Diocesan News
New Youth Officer for the Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross
The Right Reverend Paul Colton, Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross has announced the appointment of a new Diocesan Youth Officer for the Diocese. He is Mark Dunwoody who is currently the Youth Director at Saint John and Saint Philip International Church of The Hague in The Netherlands.
Mark Dunwoody has 17 years of youth work experience in Northern Ireland and Europe, including as a youth leader, scout master and leader in outdoor pursuits.
In his current post, Mark has gained extensive experience in understanding young people of different cultures and nationalities. During this time he has been involved with various projects which involve networking with other churches across Europe and Ireland.
Mark also has extensive experience in Reconciliation work and has designed and implemented programmes in Northern Ireland, Poland and Germany; and is currently in the process of setting up a project for the summer 2007 which will involve teenagers from Israel, Palestine, The Netherlands, Belgium and Ireland. He was recently by the South African Embassy (in The Netherlands) to take part in a Symposium to look at how to empower the youth in a post conflict society.
Before coming to Cork to start work here, Mark will lead a group of young adults to Luweero, Uganda to implement a building project in a local school. Meanwhile his wife, Diane will set up a dental hygiene project there and work in a clinic.
Mark says:
?l feel very excited and privileged to be taking up this new role in Cork and am looking forward to building on the great work that the local youth council has been doing. I?ve always been driven by a passion to see young people engage in church life.?
The chairperson of the Diocesan Youth Council - Judy Peters - welcomed the appointment and said:
?This is an exciting new initiative for our diocese and we look forward hugely to welcoming Mark to Cork, Cloyne and Ross and to working with him.?
Mark is married to Diane and they have three sons Gareth, Ricky and Dylan.
Full text of the speech and further information from:
Ms Sam Wynn,
Diocesan Communications Officer,
Telephone: (021) 420 1860
E mail Diocesan Communications Officer Cork, Cloyne & Ross