Catholic residential youth work is the work of the youth retreat centres and residential centres operated by the Catholic Church. In the UK, Catholic residential youth work is an important part of the Church's ministry to young people.
There are eleven youth retreat centres in the UK. The centres grew up in the era immediately following the Second Vatican Council, reflecting a renewed interest in both ministry within the Church and in work with young people following the Albemarle Report in the 1960s. Not all of them would use the term retreat centre, but it is a useful catch-all. The oldest one is Soli House in Stratford-Upon-Avon, but it was St Cassian's Centre, Kintbury which pioneered the model of work in the field.
St Cassian's (known as Kintbury) was established by Damian Lundy in 1975 and pioneered a system based largely on having a volunteer team of young Catholics near to the ages of the young people they were working with. The system closely followed an Australian system Lundy had observed, a system which, in turn, was heavily based on an approach common in the US. It relied on these young Catholics sharing their stories. Peer ministry was always important to Lundy and narrative theology - the practice of ministry through sharing personal experiences and accounts - has always been an important facet of the De La Salle Brothers, the religious institute to which Lundy belonged. Many of the centres employ a programme based on the one brought by Lundy.
Eight of the centres are diocesan (i.e. run by dioceses) and five are run by religious institutes. Religious centres are able to supplement their spiritual side by drawing on the traditions and spirituality of the institute they represent. Diocesan centres, on the other hand often feel far more connected to the Church and therefore have a larger pool of resources and support to draw on and find recruitment to teams and finding clientele slightly easier.
The fact that young people on retreats or courses are brought away from their normal environment and into community living for a week is the basis of much of the practice. By living in community for a week, young people can be encouraged to look out for one another and to strengthening relationships with one another and with God.
Emmaus Village [6] (Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle)
No longer running
Myddelton Grange ([Diocese of Leeds]) (Closed 2016)
Dehon House (Run by the Sacred Heart Fathers for the Diocese of Shrewsbury) (Closed in 2003)
Southwell House (Jesuit Order) (Closed)
Brettargh Holt (Salesian Sisters) (Closed)
The Conferenceedit
Each year at the start of January the volunteers and other staff at the various centres are invited to attend a conference. This is attended by between 8-10 of the centres and provides Catholic residential youth workers with an opportunity to meet each other and exchange ideas. The conference is held in a different centre each year. Past conferences are as follows:
1996 - Savio House
1997 - St. Cassian's Centre, Kintbury
1998 - The Briars
1999 - SPEC Centre
2000 - Alton Castle
2001 - Soli House
2002 - Dehon House
2003 - SPEC Centre (co-organised with St. Cassian's Centre)
National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry - USA
Catholic Youth Services - England & Wales
December 14, 2023
catholic, residential, youth, work, this, article, relies, excessively, references, primary, sources, please, improve, this, article, adding, secondary, tertiary, sources, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, july, 2015, learn, when, remove,. This article relies excessively on references to primary sources Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources Find sources Catholic residential youth work news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message Catholic residential youth work is the work of the youth retreat centres and residential centres operated by the Catholic Church In the UK Catholic residential youth work is an important part of the Church s ministry to young people Young people at a team building activity at Castlerigg Manor Contents 1 History 2 Community living and a change of scene 3 UK Centres 4 The Conference 5 External linksHistory editThere are eleven youth retreat centres in the UK The centres grew up in the era immediately following the Second Vatican Council reflecting a renewed interest in both ministry within the Church and in work with young people following the Albemarle Report in the 1960s Not all of them would use the term retreat centre but it is a useful catch all The oldest one is Soli House in Stratford Upon Avon but it was St Cassian s Centre Kintbury which pioneered the model of work in the field St Cassian s known as Kintbury was established by Damian Lundy in 1975 and pioneered a system based largely on having a volunteer team of young Catholics near to the ages of the young people they were working with The system closely followed an Australian system Lundy had observed a system which in turn was heavily based on an approach common in the US It relied on these young Catholics sharing their stories Peer ministry was always important to Lundy and narrative theology the practice of ministry through sharing personal experiences and accounts has always been an important facet of the De La Salle Brothers the religious institute to which Lundy belonged Many of the centres employ a programme based on the one brought by Lundy Eight of the centres are diocesan i e run by dioceses and five are run by religious institutes Religious centres are able to supplement their spiritual side by drawing on the traditions and spirituality of the institute they represent Diocesan centres on the other hand often feel far more connected to the Church and therefore have a larger pool of resources and support to draw on and find recruitment to teams and finding clientele slightly easier Community living and a change of scene edit nbsp Young people at Castlerigg ManorThe fact that young people on retreats or courses are brought away from their normal environment and into community living for a week is the basis of much of the practice By living in community for a week young people can be encouraged to look out for one another and to strengthening relationships with one another and with God UK Centres editCurrent Alton Castle Archdiocese of Birmingham The Briars 1 Diocese of Nottingham Castlerigg Manor Diocese of Lancaster St Cassian s Centre 2 De La Salle Brothers St Vincent s Centre 3 Archdiocese of Southwark Animate Youth Ministries Archdiocese of Liverpool Savio House 4 Salesians of Don Bosco SDB Soli House Archdiocese of Birmingham SPEC 5 Archdiocese of Westminster Walsingham House Diocese of Brentwood Emmaus Village 6 Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle No longer running Myddelton Grange Diocese of Leeds Closed 2016 Dehon House Run by the Sacred Heart Fathers for the Diocese of Shrewsbury Closed in 2003 Southwell House Jesuit Order Closed Brettargh Holt Salesian Sisters Closed The Conference editEach year at the start of January the volunteers and other staff at the various centres are invited to attend a conference This is attended by between 8 10 of the centres and provides Catholic residential youth workers with an opportunity to meet each other and exchange ideas The conference is held in a different centre each year Past conferences are as follows 1996 Savio House 1997 St Cassian s Centre Kintbury 1998 The Briars 1999 SPEC Centre 2000 Alton Castle 2001 Soli House 2002 Dehon House 2003 SPEC Centre co organised with St Cassian s Centre 2004 Savio House 2005 Alton Castle 2006 St Cassian s Centre Kintbury 2007 Castlerigg Manor 2008 SPEC Centre 2009 SPEC Centre 2010 The Hayes Conference Centre 2011 The Hayes Conference Centre 2012 The Hayes Conference Centre 2013 The Hayes Conference Centre 2014 The Hayes Conference Centre 2015 The Hayes Conference CentreExternal links editNational Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry USA Catholic Youth Services England amp Wales Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Catholic residential youth work amp oldid 1092944110, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
