On the evening of the 30 September the new intake of volunteers aged 18-25 from SPEC, the Diocesan Youth Retreat Centre, celebrated the start of the 2011/12 year of formation and evangelisation. They were given a tour of the Cathedral by Fr.Michael O’Boy, Director of the Agency of Evangelisation and commissioned during the Mass in the Cathedral Crypt for their year of service. The principal celebrant was Bishop John Arnold, who encouraged the young people to be ambassadors of Christ.  After the Mass, Bishop John and Fr.Michael presented each volunteer with an icon as a reminder of their new mission in the diocese. Afterwards the team had some food and drink and spoke enthusiastically about the catechetical formation they are currently receiving, the community prayer, and the opportunities to receive the sacraments on a regular basis at the SPEC.  This of course will keep them all in good stead as they reach out to the young people of our diocese with the message of the gospel! Please do keep these young people in your prayers as they participate in this vital ministry of evangelisation.  

If you also would like to be part of this vision of evangelisation, please speak either to the staff at the SPEC Centre or to our Diocesan Youth Chaplain, Fr.David Reilly davidreilly@rcdow.org.uk