, Fr Stephen Pritchard, Pete Jones, Martin. Aintree-Southport (17 miles)- Fiona Cunliffe, Kieran Davenport, Debbie Reynolds, Stephanie Morrison, Laura Hewlett.

Also thanks to...St Josephs Church- Penketh, Blessed Sacrament Church- Aintree, Damien Swift our first aider, Pete Jones and Martin for leading the way, Sheila Callaghan, Mrs Swift and the Animate team for organising the all important lunch stop, Fr Ste, Sustrans and the Transpennine Trail... thanks for all your help and support in making this a successful event. Photos from the ride can be seen on Facebook... click here!

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Animate Youth Ministries Review 09 (NEW!)

Here at animate we have started our latest review, looking back at the things we have done over the last four years, and trying to work out our strategy for the next few years. It is so important to have the feedback from those who have experienced our work and we simply want as long or as short answers as you can give to the following questions:

- What is animate doing now that it should continue doing?
- What is animate doing now that it should stop doing?
- What is animate doing now that it should change?
- What doesn’t animate do now that it should start doing?

If you are able to take a small amount of time out of your day to answer these questions, please could you download the form titled ‘External Review Young People’ which you can find on the Downloads page of this website. As it says on the download, it is anonymous and should be sent to j.cassidy@rcaol.co.uk and not direct to us here at animate.

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