Daniel O’Connell church, Cahersiveen, Ring of Kerry. Photo: IStock The Diocese of Kerry is undertaking a major overhaul of its pastoral approach with a renewed focus on youth ministry built around local leadership, parish networks, and national collaboration
At the centre of this shift is the first ‘Conference of Possibilities’, recently held in Killarney, which brought together more than 20 organisations working with young people alongside clergy and parish leaders. The gathering also marked the launch of two key initiatives: the Spirit Youth Programme and the Pope John Paul II Awards, both aimed at re-engaging young people at parish level.
“We’re not just maintaining,” said Colette O’Doherty, Co-Ordinator of Youth Ministry for the Diocese of Kerry speaking to The Irish Catholic. “We’re building the Church… and that’s where our vocations are going to come from.”
“What prompted it is that we started training youth leaders recently,” she said. “About 20 youth leaders are currently being trained, with about another 20 lining up for after this.”
The Spirit programme, aimed at 15 and 16 year olds, is designed to provide what she described as a “positive, safe, supportive environment” combining “fun, friendship, food and faith”.
Ms O’Doherty said the approach responds to the pressures facing young people today, including rising anxiety levels and a lack of supportive spaces. “Once the door is open, they will come in. But if the door isn’t open, there’s no door to walk through,” she said.
The conference was also designed to connect parishes with organisations already active in youth ministry, allowing programmes to be “dropped into these youth groups”.
“We wanted them to see all the resources and organisations that are actively working out there,” she said.
Feedback from the day was strong, particularly among clergy and parish leaders. “I got phone calls, text messages, emails, with real enthusiasm, with real engagement, with real hope,” Ms O’Doherty said.
Looking ahead, the diocese plans to expand the initiative parish by parish as more leaders complete training. “The plan is that they will set up a youth group within their parish,” she said, adding that further tranches of leaders are already preparing to follow. Ms O’Doherty also said that she would love to see other dioceses host their own Conferences of Possibilities.