No one really knows
What it is to be alone
Since you’ve never left our side
Hallelujah, God is near.

- The Rend Collective Experiment

One of 3Rock Youth’s mantras over the years has been that we must go to the gatherings. This phrase and its pursuit has become a daily rhythm as we seek out teenagers in their churches and communities. But there is one place that gathers daily and is full of teenagers all wrestling with life and faith and that is the schools. Since the beginning of 3Rock Youth the chaplains, teachers, principals and volunteers of our Untied Dioceses have inspired us in their daily commitment to see their youth grow into maturity on all levels and for this we thank you. The many and consistent doors the schools have opened for us has fuelled a lot of the growth of youth work in our churches and yesterday was no exception.

The Advance Day with the tagline “Where faith and life collide” was coordinated by Rev. Suzanne Harris and 3Rock Youth’s Susie Keane and what a day it was. With secondary school representation across the united dioceses over 350, yes 350, transition year students turned up at Taney Hall in Dundrum on April 15th. This day with its compliments of interaction, games, fire-breathing, reflection and input was 5 hours in pursuit of He who pursues us with a constant hope and love. From 10am-3pm, with over 20 youth leaders and volunteers, the teenagers mixed in groups, listened to the Rend Collective Experiment, a band from Northern Ireland play, heard talks from the 3Rock team and wrestled with question of “how do we have faith and what do we do with it once we discover it.” The challenge also when out to “not just exist, though thankful, in the inherited but to own and live your faith, no more ‘hand-me-downs’ but your best”. Rend’s song “God is Near” was also a highlight, some its words at the very top of this page. But we think one of the best moments of the day came when the hundreds of teenagers after a time of refection gathered to together at the prayer walls and posted there hopes, fears and desires for living and for faith. It was a courageous show of vulnerability and honesty to God.

A very big thank you to Archbishop Neill for coming and encouraging the team and teenagers, to the youth workers who served so selflessly, to the school staff on hand through out the day and to Rev. Suzanne Harris and Taney Hall for making the Advance Day work so smoothly.