2011 parish Assembly SS Alban & Stephen Catholic Church in St
Albans
Youth - a PPC priority
group for 2011
Youth Strategy Team report – September 2011
YST met on 21st July, and were due to meet on 31st August. This meeting has
been postponed due to Joanna being unwell. YST meetings for the autumn term
have been scheduled for Wednesday 7 September, Wednesday 5 October, Wednesday
2 November and Wednesday 7 December.
At our meeting in July we reviewed the YST objectives for the coming 3 years,
which had been developed by Joanna and Father Charles. We discussed our need
to support Joanna in a new way as she completes her first year with our parish.
These were just early proposals and the YST will consider these and make
firm proposals to the PPC once agreed.
We discussed the implementation of a youth newsletter that would inform parish
members of recent activities and keep them abreast of upcoming events. We
felt that the current youth webpage was in need of some revamping to bring
it alive, and attract the young people to use it.
Joanna spoke about the successes of the Children’s Liturgy group as an example
of parishioners who, with support, have assumed responsibility for a group
and established a rota. The desire is for this to happen in more groups.
Focus areas were highlighted for the YST. These were:
Leadership/Co-ordination: The need for good leadership, whilst ensuring that
individuals were not overburdened was emphasised. Each group/activity will
be regularly reviewed by the YST and there should be regular contact with
each.
Cheerful Givers Register: Pat O’Brien suggested the need to centralize the
volunteers lists. “Cheerful givers” for the Youth Ministry and the “likely
lads” and “lovely ladies” co-ordinated by Jacquie Fowler.
Non-Catholic Schools: The need for stronger focus on support for children
of our parish in non-Catholic schools was highlighted at evaluation meetings
for First Holy Communion parents.
St John Fisher: The need to develop a stronger link with St John Fisher was
highlighted. Charlotte Stevens has offered to assist in this as she works
as a classroom assistant when not at university.
The World Youth Day pilgrimage was a hugely successful one, a wonderful experience
of the worldwide church. Joanna French led the group of 9 young people and
2 staff to Madrid for opportunities for sound teaching, beautiful masses
and reverent adoration times. A great time was had by all.
