A woman prays the rosary at Ballyloughane
beach in Galway, but sometimes prayer is as
simple as asking: “Lord, increase my faith.”
Photo: CNS /Clodagh Kilcoyne, Reuters. Clonard Youth and Young Adult Ministry gathered for their residential retreat at Greenhill YMCA in Newcastle, Co. Down over the weekend, as part of their Empower 2 Transform (E2T) programme, a regional partnership youth programme delivered across Northern Ireland through YMCA Ireland, Youth Link NI, Youth Initiatives NI, and Mencap NI.
The E2T programme aims to empower young people aged 14-24 to build leadership and social skills through forming positive relationships, accepting each other’s differences, and gaining confidence, as well as learning how to work towards a more “cohesive and peaceful society”. According to the programme’s 2025 impact numbers, E2T has reached 712 young people in Northern Ireland.
The weekend featured team building exercises, outdoor games, a hike through the Mourne Mountains, and meals together. The group also celebrated Mass and the Eucharist with Fr Oan Runi, who reflected on the Gospel story of Lazarus on the Fifth Sunday of Lent.
Other events included morning prayer and a ‘trust walk’ which encouraged the group to listen to each other, work together, and trust each other’s guidance as they helped lead each other through the forest at night.
On March 23, Clonard youth gathered to continue their work in the E2T programme and reflect on their time during the weekend in Newcastle; both what they had learned and experienced.