Formby/Central Sefton - Youth Ministry

Phil provided support for both Our Lady of Compassion’s and St Jerome’s Confirmation programmes. Total of 42 young people.

National Catholic Conference:

Phil and The Youth Ministry ran the Youth Stream for the National Catholic Conference in Southport. Programme included guest speakers and a Christian Mime artist, video, discussion and prayer time. Attended by 20 people age 9 to 16.

The National Catholic Conference committee said. “……You did a fantastic job. I wanted to reiterate my thanks to you once again as I know you took it all on last June with very little notice..…. it would be great to work and collaborate again on a venture.”

This was an ambitious event organised by the Youth Ministry team. Aimed at yrs 8 to 11 pupils (age 12-16 years) it took place on a Sunday through the afternoon and into the evening. Posters and invitations were sent out to all local schools; Catholic and State, and to all the year 8 pupils who had attended the Year 7 disco the previous academic year.

The programme included:
• Times for Prayer, and Worship including contemporary music.
• Drama provided by a local Baptist church which included audience participation.
• Guest speakers, including two Christian witness talks by young people, one Catholic and one Baptist, about their commitment to, and experience of God).
• Three short video’s based around reconciliation including one of The Simpsons. Discussion times.
• Evening - Chippy supper and entertainment.
We received help from local C of E and Baptist churches.

The annual Formby Street Nativity:
The event was organised by Churches Together in Formby and attracted around 2000 people of all ages to the town centre. Many young people were involved in the event including one from St Jerome’s parish who was taking the part of Mary and our Youth Minister was to be seen as a noisy reveller at the Inn. The high street was once again closed to traffic as the Nativity story was retold with songs and lots of entertaining drama. We’ve always had a real donkey for Mary plus numerous goats and sheep but this year a real camel was added to the cast.

Away-Day for the Youth Ministry Team plus guests.

The Youth Ministry Team plus a teenager and a few other invited guests with direct experience of working with young people were invited to:

Reflect on experience of the past year and on views of young people.

Learn from the experiences of others.

Develop a consensus for the direction and focus of future action.

Some Key Findings from the day:
• Some young people prefer to be engaged in events or groups that have a practical slant to Christianity e.g. fundraising for charity.
• We need more opportunities for young people to evangelise other young people.
• A significant number of young people become disillusioned with the church at a much earlier age than we had originally thought.
• A significant number of Catholics primary school pupils and their parents have little or no links with church and whilst they are happy to engage with their children on preparation for Sacraments in school, do not feel comfortable entering a church.
• The biggest obstacle to young people encountering God in their lives appears to be that they do not see Church Liturgy (e.g. Mass) as being relevant to them.

Phil helped develop and plan age-appropriate readings and music for the OLOC Primary School 1st Communion Candidates. The Mass following the day of 1st Holy Communion drew over 100 children to the Children's Liturgy (Little Church)

In addition Phil is supporting a music teacher who is teaching children at St Jerome's Primary School and bringing their large children's choir to support a monthly Family Mass. he will be doing similar for OLOC