Ireland Mission
“We beg you, O youth, to come and walk once more among us”- St. Patrick's Confession
The Ireland mission seeks to respond to the call of the Church to evangelization and the call of hungry hearts. In order to revitalize the culture of Ireland, missionaries will meet the Irish people where they are: in the schools, on the streets, and in the pubs. Through bar ministry, catecheses, and holy conversations a witness is given to people of all ages.
1) Bar Ministry
The primary ministry of Ireland Mission takes place in the local pubs. The “publics” have served as social centers of the Irish people for centuries, many have looked to alcohol as a coping mechanism, but that only serves to further the depression they experience. By encountering them in these places, witness occurs through personal evangelization, examples of self-control, and simple holy conversation.
2) Youth Ministry
Local priests, teachers, and youth ministers provide opportunities for classroom catecheses and dialogue with the youth in secondary schools. For example, a series of talks was given at St. Joseph’s Patrician College on a life with the the Trinity-- in the love of the Father, after the model of Christ, imbued with the Holy Spirit-- with a witness on chastity. Several classes were given a similar presentation at the Mercy Sister’s secondary school in Tuam, a town just outside Galway city.
The primary ministry of Ireland Mission takes place in the local pubs. The “publics” have served as social centers of the Irish people for centuries, many have looked to alcohol as a coping mechanism, but that only serves to further the depression they experience. By encountering them in these places, witness occurs through personal evangelization, examples of self-control, and simple holy conversation.
2) Youth Ministry
Local priests, teachers, and youth ministers provide opportunities for classroom catecheses and dialogue with the youth in secondary schools. For example, a series of talks was given at St. Joseph’s Patrician College on a life with the the Trinity-- in the love of the Father, after the model of Christ, imbued with the Holy Spirit-- with a witness on chastity. Several classes were given a similar presentation at the Mercy Sister’s secondary school in Tuam, a town just outside Galway city.
3) Support of Local Faith Communities: NUI Galway
The National University of Ireland’s Galway campus (NUIG) offers a chance for missionaries to assist the Catholic campus community, Youth 2000. As a university organization meet once a week on Wednesdays for a holy hour and social. Through praying with them, the team affirms the community and benefits from the joy and love that that community has. Contacts and relationships are formed between the team, which helps for the continuation of ministry beyond the week. We hope, too, that Youth 2000 might be encouraged by our ministry and further their own evangelistic work.
4) Compulsory Evangelization
The team also aims to maintain an aura of mission at every moment, so to witness to each and every person. Witness can be given to bus drivers, waiters and waitresses, indeed any other person the team encounters at any moment through cordiality, purity, and charity.
The National University of Ireland’s Galway campus (NUIG) offers a chance for missionaries to assist the Catholic campus community, Youth 2000. As a university organization meet once a week on Wednesdays for a holy hour and social. Through praying with them, the team affirms the community and benefits from the joy and love that that community has. Contacts and relationships are formed between the team, which helps for the continuation of ministry beyond the week. We hope, too, that Youth 2000 might be encouraged by our ministry and further their own evangelistic work.
4) Compulsory Evangelization
The team also aims to maintain an aura of mission at every moment, so to witness to each and every person. Witness can be given to bus drivers, waiters and waitresses, indeed any other person the team encounters at any moment through cordiality, purity, and charity.