Diocesan News
New Youth Work Coordinator Appointed in Dublin and Glendalough
Dublin and Glendalough Youth Council (DGYC) has announced the appointment of Eric Denner (pictured) to the role of Youth Work Coordinator for the United Dioceses.
Eric will be based in St Ann’s Parish Centre on Dawson Street and will work closely with the Rural Deaneries to explore new and creative ways of ministering with young people.
Eric comes to DGYC with a wealth of experience. He was born and raised on the north side of Dublin and attended Sunday School in North Strand Parish before progressing to their youth club and later the junior fellowship group.
He was also, and still is, heavily involved in his local Boys’ Brigade companies and currently helps out with Anchors in 7th Company and is Company Captain of 39th Company.
Having attended many Church of Ireland Youth Council summer camps in his teenage years, Eric recalls being fascinated by the leaders who gave up their time for him and the many other teenagers to teach them about God, faith and their role in the Church. Their impact was so great that he spent his first summer holiday in his first job, at the age of 18, helping out at a Limerick and Killaloe diocesan summer camp.
After a time with Limerick and Killaloe UDYC, he took up an internship with 3Rock Youth, the predecessor of Dublin and Glendalough Youth Council, and spent a year learning about youth work and running residential events, camps, school events and concerts.
He put what he had learnt into practice by starting a new youth club, C180, with friends from Coolock Parish. This club ran for many years in different forms. For the last few years Eric has organised and run, with the help of volunteer leaders, a very successful annual Holiday Bible Club in Raheny parish.
Eric said: ‘This new role that I am undertaking as the Youth Work Coordinator for Dublin and Glendalough Youth Council is one which excites me immensely. I look forward to meeting everyone through this role, applying my experience to this position and learning from others in Dioceses as I tackle the job of showing the world what the Church has to offer to young people today and demonstrating that God still loves us and cares for all of us just as much as when he came to earth 2,000 years ago.’
Commenting on the appointment, the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, said he was pleased to welcome Mr Denner to the post of Youth Work Coordinator. He stated: ‘Mr Denner has accepted this position at a critical time in the dioceses addressing the welcome and involvement of young people in church life at every level. I regard confirmation as one of the most significant and privileged parts of my Episcopal ministry.
‘From my own experience I can assure Mr Denner that there is great enthusiasm for engagement on the part of faithful young people in our parishes. I pray that members of congregations will embrace and encourage the new ministries of young people that will be released through Mr Denner’s collaboration with parishes through the Rural Deaneries. I wish him God’s blessing in the years ahead.’
Eric’s appointment has also been welcomed by the Chairman of Dublin and Glendalough Youth Council, the Revd Niall Sloane. ‘Eric brings a wealth of experience to the role and a commitment to young people. In his appointment we are looking forward to the next stage of ministry with young people in these United Dioceses,’ Mr Sloane said.
He added: ‘In collaboration with the Vicar and Select Vestry we are thrilled to have a home and office space for the Youth Council in St Ann’s Parish Centre, Dawson St. As part of his new role, Eric will be working closely with the nine Rural Deaneries throughout the United Dioceses to execute new and creative ways of ministering with young people. This will be carried out where groups of parishes within Rural Deaneries will work together to implement youth initiatives. We look forward to this next step on the journey and are glad to have Eric with us.’
Diocesan Communications Officer, Dublin & Glendalough
087 2356472
Contact Details
Lynn Glanville
[email protected]