Some ideas are just too good to keep to yourself. We always like to give some space for parish youth groups to share what they’ve been doing. In this edition you can read  about the confirmation team at  Sacred Heart in Luton and how St Mary’s in Dunstable makes it possible for so many young people to come to Lumos.

Confirmation Programme, Sacred Heart Luton

Our programme is spread over about a dozen sessions, including a Service of Light and a penitential service for both candidates and parents. Most sessions are on Saturdays from 10.00 - 12.00 am.

We are inspired by how the apostles came together to pray before every action/decision (Acts), and so we try to make prayer to the Holy Spirit part of each session. We cover the expected topics, hoping to ensure that our young people do understand the promises they will be making. In each session we, as leaders, try to convey how God has been active in our own lives, how we have been guided and helped by Him. We’ve also been helped by parishioners bringing their own stories.

It’s probably a common experience that young people don’t respond well to talk - talk, so we try to use visual aids, drama, group discussion and games as much as possible. For example the penitential service this year, as organised by Fr Chris Whitehouse, was a series of activity stations, a holy obstacle course, to which all were sent out in two’s. They had previously made an examination of conscience and had then nailed their sins to the Cross (red drawing pin into large polystyrene cross). On completing their penance in a reflection area which included prayer stations, (like writing a prayer on a pebble and then placing this in ‘cleansing’ water) they replaced their red pin with a white one as a sign of forgiveness.

We’ve gathered pages of prayer stations and games from various downloadable sources and we’ll be happy to pass them on if you contact me. We have also taken a lot of useful ideas from www.nymo.org. It would also be great to hear from other teams what  worked for them! Bozenachristopher@hotmail.com

Further reading: 'Guidelines For Confirmation', put together by our friends at the Northampton Religious Education Services (NORES)

Supporting young people coming to Lumos, St Mary’s Dunstable

Bring on Lumos:the word in January! We can't wait! Each time there are more young people in our parish here at St Mary's (Dunstable, Houghton Regis and Toddington) who taste the Lumos experience and just can't wait to go again! Funding can sometimes be an obstacle so we do admit to enticing first timers, and anyone else who needs financial help, with a  subsidy and free transport. Cost must never be a barrier!

Most of our funding for youth activities is raised from a weekly lottery but was boosted last year by a very successful Italian Night with an Auction of Promises which enabled us to sponsor Frank on his World Youth Day pilgrimage to Sydney. Parishioners are gradually learning of the strong influence Lumos, led by the NYMO team, has on the faith journeys of our young people and have wanted to help. We have been grateful for donations from three of our church groups.

Young people are already booking for January and with the continuing trend of increasing numbers it looks as though we had better get organising some sort of sponsorship event; an all-nighter perhaps?

If you are planning some fundraising with or for your youthgroup you might find our fundraising section helpful. You can also contact Brin, the diocesan Funding Advisor on brin@nymo.org or 01844 273337

The STYLE Concert

St Teresa’s youth are proud to present ‘THE STYLE CONCERT’!

This awesome fundraiser highlights the importance of youth action as the children of St. Teresa’s Parish, Princes Risborough show off their talents in a one off show.

Children helping children: the event is being organised, managed and hosted by the youth, and all the proceeds will support the CAFOD rehabilitation project for child soldiers in Sierra Leone.

What can you expect?  Well … St Teresa’s CAFOD group are organising a delicious lunch beforehand for a minimal cost, which is open to anyone to attend with purchase of a ticket.  Then, at an additional small cost, the fun begins as the children and youth entertain you with a range of talents from music to comedy, with a moving underlying message of the children that desperately need our help.

Please come and support the youth of St Teresa’s and more importantly the youths of Sierra Leone.

WHERE: St Teresa’s Church, Aylesbury Road, Princes Risborough, Bucks
WHEN:   Sunday 19th October.  CAFOD lunch – 12.30 p.m / Concert – 2.30 p.m.

Please don’t hesitate to contact Celia on celiasparkes@yahoo.co.uk

P.S. STYLE stands for St Teresa’s Youth Linking Everyone