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Saint John (Don) Bosco

31/1/2025

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Celebrating the Feast Day of Saint John Bosco:
​A Reflection for Catholic Youth

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Today, January 31st, we honour the feast day of Saint John Bosco, a remarkable figure in the Catholic Church whose life and work serve as an inspiring beacon for young people and those who serve them. As the founder of the Salesian Society, Don Bosco dedicated his life to the well-being of young people, emphasising education, compassion, and faith.

The Life and Mission of Saint John Bosco

Born on August 16, 1815, in Italy, John Bosco faced numerous challenges in his early life, including the death of his father when he was just two years old. Despite these hardships, Don Bosco nurtured a deep faith and believed in the potential of every young person he encountered. After his ordination as a priest in 1841, he devoted himself to the education and spiritual guidance of the impoverished youth of Turin.

Don Bosco established a unique educational approach that combined reason, religion, and loving-kindness—a method still influential in Catholic education today. His founding of schools, workshops, and oratories provided safe havens for at-risk youth, fostering both academic and spiritual growth.

Themes of Saint John Bosco’s Legacy

1. Empowerment through Education: Don Bosco believed in the power of education to transform lives. He saw learning as a pathway to freedom and self-fulfillment. As young people today, we are called to seek knowledge and use it to uplift ourselves and our communities.

2. Community and Belonging: Central to Don Bosco’s mission was creating a sense of belonging. He fostered community among young people. Let us build inclusive spaces where everyone feels welcomed and valued, just as he did.

3. Joy in Service: Don Bosco’s motto was “Give me souls, take away the rest.” He found joy in serving others. We can honour his legacy by engaging in acts of service, helping those in need, and spreading joy through our actions.

As we celebrate the feast of Saint John Bosco, let us take inspiration from his unwavering dedication to youth and education. His legacy calls us to be compassionate leaders and advocates for those around us. May we remember his example as we strive to embody faith, service, and joy in our own lives, making a positive impact in our communities. Happy Feast Day to all – let us honor Saint John Bosco through our actions and by living out his mission every day!
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Lourdes 2025

22/1/2025

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As part of the diocesan pilgrimage, Clogher don Óige will bring a group of young people to Lourdes 4th-9th July.

Further information and for those who wish to travel, an expression of interest form can be found HERE. 
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World Youth (Sun)Day 2023!

20/11/2023

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In a letter ahead of the 38th diocesan World Youth Day, Pope Francis describes youth as a time of “hopes and dreams”, and asks how this optimism can be sustained in an increasingly crisis-ridden world.
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Pope Francis at the Closing Mass of the International World Youth Day event in Lisbon, Portugal this August. Some 1.5million young people from across the world came together for the celebration of Mass.

​Pope Francis released a message on Tuesday 14 November ahead of the 38th diocesan World Youth Day, which will be celebrated on 26 November 2023.
In his letter, entitled “Rejoicing in Hope”, Pope Francis says that Christian hope is not “facile optimism” but rather certain knowledge of God’s presence among us, and proposes strategies for maintaining and sharing this positivity in dark times.

Hopelessness
“Rejoice in Hope”, the theme of Pope Francis’ World Youth Day letter, is a quotation from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans.
Reflecting on the saint’s words, the Pope says that “youth is a time full of hopes and dreams, stirred by the many beautiful things that enrich our lives: the splendour of God’s creation, our relationships with friends and loved ones… and so many other things.”
However, he notes, we are living in a period of crisis, of war, when “for many people, including the young, hope seems absent.” Many, he says, “feel as if they are in a dark prison, where the light of the sun cannot enter.”
In such situations, Pope Francis asks, “How can we experience the joy and hope of which Saint Paul speaks? When we think of human tragedies, especially the suffering of the innocent, we too can echo some of the Psalms and ask the Lord, ‘Why?’”

Paths toward hope
In his letter, Pope Francis suggests two ways to maintain Christian hope in such difficult times.
The first of these, he says, is to recognise that hope is not “a product of our human efforts, plans or skills.” It is, rather, “born of an encounter with Christ. Christian joy comes from God himself, from our knowledge of his love for us.”
“Christian hope”, the Pope explains,” is no facile optimism, no placebo for the credulous: it is the certainty, rooted in love and faith, that God never abandons us and remains faithful to his promise: ‘Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me’.”
A second method for maintaining hope in the midst of suffering, he says, is to recognise that “we can also be part of God’s answer to the problem.”
“Created by Him in His image and likeness, we can be signs of His love, which gives rise to joy and hope even in situations that appear hopeless,” he says.
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Hope grows when shared
Having received this joy and hope, Pope Francis says, we cannot keep it to ourselves.
“Nurture the spark that has been kindled in you,” he urges, “but at the same time share it. You will come to realize that it grows by being given away!”
In particular, he asks, “Stay close to your friends who may be smiling on the outside but are weeping within, for lack of hope. Do not let yourselves be infected by indifference and individualism.”
We cannot keep our Christian hope to ourselves, “like a warm feeling”, Pope Francis urges. “It is meant for everyone.”
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Pope John Paul II Award Ceremony

13/11/2023

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After a break of a number of years due to pandemic related restrictions, we were once again pleased to have Bishop Larry present the Pope John Paul II Award to nearly 100 young people from across the diocese, on Friday 10th November.

Saint Michael’s Church, Enniskillen hosted the diocese's 13th JPII Award Ceremony, an opportunity to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our young people in their parishes and in the wider community, the first group of young people from the Dicoese of Clogher received their award in 2009. 

A huge congratulations to all the young people who received their award, and thanks to the Award Leaders in their parishes who facilitate and journey alongside the participants each year.

Our thanks also to the Knights of Saint Columbanus, who continue to support the Pope John Paul II Award in the diocese, and to Supreme Knight, John Murphy for his presence and his assistance in presenting the awards on the night.
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Leadership Training

15/9/2019

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Practical Youth Work & Ministry Skills Course
Autumn Term 2019
Based in Enniskillen & Monaghan
Accredited by OCN NI

Part of Clogher don Óige’s work with young people includes training and equipping them to become young leaders within the organisation to work with, and minister to their peers. We have identified a number of both accredited and other bespoke courses that we offer in order to fulfil this aim. The Practical Youth Work & Ministry Skills (PYMS) course is offered in conjunction with Youth Link NI.

The course will take place on Wednesday afternoons (after school) starting on October 2nd, and in Monaghan over three Saturday sessions. Both groups will come together for a weekend residential November 8th-10th.

Places are limited, get in contact with James for more information: [email protected]
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Taizé Pilgrimage 2019 Photographs

15/8/2019

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Taizé Pilgrimage 2019 #cdo2taize

15/8/2019

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62 young people and leaders from across the diocese spent a wonderful August week in with the Taizé Community in France.
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The Taizé community is an ecumenical monastic order with a strong devotion to peace and justice through prayer and meditation. The 100-strong community of Roman Catholic and Protestant monks is drawn from 30 countries across the world.

Today Taizé is one of the world's most important sites of Christian pilgrimage. Each year tens of thousands of young pilgrims flock to the small village of Taizé in central France to share in the community's way of life.
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Prayer and silence are at the heart of the Taizé experience. Young people from every corner of the globe are encouraged to live out the Christian gospel in a spirit of joy, simplicity and reconciliation.

Along with 3,500 young people from across Europe and further afield (we were there for the week with the highest attendance this year!) our CdÓ teens attended daily small group bible study, joined with the Taizé Brothers three times a day for prayer, Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation and spent time together reflecting and journaling on their Taizé experience... simple living, stepping away from the regular routine of life, times of silence, less access to technology.

​Check out all our photos here.
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Lourdes Pilgrimage 2019 #cdo2lourdes

10/7/2019

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July 5th-10th 2019
62 young people from across the Diocese, accompanied by Fr. Leo Creelman, Youth Director James McLoughlin and 9 volunteer leaders travelled to Lourdes as part of the Diocesan Pilgrimage.
The young people played a key role with the Assisted Pilgrims from the Diocese, making sure they got to all the Masses, liturgies and other events of the pilgrimage. The young people of Clogher don Óige also played a central role in the liturgies during our six days in Lourdes - leading the Low Stations, the Closing Ceremony and various prayers and music at Masses. The young people excelled themselves, with servant hearts were a credit to themselves, their families, parishes and communities.
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CdÓ's Summer 2019

17/12/2018

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Dates for next Summer are here!
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​We're busy planning for Summer 2019, and are able to release the dates for our three main events:
  • Pilgrimage to Lourdes: 5th-10th July
  • Camp don Óige: 23rd-25th July
  • Taizé Pilgrimage: 3rd-12th August
More information, including pricing and the booking process will be available in early 2019.

​You can download a Summer 2019 Poster here.
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Pope John Paul II Award 2018/19

1/9/2018

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Applications Open Now!
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We are currently accepting applications (age 16+) for the 10th group of young people from across the diocese of complete the JPII Award. Since 2008, over 2000 young people have received the Award in the diocese.

Get in touch with the Parish Award Leader in your Parish, or contact the CdÓ office.
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Clogher don Óige

Youth & Young Adult Ministry in the Diocese of Clogher

Saint Macartan's College
Monaghan
​County Monaghan
Ros Erne House
8 Darling Street, Enniskillen
​County Fermanagh
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​Clogher don Óige is part of the The Roman Catholic Diocese and Parishes of Clogher Trust.
​A registered charity in Ireland (CRA No. 20014452)
  • Home
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