Welcome to the
Staffordshire Page!

"Peter 'networking' during the Activity Day"

Youth Groups

Holy Trinity, Newcastle
Possibly the longest running youth group in Staffordshire. The group has met every Sunday after the evening Mass for many years.
We are currently looking to re-launch the youth group, and need new leaders to help us. If you are interested, plesae contact Fr Philip on 01782 616483.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Hednesford
A new group has started in the Stafford Deanery. This is for Yr5+, and meets fortnightly on a Thursday evening between 7& 8.30pm. More leaders are needed, so if you think you can help call Karen on 01782 878087.

English Martyrs, Biddulph
After a short period of inactivity, this group is looking to restart, and is in desparate need of new leaders.
If you think you could help contact Andy (520047) or Colette (518107).

St Augustine's, Meir
This is a brand new group for Yr4-8. It meets every Tuesday between 6.30-8pm in the primary school.
There will en activites such as games, arts & cratfs, as well as having speakers, maybe going on trips, and importantly space to have time with your friends.
As a parish youth group, each evening will always involve an element of prayer time.

To find out about all parish youth groups in staffordshire click here

Resource boxes

Our resource boxes continue to be used by many parishes and are available for all.
The following are available in Staffordshire between November and January 09.
1) Discussion - "Family Life" Using an episode of The Simpsons - YP discuss the importance of family life and compare it to soap families. -All ages- Duration 1hr 30mins
2) Discussion - "God's Plan for us" Using clips from Spiderman - questions are used to get YP to think about their futures All ages - Duration 1hr
3) Arts & Crafts - "Batik" The ancient art of using wax resin to decorate a banner or altar cloth for a special occasion. Activity 50p p/person.
4) Reflection - "The Paper Bag Game" A simulation game enabling YP to experience how hard people work and how little they earn in other countries. Suitable for 9+. Duration 1hr.
5) Games - Mini Hockey An indoor or outdoor session for any age group

If your parish would like to borrow any of these resources, please get in touch. NB - Please also have a look at http://bcys.co.uk/youthwork/index.htm for other available resources.
Do not forget that if I can be of any help to you, with your own event, or any general information please do not hesitate to phone me
(01782 327448 or 07971 643 648) or send me an email (peter.lucas@bcys.co.uk ).

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NEWS

RE:ACT Youth Festival
Thank you to all the young people who attended this great Festival and to all the volunteers. If you have a comment about RE:ACT or a suggestion for future events, please email me your comments peter.lucas@bcys.co.uk
There are some photos of the event on the hhproductions website. Please email me for the username and password so you can access the photos.

WORLD YOUTH DAY
SYDNEY

An amazing experience!
The four days we spent in the Melbourne Diocese were memorable and a great preparation for events in Sydney. The hospitality, kindness and generosity shown by the parish was overwhelming. Nothing appeared to be too much trouble with some host families showing the pilgrims the local sights, inviting them to family celebrations and even doing their laundry. Truly amazing and humbling.

The time spent in Sydney itself was incredible. We enjoyed 3 catechesis sessions, led by Cardinal Murphy O'Connor, Bishop Christopher Saunders of Broome in Northern Australia and our very own Archbishop Vincent. The overnight vigil at Randwick Racecourse was very special as was the Papal Mass, and the welcome of His Holiness a few days earlier. For me, one of the great highlights was the dramatisation of the Stations of the Cross. Awesome!

For more information and photos, please see the Catholic Today website www.catholic-today.co.uk

The next WYD will be in Madrid, Spain in 2011.
If you are now aged between 15 and 30, then perhaps start to think about joining the BCYS group.

Staffordshire Parishes 5-a-side
Thanks to all that took part, and in
particular to the volunteers who made it a
very special day.
There was double success for St Joseph's Rugeley,
and the results were:
Yr4-6: Winners, St Josephs 1
Runners up, J2NTL (St Wulstan's)
Yr7-9 Winners, St Joseph's 4
Runners up, Eddie All Stars (St Teresa's)
Fair Play Award
Yr4-6 - GM Juniors (SS George & Martin)
Yr7-9 - Our Lady's, Hednesford
For photos of the Staffordshire retreat weekend, please CLICK HERE

Young Leaders' Course

We are hoping to run another young leaders course for young people aged 14-17yrs.

This will take place at St. John's Chesterton, on a
Tuesday night between 7-9pm.

The course will run for 6 weeks starting on
Tuesday 6th November

Contact Peter for details.

23rd November
National Youth Sunday
The resource for 2008 has been compiled by the "Live Simply"team, and aims to draw together the ideas of the past two years and expand them to look at the theme of Sustainability

This year, all the information is available online, and to reflect the theme of Sustainability and reducing the impact on the environment, there won't be a paper version.
Please go to:-
www.reclaimthefuture.org.uk

Staffordshire County Council's Local
Members Initiative Scheme
Each County Councillor has an annual pot of
£10,000 and invites proposals for expenditure in
his/her electoral Division for the promotion of the well-being of those people who live in that Division. Applications for funding for proposals must be made to your local County Councillor, who will choose which applications to put forward to the County Council for consideration.
Your local County Councillor can supply you with
further information on the LMIS, and a proposal application form, or see http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/yourcouncil/members/lmis/

What's going on in your youth group?
Let me have any articles and photographs,
I will try to include them on this page.