23.09.2024
DGYC Announces Internship Programme at 10th Anniversary Celebration
Dublin and Glendalough Youth Council celebrated its 10th birthday on Saturday evening (September 21) with news of an exciting new initiative. DGYC has launched a new internship programme for 18–25 year olds and applications for the 2025 programme open next month.
The 10 month internship programme is geared to help young adults develop their skill sets and leadership capabilities through serving in church youth ministry around Dublin and Glendalough.
Speaking at the launch in Christ Church Cathedral, DGYC’s Youth Ministry Development Officer Emma Fawcett had a message for potential interns and the young people of the dioceses. “This internship is about investing in you and training you. We want to help you grow as a person, to deepen your faith in God and to leave with some brilliant experiences and great life skills,” she stated.
Interns will be matched to a local church where they will help run and develop youth ministry. They will also be part of the DGYC team at regional and national youth events and will get to work alongside other Christian youth organisations around the country. There will be opportunities to go on retreats and attend Christian events. “We want young people to know that God cares for them, and that their lives can be better with Him at the centre. You can be part of that!,” Emma added.
You can learn more about the DGYC internship in the video below and on the DGYC website www.dgyc.org
Young people, youth group leaders and clergy from across the dioceses attended the 10th anniversary service in the cathedral. The theme was based on 1 Timothy 4:12 ‘Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity’.
DGYC member and former chairperson, the Revd Ruth Noble outlined some of the people who had been important in the development of the council over the last 10 years including fellow former chairs, Dean Niall Sloane and Canon Lesley Robinson. She also thanked the current chairperson, the Revd Alan Breen and reserved special mention for former member, David Caird who worked so hard to make sure DGYC was set up properly.
For most young people the face of the youth council is the youth officer and Ruth paid tribute to Eric and Susie who held the role in the past and Emma the current youth ministry coordinator. “We have been blessed with our youth officers and each brings their own special talents to the role. Thank you to each one of you,” she said.
Emma explained that she had been in the role three years and her job centred around supporting young people, youth leaders, clergy and parents in trying to navigate their way through faith. “I want to enhance what is going on locally because that is where your faith is happening day by day,” she said.
She read part of Father’s Love Letter, a compilation of paraphrased Bible verses from Genesis to Revelation that are presented in the form of a love letter from God to all his children. Each person in the congregation was given a copy. “This is our hope for you. We want young people to know that they are God’s children and he is their father. Whatever DGYC is doing – this is why. It is not for DGYC or the Church of Ireland, but it is for young people to know that God is your father and you are his child,” she explained.
The Revd Alan Breen drew on the theme of the service and said that everyone has things in their lives that they may not feel good about. But pointing to the reading from 1 Timothy he said that young people should not let people look down on them because they are young.
He noted that the Father’s Love Letter reminded everyone what God thinks of them. “We look at Instagram or Snapchat and we can wonder if this is what we are supposed to be like. But this letter is a reminder of what God wants us to be,” he said. “What the church is doing today is saying that you are part of the church,” he added.
After the service the congregation were treated to pizza. They watched a video message from Archbishop Michael Jackson who was unable to attend the service.
They also heard stories from young people around the dioceses about how their youth group has impacted them. Lucy from Clontarf said that becoming a youth leader had helped her to reconnect with her faith. Baily from Redcross said that being with young people in the same situation as him inspired him in his faith. Alesia from Kill O’ the Grange explained that going to youth group enabled her to spend time with Christian friends. Alannah from Rathmines noted that her faith had matured as she has grown older and prayer shared with friends at Summer Madness this year felt deeper.
Simon Henry, National Youth Officer with CIYD observed that the young people’s stories highlighted the links, fellowship and family found in church. “You are the life blood of your church,” he told them.
There are a number of events for young people coming up including One Youth in St Catherine’s Church, Thomas Street, in November. Youth leader Shane Maguire described it as a month of youth group in one day with worship, teaching, games, fun and food. See https://www.saintcatherines.ie/oneyouth for details.
