"The world you are inheriting is a world which desperately needs a new sense of brotherhood and human solidarity. It is a world which needs to be touched and healed by the beauty and richness of God's love. It needs witnesses to that love. The world needs salt. It needs you - to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. "
Pope John Paul, WYD, Toronto,Sunday July 28, 2002

"Do not say, 'I am a youth,'
Because everywhere I send you, you shall go,
And all that I command you, you shall speak.
Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,"

Jeremiah 1:7-8

St. Patrick's parish has a long modern tradition in youth ministry. In the 1980s and early 1990s, Fr. Pat Mc Enroe and his leadership team spearheaded what was called 'Youthopia'. This programme took place each week in St. Vincents Secondary School. It onsisted of creative liturgies, personal development and group discussion on faith issues. it was so appealing tha it attracted up to 200 young people every week - there was even a waiting list for young people who wanted to take part in the programme.

 In the 1990s priests like Fr. Gerry Tremer, Michael Murtagh and Dermot Maloney were recognised as Youth Ministry priests with the latter organising the youth section of St. Patrick's Pilgrimage to Lourdes.

The use of pilgrimage and service is a key way of drawing young people into ministry. in the Jubilee Year 2000, five young people from St. patrick's travelled to Rome for World Youth Day (WYD). When Fr. Gerry Campbell     arrived in St. Patrick's in 2003 he travelled to Toronto for WYD and to Cologne in 2005 as he was then Chairperson of Armagh Diocesan Youth Council. Five young people from St. Patrick's travelled with the diocesan group on both occasions. The parish sent four young people to WYD in 2008. The parish is committed to sending young representatives to WYDs in this new millennium - we look forward to WYD in Madrid.

St. Patrick's Parish is committed to being pro-active in helping young people to celebrate their faith. We have tried various initiatives during this first decade of the 21st century - a regular 'Youth Mass' from 2003 -2005 in St. Nicholas' Church, we piloted the first full-time Youth Ministry post in the Archdiocese (2004 -2005). However, the most successful initiative in recent years is Dundalk WORD Youth Mission. This week-long mission involves the partnership of schools and parishes. the aim of each mission is to celebrate our Catholic faith using various media: music, silence, dram, retreat teams, personal testimonies. Much of the faith-driven activities take place in school. A Mass in one of the local churches gathers all participants, the sacrament of Penance is celebrated in school, a highly entertaining  'Battle of the Bands' is celebrated mid-week, and Dundalk FM promotes the Mission on a daily basis. The target year-groups are 5th and Transition Years. From feedback through the years, WORD Mission is very well received. The Mission began in 2004 with Fr. Gerry Campbell     as coordinator. Fr. Mark O'Hagan now holds this responsibility and he and his active Youth Ministry Committee are presently preparing for the 5th annual Mission.

Fr. Mark and a group of young people travel to Calcutta in June each year, to work with the Sisters of Charity in their mission to the poorest of the poor.

He takes approximately thirty young people to Lourdes every August with St. Patrick's Parish Pilgrimage.

So between World Youth Day, Calcutta, and Lourdes as well as Youth Missions you can tell that St. Patrick's Parish is committed to reaching out to young people.

Presently we are trying to recruit more young people for the various ministries in our parish. We already have a few who are Ministers of the Word, Eucharist and Music. Our challenge is to find more young people who are not afraid to stand up and witness to their faith.

St. Patrick's Parish is also headquarters of 'GATE Magazine' (see our links section). GATE is a colourful alternative faith-based magazine for young people. It was launched by Archbishop (now Cardinal) Seán Brady and Bishop Clifford in 2000. Four times per year 4,200 magazines are distributed to post-primary schools and parishes throughout Ireland. GATE looks at topical issues from a faith perspective: poverty, abortion, euthanasia, self-esteem, family...as well as providing resources for schools: Prayer Services, End of Year Masses, Scriptural Reflections... GATE (God And Time Embrace) has stood the test of time and has made advances into the U.K. and U.S.A. If you would like free back issues contact Fr. Gerry Campbell     in St. Patrick's. Fr. Gerry is Chairperson of the GATE Editorial Team.

Fr. Mark O'Hagan is now coordinator of Youth Ministry in St. Patrick's Parish and the following are his main of ministry: