Ascend Youth & Young Adult Ministry

Events for Young Adults in the Diocese

Frassati Hike for Young Adults (18-35): Hike, Mass, Fellowship! Back in Autumn 2023! Sign up for our Young Adults Events Bulletin to be notified of future hikes!

Encounter:

Join us for our next Encounter night in St John’s Church, Parnell Street, Waterford on Friday 13th October 2023. What can you expect? A great talk, music and a time of prayer with other young adults, followed by pizza and chat afterwards! Free admission! For more info contact [email protected] or ring / text (085) 8623704 or to receive information about this and future events sign up here

Cherished Evening:

Catholic Women’s Ministry (Ages 18+). Join us at Holy Family Mission, Glencomeragh for Rosary @ 7.30pm, Mass @ 8pm followed by tea/coffee and lots of chat and sisterhood! For more info contact Shauna @ 087 137 8364 (Back in September 2023!)

Other Events / Activities to Check Out!

Check out Youth 2000 Ireland (for ages 16 – 35): www.youth2000.ie

Ascend Resource Packs (To the Heights)

To the Heights is our Weekly Diocesan Youth Newsletter, with Gospel-themed resources, music, apps, testimonies, challenges and more… Why not start a “To the Heights” Club, using the resource pack each week!

Ascend Weekly Resource:

Check out our newest weekly resource. Use it in RE classes, with youth groups or in your own home! Check out the suggested activities, questions to reflect on, video and music content, Scripture links and prayer ideas too! Just follow the hyperlinks to access the videos and music!

Check out our other Ascend YM resources in the drop-down menu below!

Ascend Resources (by category):

Download our resource packs:

All our resources are available to download as pdfs in the sections below to use with your youth group / RE class. Follow the hyperlinked text to access the videos and music associated with the resource packs!

All Resources


Witness to Mercy	Frustrated? Try a Reality Check (Mt 20:1-16)
Setting Boundaries (Matthew 18:15-20)	What is Forgiveness (Mt 18:21-35)	The Call of Matthew
Pentecost Resource Pack	Who or what is the Trinity?	Take Up Your Cross Daily (Mt 16:21-27)
You shall be my witness (Ascension, Year A)	End of Year Reflection ideas	Prayer Spaces Pack
Graduation Resource Pack	Philosophy 101: Truth (Jn 14:1-12)	Fill Up on God’s Love (Jn 14: 15-21)
Palm Sunday Resources (Year A)	Eye-Opening, Life-Changing (Lk 24:13-35)	Hear and Respond (John 10:10)
Woman at the Well [John 4:5-42]	Spiritual Blind Spots (John 9:1-41)	Trust the Process (John 11:1-45)
Salt and Light (Matthew 5:13-16)	Love Generously (Matthew 5:17-37)	Love those who are difficult to love (Mt 5:38-46)
Life Goals (John 1:29-34 )	Be Present to God (Matthew 4:12-23 )	Choose Joy (Year A) [Matthew 5:1-12]
Gamechanger: Bl. Chiara Luce	Gamechanger: Cardinal Van Thuan	GAMECHANGER: Mexican Martyrs
Faithful in the Little Things [Lk 16:1-13 ]	Attitude of Gratitude [Luke 17:11-19]	How to Pray (Luke18:1-8)
Vanity Check [Luke 14:1,7-14]	Leaving 99 (Does God love some more than others?) [Luke15:1-32]	Season of Creation
PRAYER: Litany of Humility	MASS: Bored by Mass? [John 6:24-35]	The Test of Three (Gossip) [Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48]
PRAYER: Pier Giorgio Frassati Litany	The Wind and Waves Still Know His Name (Mark 4:35-41)	Love is more than a feeling [Mk 10:2-11]
PRAYER: Remain in Me Doodle Prayer [John 15:5]	God’s Timing [Mark 5:21-43]	GAMECHANGER: St Francis of Assisi
PRAYER: The Rosary	Know Your Heart! [Luke 5:1-11]	GAMECHANGER: Blessed Carlo Acutis Pack
PRAYER: Lectio Divina	Bible Passages in Times of Need	Do you have what it takes to be a superhero? [Mark 10:35-45]
The Angelus	Who do you spend your time with? [John 6:60-69]	Do you struggle with faith? [Mk 10:46-52]
GAMECHANGER: Fr Emil Kapaun	God’s Providence [John 6:1-15]	Cloud of Witnesses Pack (All Saints)
GAMECHANGER: St Maximilian Kolbe	What’s your burden? [Mark 6:30-34]	Be a cheerful giver! [Mark 12:38-44]
No Couch Potatoes Allowed	What do we mean by faith? [Mark 6:1-6]	Do you like surprises? (Mark 13:24-32 )
What should I do? (Discernment)	A Future not our own (Oscar Romero)	Christ the King
What is a Vocation?	Need to declutter your life? (Mark 6:7-13 )	Advent: Are you ready? (Year C)
OUR LADY: Nativity of Mary ideas	A Saint? Who? Me? [Mark 7:1-8,14-15,21-23]	Advent: Jesse Tree
OUR LADY: Titles of Mary Wordsearch	Letter to my Future Self	Advent: Prepare the Way (Year C)
OUR LADY: Consecration (School)	Ephphatha! Be Opened! (Mark 7:31-37)	Advent: Prepare Joyfully (Year C)
OUR LADY: Consecration (Youth Group)	Why do we exalt the Cross?	Advent: Are you certain?
OUR LADY: Seven Sorrows of Mary	Are you an influencer? [Mark 9:30-37]	Christmas Playlists and Resources
Eucharistic Miracles/Mystics & Martyrs	OUR LADY: Immaculate Conception	Blessing Jar (New Year)
Stations of the Cross Resource Pack	Water to Wine [John 2:1-11]	1% Rule (New Year) [Lk 3:15-16, 21-22]
Good Friday was not the end (Hope)	Why did God become man? Luke1:1-4, 4:14-21	Epiphany: Chalking the Door
Growth Mindset [Luke 4:21-30]	Choose Joy! [Luke 6:17,20-26]	What forgiveness means [Luke6:27-38]
In my opinion… [Luke 6:39-45 ]	Lenten Resource Pack	How to face temptation Luke 4:1-13 / Mt 4:1-11
3 x 5 Daily Examen (Lk 9:28-36) / (Matthew 17: 1-9) / Blank Template	The Battle of Prayer [Luke13:1-9 ]	Arms Open Wide [Luke15:1-3,11-32]
Cast the First Stone [John 8:1-11]	What are the Stations?	Easter Resources
Divine Mercy	Peter Restored (John 21:1-19 )	Easter Playlists and Resources
GAMECHANGER: Bl Edmund Ignatius Rice	Hear and Respond (John 10:27-30 )	Learn to love (John 13:31-33,34-35 )
Living in the Present (John 14:23-29 )	Graduation Resource Pack	You will be my witnesses (Acts 1:1-11 )
PRAYER: Exam Prayer Service	What’s Pentecost all about? (Acts 2:1-11)	The Trinity
Provide the Loaves and Fish (Luke9:11-17 )	First Fruits (Is God the Centre of your life?) (Luke9:51-62 )

The Liturgical Year

Advent	Christmas	Lent	Easter
Are you ready? (1C) Are you ready? (1A)	Christmas Playlist and Resources	Stations of the Cross Pack	Easter – What is Hope?
Prepare the Way (2C) Prepare the Way (2A)	Holy Family (Family Prayer)	Lenten Resources (including Ash Wednesday)	Easter Resources
Prepare Joyfully (3C) Prepare Joyfully (3A)	Epiphany Chalking the Door	Stations of the Cross Youtube	Easter Playlist and Resources
Are you certain? 4C Are you certain? 4A	Christmas / New Year Resources	How to face Temptation 1A / 1C 3 x 5 Examen 2A / 2C Woman at the Well 3A Spiritual Blind Spots 4A Trust the Process 5A	Divine Mercy Sunday
Jesse Tree		Lenten Poster Quotes
Online Advent Calendar (2021)		Holy Week & Easter: Palm Sunday Resources (Year A) Easter Symbols Easter Hope Divine Mercy Sunday 3rd Sunday of Easter (Year A)	You shall be my witness (Ascension, Year A)
		Journey through Lent Reflections	Pentecost Resource Pack

Liturgical Feasts	Marian Feasts
Season of Creation	Rosary (Month of October)
Exaltation of the Cross	Nativity of Mary
Cloud of Witnesses (All Saints)	Immaculate Conception
Do you like surprises? (Year C) November	Seven Sorrows of Mary
Christ the King
Good Shepherd Sunday \| Vocation (Good Shepherd) Sunday
Ascension Sunday
Pentecost Resource Pack
Holy Spirit Bunting
Trinity Sunday / Trinity Bunting
Corpus Christi

Sr Clare Crockett Resource Pack

Sr Clare Crockett: All or Nothing Resource Pack

Resource Pack Answers

All or Nothing: Sr Clare Movie

"The Chosen" Resource Pack

Youth Resource

Parish Resource Pack

Episode Links for Season 1:

Episode 1: https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen/watch?vid=S1:E1
Episode 2: https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen/watch?vid=S1:E2
Episode 3: https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen/watch?vid=S1:E3
Episode 4: https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen/watch?vid=S1:E4
Episode 5: https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen/watch?vid=S1:E5
Episode 6: https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen/watch?vid=S1:E6
Episode 7: https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen/watch?vid=S1:E7
Episode 8: https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen/watch?vid=S1:E8

Wallpaper graphics:

Game Changer Series (Saints & Heroes)

Prayer with the heart

Prayer Space Posters

Vocations

Priesthood

Religious Life

Confession / Forgiveness / Reconciliation

Our Lady

Nativity of Mary Ideas / Titles of Mary Word search
Praying the Rosary
Consecrating our school / our youth group to Our Lady
Our Lady of Sorrows
The Immaculate Conception
The Angelus

Helpful Resource Packs for Schools

REVIVE

Revive:

Are you tired of being bored? Frustrated? Feeling restless?

Join with Holy Family Mission in association with Ascend Youth Ministry for REVIVE for a live stream event for young people on www.holyfamilymission.ie With music, prayer and time for sharing how God has worked in our lives!

Check back here for upcoming dates.

At a time when the outside world has stopped, come to revive your life! Click here to learn more!

Check out the Bible in a Year with Fr Mike Schmitz!

The Bible in a Year Podcast from Ascension Press guides Catholics through the Bible in 365 daily episodes, providing commentary, reflection, and prayer along the way. This podcast has been number one in the US since the beginning of the New Year! 1) Read the ENTIRE Bible; 2) Feel more confident about your understanding of Scripture; 3) Experience the transformative power of God’s Word in your daily life; 4) Start seeing the world through the lens of Scripture. Note that some readings contain adult themes and may not be suitable for children.

Available on: Spotify / YouTube / Apple Podcasts / Website

Check out the Catechism in a Year with Fr Mike Schmitz!

In response to countless requests, Ascension is launching The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) on January 1, 2023!

With this podcast, Catholics will:

Read the entire Catechism of the Catholic Church in 365 days
Understand the essentials of the Catholic Faith and why they matter
See how Church teaching is rooted in Sacred Scripture
Absorb over 2,000 years of Sacred Tradition
Encounter God’s plan of sheer goodness
Transform their relationship with the Church that Christ founded.

If you have ever wanted to understand what it means to be Catholic and allow those truths to shape your life—this podcast is for you!

Available on: Spotify / YouTube / Apple Podcasts / Website

Youth & Young Adult Ministry Officer:

Nodlaig Lillis is a native of Ballindangan Parish in the Cloyne Diocese and has been involved in youth ministry for over 20 years. She is a qualified English and Religious Education teacher, with over 19 years’ experience teaching in Doneraile, Co. Cork. Nodlaig also has a Diploma in New Evangelisation and Youth Ministry, as well as a Certificate in Studies in Catechism of the Catholic Church from Maryvale Institute. Her experience in parish ministry includes serving as Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist and of the Word, delivery of Sacramental Preparation Programmes for Children and their parents, Music Ministry, Youth 2000 Prayer Group leader, and Parish Web design and Social media. A former Munster Regional Leader with Youth 2000, Nodlaig was very also involved in the areas of Music Coordination and PR. She worked for four years on “Teen SpiriT: A Celebration of Teen Talent and Christian Faith” in the Kerry Diocese, and for the past ten years has worked extensively with Summer Faith Camps in Ardmore, Dungarvan and Tramore, as well as in the Cloyne, Limerick and Kerry Dioceses, including the online Campa Mhuire Mháthair in July and December 2020.