The World Of Work During Covid - Upcoming Event

Saturday 13th June is the Feast of St Anthony and St Antony’s Centre (which is next door to our HQ) is hosting a webinar over Zoom from 7.00-8.30pm.

During the webinar they will be outlining how they have responded to the Covid-19 situation. There will be an opportunity to hear three short presentations dealing with key elements of their work:

1) Reach Out (training, welfare advice and community engagement);

2) Life to The Full Project, (Spirituality project) and;

3) World of Work; (Employment, Redundancy and Unemployment/Employee Rights).

The short presentations will be followed by an open discussion.

Below is a link to register for the Webinar.

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/4815917025960/WN_yWD0x-KaQfy5IHDaB3mFJg

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Virtual YCW Meetings Launched

A key part of the YCW Movement is the process of gathering together in prayer, reflection and discussion. Our groups are where young leaders and chaplain use the SEE, JUDGE and ACT Method, run through thematic and open enquiries and develop their leadership skills.

Because of this, the YCW National Team wanted to do as much as we could to help facilitate the return to group meeting. The easiest and safest way we can do this is virtually.

Therefore, we are developing a helpful guide to using virtual platforms for meetings, as well as specific online safeguarding tools to ensure it can be done safely.

Alongside this, we will produce some new resources to help kick start some discussions around Covid 19, lockdown and the range of impacts young people will face in the recovery.

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Marc Besford, National President of the YCW, said: “For many of our young leaders, virtual meetings will mean they can get back into their group work and leadership development sooner rather than later. There are going to be so many challenges facing young people across the country, so giving them a space to share their experiences and speak up is essential. I’d encourage any Group interested to get in touch and let us know if there is anything the National Team can do to help.”

Pentecost Reflection From YCW National Chaplain

This past Sunday the Church celebrated Pentecost. We asked our National Chaplain Mgr. John Marsland if he would share his reflection on this:

Like many others during this lock-down period I have discovered “Zoom”. For those who haven’t, this is a technology that enables you to have a meeting on the screen of your computer with several other people from anywhere in the world. You can see them and talk with them as if they were in the room. I had a meeting yesterday with ten people from different countries. What an amazing possibility – a miracle of communication – that has made this time of isolating and distancing a new opportunity to be in touch with family, friends, colleagues near and far. One of the facilities of this zooming programme is the “shared screen” which means the host of the get together can share a document or a picture or video or music with everyone.

The first Pentecost was a miracle of communication. The disciples of Jesus found themselves speaking and being understood by people from all over the known world. The Acts of the Apostles gives us an impressive list and tells us that what they spoke about was the marvels and wonders of God. The “host” of the gathering was the Holy Spirit and the “shared screen” was the amazing love of God made known in the person of Jesus.

The name Pentecost comes from the name of a Jewish harvest festival called “Shavuot” meaning "week" or "seven," and alludes to the fact that this festival happens exactly seven weeks (i.e. "a week of weeks") after Passover. It is a day on which Jewish people celebrate the giving of the “Torah”, the law of God for his people, to Moses.

At Pentecost the followers of Christ celebrate a new gift, the Holy Spirit. God’s law of love is seen in person, in His beloved Son, Jesus, who teaches us and shows us by example faithful obedience to his Father’s will, forgiveness, even of enemies, the dignity of the poorest, care and healing for the sick, justice for the badly treated and reward for the peacemakers.

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The Holy Spirit opens our hearts and minds to the person of Jesus, helps us understand the meaning of his teaching for our lives and enables us to put it into practice with enthusiasm. In the words of James Blunt’s song, on my sister’s playlist, the Holy Spirit “starts the spark in our bonfire hearts” and makes our faith more than just words on a page or good intentions in our brain.

On this great feast of the Church we feel the pain of not being able to celebrate together at Mass and the spiritual hunger of not being able to receive the Lord in Holy Communion. We ask the Holy Spirit to make up for it in some way. The readings for today include the ancient hymn written in the 9th century, “Veni CreatorSpiritus” Come Holy Spirit, a prayer of healing, refreshment and enlivenment, physical, mental and social. Pray it all if you can. These words stood out for me:

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Come, thou Father of the poor,

Come with treasures which endure

Come, thou light of all that live!

Let us be conscious that though apart we are gathered together in Christ. Our invitation is our baptism, our host is the Holy Spirit and the shared screen says: “Peace be with you”.

Fr John

YCW Resumes Activity - Important Information

The YCW NEC and Trustees have agreed that the work of the YCW movement is to resume this month.

We are keen to begin preparations for how we can support Groups to meet virtually, look at increasing our online training resources - including live/recorded sessions for groups and adult companions - and provide helpful resources that can be used by our young leaders.

With such a significant impact from Covid on our lives, health and economy, we also believe it is essential we are in place to be a voice for young workers and will be looking at what work we can do to help speak up about the reality being faced by many young people.

Our online newsletter will continue to be sent out, so please sign up if you haven’t already. Email info@ycwimpact.com to be added to the list.

YCW Update - Coronavirus Impact

Many of us will be concerned about the news of the Coronavirus and it’s spread across the world.

In light of the severity of the issue, and the lockdown, the YCW will be furloughing our paid staff and ceasing organised activity until we are able to safely return to work.

We will however, continue to pray for our YCW family at home and around the world and do what we can to help, especially those who will be required to continue working to keep us safe during this crisis.

Please keep all those key/frontline workers in your prayers.

And let us pray for those who have been affected by this virus and those who have sadly lost their lives.