Safeguarding

RCDOM
Youth

Youth Ministry

Vision:

To bring young people of the Diocese of Motherwell into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through the lived experience of the community of the Church.
To support local parish communities within the Diocese, enabling them to set up and sustain their own youth ministry.
To bring together young people who are engaged in parish youth ministry through organising and promoting Diocesan, national and international events and pilgrimages.

Aims:

To place prayer and the fostering of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and the practice of lifelong discipleship among young people at the heart of our work.
To support parishes in encouraging their young parishioners to become lifelong disciples of Jesus by:
- providing diocesan support and training to parishes wishing to set up and sustain youth ministry.
- encouraging and facilitating the sharing of good youth engagement practice across parishes in the diocese.
- facilitating dialogue between parishes and high schools, especially in the fruitful use of the required parish hours of the Caritas programme.
- organising and evaluating a programme of Diocesan, national and international events, retreats and pilgrimages to bring together those involved in parish youth ministry at the parish level.
- bringing together young people who are engaged in parish youth ministry by hosting regular encounters of parish young adult groups, individuals and pilgrims.
To develop and strong communications profile and maintain an active presence on social media.
To collaborate with other Wellspring missions, diocesan organisations and national bodies.

Meet the Team

Vicar Episcopal for Youth

Rev. Stephen Reilly

Fr. Stephen Reilly’s journey with young people began in Rome, where he spent five years as a scout chaplain while studying for the priesthood. From there, his passion for guiding and inspiring youth took him to high school chaplaincy, and later, to the lecture halls of Glasgow University, where he taught for seven years. Now, as Vicar Episcopal for Youth, he’s dedicated to empowering the next generation, firmly believing that young people are not just the future, but the vibrant present of the Church.

When he’s not bringing fresh energy to youth ministry, you might find Fr. Stephen scaling a hill on a weekend hike, brushing up on his Arabic (it’s a work in progress!), or strumming a few tunes on his guitar. He’s also a fan of travel and diving into crime fiction, whether in books or on screen, from all corners of the world.

With his wealth of experience and love for adventure, Fr. Stephen is all about making faith an exciting and enriching journey for young people across the diocese.