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 age levels.
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 presentation was delivered on the persons of the Trinity at St. Joseph’s Patrician College, also known as “The Bish.” Several classes were given a similar class 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 presentation was delivered on the persons of the Trinity at St. Joseph’s Patrician College, also known as “The Bish.” Several classes were given a similar class 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 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) Informal Preaching
The team also aims to maintain an aura of mission at every moment, so to witness to each person. Witness can be given to bus drivers, waiters and waitresses, and any other person the team encounters at any moment through cordiality, purity, and charity.
The National University of Ireland’s Galway campus 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) Informal Preaching
The team also aims to maintain an aura of mission at every moment, so to witness to each person. Witness can be given to bus drivers, waiters and waitresses, and any other person the team encounters at any moment through cordiality, purity, and charity.