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What do young people want?

sli-eile.jpgIn its 9th public debate, Slí Eile has invited Enda O’Dwyer, a youth worker with Catholic Youth Care, to speak about ‘What young people want’. The event will take place in the Belvedere Hotel, Great Denmark Street, Dublin 1, from 7.30 – 9.30pm on 10 June, and it will entail music as well as plenty of discussion. Enda O’Dwyer has worked for over a decade with the Dublin Diocese, as part of CYC’s Faith Development Team. The team works with teenagers, young people in their twenties, and adult volunteers within parishes.

Added Tuesday 10 June 2008 :: Category: General ::

Joint Jesuit Consult in Manchester

Irish and British Provincials and Consultors

Irish and British Jesuit Consultors came together for a ‘Joint Consult’ with the Provincials of the two Provinces in Mancester on 6-8 June. Consultors are close advisors to a Jesuit Provincial, and this recent meeting is indicative of the high level of collaboration between the Irish and British Provinces. Topics on the agenda were spirituality centres, volunteering, vocations and the joint novitiate in Birmingham.

Added Tuesday 10 June 2008 :: Category: General ::

JCFJ give evidence to Oireachtas Joint Committee

Tony O'Riordan SJ, director of JCFJOn Wednesday last, the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice (JCFJ) gave evidence to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice in relation to a planning motion for the new prison at Thornton Hall. JCFJ Director, Fr Tony O’Riordan told members of the Committee of TDs and Senators, that the new prison, with a design capacity of 2,220 prisoners, was a means of imprisoning many more people -increasing prison capacity by almost 150%- rather than replacing existing buildings. He noted the implications for penal policy as a whole: “It reinforces our inability to use imprisonment as a measure of last resort, and potentially limits both the commitment to developing alternatives to prison and, indeed, the resources available for such alternatives.”

Added Tuesday 10 June 2008 :: Category: General ::

Conchita McDonnell MSHR elected new CORI President

Sr. ConchitaSr Conchita McDonnell, a Holy Rosary Sister, was last week elected the President of CORI – the Conference of Religious of Ireland. Through its fifteen elected executive members, CORI serves 9,500 male and female religious, belonging to 133 congregations in Ireland, including the Jesuits. Sr Conchita spoke of the vision of CORI as one of service, modelled on the life and mission of Jesus. Aware of the hunger for God in our society, religious seek to be a prophetic voice in proclaiming Good News for our time.

Added Tuesday 10 June 2008 :: Category: General ::

Preparing for the Pope

Slí Eile preparation for Magis & World Youth DayNoelle Fitzpatrick will lead the group of young people travelling with Slí Eile to the Magis-World Youth Day celebrations in Sydney, Australia in July 2008. The group met for a preparation meeting last month, some of them travelling from as far as Co. Tyrone to be there, and others in the midst of college exams. They spent a day, a mix of excitement and seriousness, preparing practically and spiritually. They will be involved in the Ignatian Magis experiences which precede World Youth Day itself.

Added Tuesday 10 June 2008 :: Category: General ::

Belvedere Youth Club celebrates 90th year

Belvedere Youth Club - ManagementBelvedere Youth Club held a special mass and a concert in April to celebrate their 90th year in operation. Their after-schools programme continues to see more than 160 children a day avail of their services which include sports, nutrition, drama, computers, arts & crafts, and homework assistance. Located in the Dublin’s inner city, they also seek to help at-risk young people through their youth diversion programme, NICKOL, which works in collaboration with the local Gardai. Their ability to provide this whole range of services is currently hampered by funding difficulties and a shortage of volunteers and staff, the latter through delays caused by the new Garda vetting procedures. [Photo: PJ McAllister, Chairman; Paul Brady, Director; Gillian Collins, Community Employment Supervisor; Brendan O'Leary, board member.] Read more »

Added Tuesday 10 June 2008 :: Category: General ::

LRA gets new president

John Redmond, new President of the Lay Retreat AssociationThe Lay Retreat Association (LRA) elected a new president, John Redmond, at its AGM on 20 May in Milltown Park. The outgoing president, Pat Carey, suffered a stroke recently. Though still quite weak, he is currently making a good recovery and receiving excellent medical attention. The LRA is a group of lay men and women who organise and promote Jesuit retreats. Originally aimed at working men, they were founded in 1945 in Rathfarnham Castle. With its closure in 1985, they moved to Milltown Park.

Added Tuesday 10 June 2008 :: Category: General ::