Welcome to Lancaster RC Youth Service Website

We are now well into the new year. The team began the new year with a conference which gathered together all the gap year volunteers working in the different Catholic youth centres around the country. This was a great event to see the many amazing things that are going on around England, and also an opportunity to meet wonderful generous-hearted young people from all different walks of life. Maybe this could be you this time next year? We are looking for gap years to be part of our 2012-13 team at this time. Based at Castlerigg, a year on our team is a fantastic experience to go deep into your faith, grow in confidence and skills and serve young people from across the north of England. If you are interested, please get in touch with us as soon as possible. Apart from all the school retreats that we are running, we began the new year by holding our first Summit meeting, conquering Catbells in what was very wet and miserable weather, but fun was had by all, and our next meeting is on 5 February.

Any plans for your Summer? The deadline for booking forms for our Summer Pilgrimages to Lourdes and to Taize is soon coming up, 27 January 2012. All the information is on the website. The Knights of St Columba are kindly organising a 10-mile sponsored walk from Lytham on 5 February for those who would like to raise some money for Lourdes. In addition, there is a group from the Diocese going to the Eucharistic Congress in Dublin (14-18 June).

Finally, we have three FREE places to attend the international pro-life youth conference organised by SPUC 2-4 March. We also have one FREE place for the Justice and Peace National Conference (20-22 July) whose theme will be ‘A new world order? China today and our response’. If you are interested in taking up this place or any of the above, please email team@castleriggmanor.co.uk.

Following on from the Pope’s visit to England last year, an event is being organised to keep the flame alive for young people in March next year. This event, in Wembley Arena will give you the chance to gather with thousands of other young people. There will be speakers, workshops, music and a whole host of things to do. Check with your parish or school about groups going from your area. If there isn’t one near you, then think about coming with the Youth Service. More details.

Catholic Youth Event at the Wembley Arena. March 24th 2012

There is also the possibility to fan the Olympic Flame at the Games next Summer. Plans are apace to get together over a thousand young Catholics, train them up, so that they can assist at the Olympics with hospitality, outreach and service, providing a Christian presence to the event, linking together sport, faith, creative and performing arts and a passion for life. The Joshua Camp which will be running from 1-13 August 2012 is part of an umbrella group called, ‘More than Gold’ which are co-ordinating the initiative. If you enjoy sports and want to be part of the great atmosphere, please contact the Joshua Camp.

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