youth

Youth at St Joseph's

Contents

Baptism Preparation

Holy Communion and Reconciliation Preparation

Confirmation Programme

Children's Liturgy Group

35th Lancaster St Joseph's Scout Group - Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Ventures

Altar Servers' Club

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Baptism Preparation

Child Baptism introduces a child to the life of the Church, and is reliant on the solemn promise of the Parents and Godparents to introduce the child "by word and example" to the life of faith. The purpose of Baptism preparation is to:

Welcome the family to their Church family, into which the child is to be baptised.
Make the parents and godparents aware of the promises and their meaning.
Help them understand the parts of the ceremony, and their symbolic meaning.
Encourage them in their work as Christian parents which is begun at baptism.

Holy Communion and Reconciliation Preparation

Holy Communion Catechists and helpers are adult parishioners who in partnership with parents and school, prepare children, including those from other schools, for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion.

First Holy Communion Group 1998

Confirmation Programme

The purpose of Confirmation is to complete the child's entry into the Church, begun at Baptism, and to encourage them to begin to take an active part in their Church life. As with all sacramental preparation it should be a partnership, whereby the parents carry out their duty of introducing the child to the faith, with the help of School and the Parish, the child's wider Christian family.

The Confirmation programme is currently being revised and the next course is expected to commence next year.

Confirmation Group 1998

Children's Liturgy Group

This is an established feature of the 10.30am mass in a form that children can understand, without losing the message of Our Lord.

Following a form similar to the mass that the adults attend, activities are based around this reading, which may be picture drawing, illustrated talks, acting out the Gospel or a topical hymn. The group returns to mass where the children present the Offertory.We have started many regular parish activities including Summer Picnic, Harvest Collection and distribution to the elderly, Christingle Service on Epiphany followed by Christmas Party (both this and the Picnic are open to all parishioners).

We currently have three leaders but any parent willing to help would be more than welcome. We would like more children to join us, but some are perhaps a little shy and for this reason, we welcome parents who just want to sit with their children.

Children's Liturgy Group play cricket at picnic, 1996

Have a look at some more Children's Liturgy Group Photographs

35th Lancaster St Joseph's Scout Group - Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Ventures

The aim of the Scout Association is to encourage the physical, mental and spiritual development of young people so that they may take a constructive place in contemporary Society.

Beavers

We meet Wednesday evenings from 5.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. The Beaver Scout section is open to boys and girls of six to eight years of age. The motto of the Beaver Scouts is 'Fun and Friends'. We enjoy playing many games and doing crafts, we also go out on trips.

Cubs

We meet Wednesday evenings from 7.00pm to 8.30 p.m. The Cub Scout section is open to boys and girls between the ages of eight and ten. The motto of the Cubs is 'Be Prepared'. We enjoy taking part in activities to earn badges, for example, home help, cycling proficiency and first aid. Cubs also enjoy outdoor activities such as camping.

Scouts

We meet Friday evenings 7.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.. Scouts is open to boys and girls between the ages of ten and fifteen. The Scouts undergo a training programme in a fun way to achieve the 'AIM' by completing badge work, camping and various other activities. Scout camping is more intense than cub camping as it is the aim of Scout camping to teach us to become self sufficient and also to interact with each other over a sustained period of time, i.e. one week. During a weekly camp we enjoy activities like climbing, canoeing, abseiling, pony trekking, bivouaking etc.

Ventures

In August we are forming a Venture section for young people between the ages of fifteen and twenty one. Ventures plan their own activities and can work towards their Duke of Edinburgh Award in conjunction with scouting awards and community service. Anyone interested in Scouting as a leader, uniformed or not, or with the Executive Committee is very welcome.

Altar Servers Club

Altar server's play an important role in assisting the priest during the celebration of the mass. The position of server is one of respect and dignity.

This new group enables altar servers to meet socially outside the mass. Initially it comprises of such things as a shared meal and film although it is hoped to expand it to outings.

Altar Servers with Fr Philip and the late Fr Tony, St Stephen's Day 1998