INVITATION
In partnership with Trócaire, the Elphin diocese has invited  parish and Post-Primary school communities  to evolve a simple partnership by way of  encouraging and supporting  interested Transition Year students play a valued role in their parish and / or school community as Lenten Youth Ambassadors.

WHAT IS A LENTEN YOUTH AMBASSADOR?
A Transition Year Student  who, having participated in relevant training workshops, supports the work of Trócaire in their school and / or parish community by advancing an initiative they come up with  that is broadly in line with Trócaire’s objectives. 

The initial advancement of this initiative will be through a series of two-hour workshops that will take place in participating  schools.  These workshops are open to interested TY students and interested parishioners of the feeder parishes of each school  However, adults must first register with Justin Harkin (Project Leader) by contacting Justin on 087 6171526 / [email protected] .

Please note some dates and times have changed  (see corrected list below) owing to clashes with other events in schools.
 
Monday Oct. 7th
10.30 am – 12.30 pm    
Coláiste Mhuire, Ballygar, Co. Galway

13.30 pm – 15.30 pm
Coláiste Chiaráin, Summerhill,
Athlone, Co. Roscommon

Tuesday Oct. 8th
10.00 am – 12.00 noon
Castlerea Community School,
Castlerea, Co. Roscommon.

13.30 pm – 15.30 pm
St. Cuan’s College,
Castleblakney, Co. Galway.

Thursday Oct. 10th            
10.00 am – 12.00 noon
Summerhill College, Sligo

13.30 pm – 15.30 pm
Summerhill College, Sligo 

Friday Oct. 11th
10.00 am – 12.00 noon
Abbey Community College,
Boyle, Co. Roscommon

Monday Oct. 14th
10.00 am – 12.00 noon
CBS Roscommon

13.30 pm – 15.30 pm
Scoil Muire Gan Smál,
Roscommon

Tuesday 5th November
10.00 am – 12.00 noon 
Mercy College, Slig

 

Wednesday Nov. 13th
10.00 am – 12.00 noon
Ursuline College, Sligo

13.45 pm – 15.30 pm
Elphin Community College,
Elphin, Co. Roscommon

 

We are particularly keen that students experience this initiative as an opportunity to exercise their gifts and abilities in their parish community, and that related experiences will help them recognise that they are valued members of their parish communities.

Time spent as a Lenten Youth Ambassador may also be put toward a St. Pope John Paul II Award. 

 

Adult Parishioner Involvement
Where a parish opts to adopt this initiative through its PPC the next step for the PPC is to invite two or more Adult Parish Volunteers to attend one of the above workshops, i.e. in one of the schools attended by their teenage parishioners.

If after this workshop, teenagers and adults are open to working together, relevant Safeguarding Training and Garda Vettting will be supported.

PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN BY STUDENTS in 2021/2022, 2022/2023 and 2023/2024

  • Creation of visual displays in churches and schools,
  • Presentations at Masses,
  • Promotion of Trócaire’s Lenten social media campaign through students’ own networks
  • Raising awareness with junior cycle students in schools,
  • Fundraisers – Cake Sale, Football Blitz, School and parish showings of the movie, The Letter,
  • Building Bug Hotels
  • Presentations to Primary School children.

THE ROLE OF THE ADULT PARISH VOLUNTEER  (2 or more persons)
 The primary role of each Adult Parish Volunteer is to journey with the Lenten Youth Ambassadors of their parish, i.e. after completion of Garda Vetting and relevant Safeguarding Training. 
This journey may include:
3) being a friendly presence during related meetings in the parish
4) assisting the ambassadors put shape on one or two manageable projects
5) ensuring that safeguarding requirements are met when ambassadors gather to progress projects
6) affirming and praising work undertaken
7) facilitating ambassadors access any additional help that may be required. 

As most TY students are competent and talented people who have other commitments it is not envisaged that Lenten Youth Ambassadors and Adult Parish Volunteers will meet on more than two or three occasions.  

SUPPORTING RESOURCES
The diocese and Trócaire appreciate that parishes and schools will require supporting documentation, e.g. template letters to support recruitment of parish volunteers, letters from parish priests / parish administrators  to school principals, information for parents of teenagers and related permission slips.  These can be requested from  Deacon William or Justin (see contact details below).

ADDITIONAL ENQUIRIES:

Justin Harkin
Pastoral & Faith Dev. Services
[email protected]
087  6171526

Deacon William Gacquin
Diocesan Trócaire Representative
[email protected]
086 1693902

 

Updated:  26th September 2024