Diocesan News25 May 10

Youth Council Service in Glaslough

Clogher Diocesan Youth Council held a special Youth Service on Sunday 16th May in Donagh Parish Church, Glaslough at 7.00pm which was led by the Revd Robert Kingston.

As you would expect this was a lively and uplifting service of praise, with people from the surrounding parishes taking part. Surprise, surprise, the theme of the evening was Youth. There was a wealth of musical talent displayed on the evening by the young people from the parishes of Carrickmacross, Monaghan and Glaslough.

The Scripture readings were relevant to Youth and the Gospel of the day spoke about the promise of Jesus to his disciples and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Representatives from the parishes of Aghabog, Ballybay and Monaghan read the readings.

Young people from Monaghan parish delivered a drama entitled What's in a name. The speaker on the evening was Janet Wedlock on behalf of the Monaghan branch of the Irish Society of the Prevention of the Cruelty to Children . The Monaghan Branch has been operating for twenty years and is located within the new YWCA complex in Monaghan town. The Society has four main services, which include: Child Focus with one to one support for children under twelve; Teen Focus with one to one support empowering young people to make decisions and to learn coping skills; Mentoring, that is getting young people to interact in activities such as swimming, horse riding and learning music; and Mentoring of parents who are unable to cope.

Nationally many children are cared for by the ISPCC. They have a twenty-four hour service, and calls for help by phone and text from children to the Society are on the increase. Ireland has a high percentage of children who claim to be bullied.
Zoe Hall who is secretary of the Youth Council presented Janet with a cheque towards the work of the Society. The money was raised through a sponsored walk on St. Patrick's Day in Hilton Park, Scotshouse. It is hoped that the offering collected on the evening of the service combined with the proceeds from the sponsored walk will realise €1,500. These funds have been earmarked for resources within the work of the Society. After the service, the evening concluded with refreshments.