A diocesan initiative aimed at reconnecting young adults with parish life drew around 40 participants to Our Lady of Victories parish in Ballymun for a HopeFest gathering last weekend.
HopeFest events, organised through the Archdiocese of Dublin’s youth ministry team, are being held in parishes across the diocese with the aim of creating spaces where young adults can pray, meet and explore their faith together.
Niamh Mulhall, who helped organise the Ballymun event, said the parish was encouraged by the response. “We didn’t really know what to expect in terms of numbers,” she said, but organisers were pleased to see “about 40 people there… it’s not always easy to gather young adults together.”
The evening began with the parish’s regular Sunday evening young adult Mass, celebrated by Bishop Paul Dempsey.
Participants then took part in workshops on topics ranging from gospel singing and understanding the meaning of the Mass to reflecting on Scripture and living the Catholic faith in a secular university environment.
Members of DCU’s St Dominic’s Catholic Society spoke about their experience of maintaining Catholic life on campus. Finally, Capuchin Bro. Richard Hendrick spoke of Christian mindfulness.
Ms Mulhall noted that the diocesan initiative provides a structure while allowing parishes to shape the event themselves. “The diocese kind of provides the blueprint,” she said, but each parish is free to organise it “in a way that suits their own community.”
She added that the gathering also revealed a quiet openness among young Catholics today.
“There were groups of people who knew each other, but there were also individuals who came along by themselves,” she said, showing that many young people are still searching for connection and a place to live their faith.