RESERVE YOUR PLACE NOW! Email [email protected] with your name, parish and role.

WHERE: SACRED HEART SCHOOL, UPMINSTER | TIMINGS: 10:00 – 15:30

This training day is open to all First Holy Communion and Confirmation Catechists in the Diocese of Brentwood and will be an opportunity to hear about fresh resources, as well as receiving input to assist you in your parish.

The day includes the Brentwood Diocesan launch of the CYMFed Faith in Action Awards, with guest speakers Phil Sparke, Chief Executive of HCPT – The Pilgrimage Trust, and Sarah Barber, former BCYS Director and now CAFOD Youth Team Leader. Alongside this you will have the opportunity to attend workshops given by representatives from Cafod, Youth Alpha and The Brentwood Diocese Music Department. There will also be workshops to share best practice in parish youth ministry, Confirmation and First Holy Communion Catechesis. A full list of workshops will be available from 21st October.

Please arrive from 10:00, to register and allow yourself time for a coffee and some refreshments!
The day will then begin at 10:30 with an opening prayer and introductions from Fr Dominic Howarth. Fr Dominic will then give a recap from the Synod on Youth, taking place in Rome in mid-October, and will share some recent CYMFed research on Young Catholics in the UK entitled “Complex Catholicism.”

Phil Sparke and Sarah Barber will speak in the second session before lunch.

During lunchtime you will have the opportunity to browse resources and meet other catechists from around the diocese. Please bring your own lunch with you.

During the afternoon you will have the opportunity to attend your choice of 2 workshops. The full range of these will be available from 21st October, to help you in advance of registration on the day.

The day will finish with a closing prayer and will end by 3:30pm.

To reserve your place for the day, please send an email to [email protected] with your name, parish and whether you are a Confirmation or First Holy Communion Catechist. There are a maximum of 200 places from across the Diocese; we can take several catechists from each parish, but we do advise early reservation of places. The day is FREE; it is one of the events funded by the National Youth Sunday collection, which will be taken in your parish on 24th/25th November.