Parishes...

There is no standard approach to parish Youth Ministry. Each parish seeks to identify its own provision in response to the need of the faith community. What works in one parish may not work another. The emphasis is not just about having a Youth Club/Group but is much broader, developing appropriate ways for young people to be involved in every aspect of parish life and in a safe and supportive environment. This requires a holistic approach by addressing every aspect of the development and formation of young people. The process for developing a realistic Youth Ministry also encourages a collaborative approach.

In supporting the provision of a Youth Ministry, Animate offers training, information, resources, encouragement and promotion of good practice:

It should be our aim to work with young people in such a way that their every concern is explored and examined under the searchlight of the Gospel of Christ.
By this process young people may come to realise for themselves their part in God’s mission.

What people have said...

The young people enjoyed a relaxing and rewarding day at Lowe House which helped them in their preparation for Confirmation. The team of young leaders were friendly and welcoming, sharing themselves and their faith in an open and unthreatening way. The cost was met by the Parish and I think was great value for money.
Fr Steve Cooper,
Parish Priest  of St Richard’s and Sacred Heart, Atherton, and St Ambrose Barlow, Astley; Dean of Leigh Deanery

"Animated" and "Inspiring"! My simple yet honest evaluation and experience of working alongside the animate team during our parish confirmation away day. 'Inspired young people, inspiring young people!' A privilege to witness. May I also commend the whole team for the support, encouragement and welcome they offered to the catechist team.
Cathy Jones,
Parish Catechist, St Benedict’s, Warrington

The ideas and enthusiasm of the animate team worked with our young people, who were led through group and shared work in an enjoyable way, which also led into deeper thought and times of prayer and reflection… The team have also offered to support and develop the catechists for a parish programme in the coming years. Thank you animate for your input and for your continuing work in the diocese.
Fr Sean Kirwin,
Parish Priest St Paul’s and St Timothy’s, West Derby,
and Episcopal Vicar for Finance

We are glad to announce the start of our weekly youth night has been fantastic. It has been running for just two weeks now but the numbers more than doubled from the first week to the second. It has been a great chance for people to meet up with old friends and make new friends while playing games, baking cakes, praying together and making plans for what TGI is going to be. As it is only the beginning, we want to make it a night for young, with the ideas from young people and so in our second week we explored different characteristics of what we want TGI to be and also looked at what activities and topics we would like to have at TGI over the coming weeks, months, and years!!! If you are interested or know someone who might be interested then come on down on a Friday night, details are on the home page!

 

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Easter Triduum

The Easter Triduum was greatly enjoyed by those who attended the retreats here at Lowe House over the three days. Over these three days the young people looked at and explored different themes, such as on Maundy Thursday  ‘making sense of it all’ and thinking about how Jesus breathed the same air that we breathe, and how we use our other senses such as taste, smell and touch, to try and remember and reflect upon, what Jesus and the disciples, must have experienced on that day and night of the Passover. We too had our own experience of a Passover meal, cooked by our very own Maria and Rick.
On Good Friday, the young people reflected upon the significance of the cross in their lives, what the cross means to them and they even designed their own cross, which best represented them.

Then on Holy Saturday, the group of young people, journeyed back over past few days and looked at the events of Holy week in the eyes of the disciples and how there was such contrast between the celebrations of Palm Sunday to the strange events of Thursday Evening!

Then at the Easter Vigil the congregation witnessed 7 young people take that next step in their faith journey, and make their confirmation. We heard great testimonies from four of the confirmation candidates stating why they wished to be confirmed.

Thank you to everyone who was in involved in the Triduum, each one of your contributions made it the great success it was.

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Eucharistic Ministers Training

Over the weekend of 17th-18th October we welcomed a number of young people to Lowe House for a weekend of training to become Ministers of the Eucharist around the Archdiocese. It was a great couple of days that gave people a chance to really explore their faith and the reasons they were becoming Eucharistic Ministers. The days were full of fun and reflection, prayer and the practicalities, and finished with the commissioning of 14 young people at the parish mass at St Mary’s, Lowe House.