Irish Bishop Denis Nulty of Kildare and Leighlin raises the St. Brigid relic after removing it from its box at the beginning of Mass at St. Brigid’s Church in Kildare January 28, 2024. Photos: OSV News/John Mc Elroy Youth ministry must be active in every parish, according to the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, Denis Nulty. Bishop Nulty made the comment after a meeting with youth leaders, to discuss ‘intentional youth ministry’. This followed a gathering organised last month by Bishop Fintan Gavin, when they discussed the role of youth in the Irish Church.
“Our purpose was to build on that gathering and to try to map out what youth ministry might look like in Kildare and Leighlin Diocese,” Bishop Nulty said.
“Intentional Youth Ministry is going deeper than just attending pilgrimages or gatherings, its being an active presence in every parish,” the bishop told The Irish Catholic. He said that “there seems to be a revival of interest by young people in matters of faith, I see it on my visits to parishes for Sunday celebrations and events, but we need to build on that interest, we need to be able to respond to that interest.”
Working to increase that interest in the Catholic faith, “Fr David Vard is leading our Youth Ministry while building on the great tradition of programmes such as Meitheal, Pope John Paul II Awards and much more,” Bishop Nulty explained.
He said the diocese has a tradition of attending World Youth Days, and the meeting was also to prepare to the diocese participation in the next one, taking place in Seoul, South Korea, in 2027. The bishop said that 20 young people from the diocese will take part in the Jubilee for Youth in Rome from July 28 to August 3.