East Anglia youth mission team Ignite is growing

An expanded Youth Mission Team for East Anglia – Ignite – is set to enter its third year in operation travelling around the Diocese of East Anglia ministering in parishes and schools and running popular youth events.

Catherine Williams is continuing her role as the Team Leader under the guidance of Hamish MacQueen, Director of Youth Services. 

Catherine said: “Our aim is simply to draw people into a deeper understanding or the Catholic faith and to an encounter with Jesus Christ, the one we are called to a deeply personal relationship with. 

“Our last academic year of work was hugely successful with the team being greatly in demand both from schools and parishes, something we hope will continue!  We also have a volunteer team, Ignite Lite, open to anyone aged 16 – 30 along with a prayer network which is open to all ages.”

In the new academic year, Fr Luke Goymour will continue in his role as Chaplain to the team albeit part-time since his appointment as Parish Priest in Brandon and Mildenhall.  

Ciaran Losasso, native to Norwich, who joined the Team last year after completing a Degree in History at UEA, has chosen to stay on for another year. “To be a part of evangelisation is such a privilege and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to continue to serve on the Ignite Team,” he said. “I have much to thank God for over the last year and look forward to seeing where He’ll take our new team over the coming months.”

The team has expanded to include two more ladies on the team, Jessica McCall and Mary Desbruslais.  Jess, who comes from Ipswich, has just finished her Masters in Cultural Heritage and Museum studies at UEA. “It’s exciting to join the Team this year and to work with the young people in the diocese. It’s an amazing opportunity and I look forward to developing my faith,” she said.

Mary has recently graduated from City & Guilds of London Art School with a BA in Fine Art. She has been volunteering with Youth 2000 for the past five years, travelling all over the UK, drawing young people to God. “I really want to learn from the young people I meet and journey towards God with them, side-by-side,” said Mary. “I am so looking forward to the community aspect of being on the team, we are all different, but united we hold each other up.”

“Another exciting change is that the team is now living in community in a house in Walsingham, very much the ‘spiritual home’ for the people of this nation and particularly this Diocese,” said Catherine. “This is a development which the team is incredibly grateful for and looking forward to experiencing.   We look forward to continuing our travels around the Diocese and continuing to expand what we offer as a team and drawing the young people of the Diocese ever closer to Christ.”

If you are interested in having the Ignite Team visit your school or parish, contact Ignite Team Leader, Catherine Williams at: igniteteam@rcdea.org.uk or call her on 07769 315031. 

Pictured above is the expanded Ignite youth mission team, from the left, Catherine, Jess, Mary, Hamish, Fr Luke and Ciaran. 

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