You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
As I begin to finish up my last week’s work<br />
with Scripture Union I am remembering all of<br />
the great highlights from the past 12 months.<br />
WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES<br />
Since April 2018 I was seconded out to the World<br />
Meeting of Families to oversee the Children’s<br />
Arena for the largest International Family<br />
Gathering with 3,600 children registered between<br />
the ages of 4-12. This certainly wouldn’t have<br />
been possible without the great troupe of<br />
Scripture Union Volunteers and Staff who came<br />
in to rally around and give generously of their<br />
time and resources. Over the three days we ministered<br />
to 1,817 children not including parents<br />
who joined us too.<br />
ITS YOUR MOVE (IYM) &<br />
PENTECOST PROJECT<br />
Throughout the year we had It’s Your Move<br />
in several schools running in Dublin. As part<br />
of Ecumenical Bible Week for the fifth year we<br />
ran another Pentecost Project which was run<br />
as an interactive Godly Play Session in partnership<br />
with Jane Mellett the Parish Pastoral<br />
Worker in Ballyfermot. It was a real joy having<br />
a new Special Educational Need school St.<br />
Michaels Queen of the Angels join us, and to<br />
finish this project with our Ovoca Manor Staff<br />
Team, along with Pastoral Workers, teachers and<br />
parents joining in a day retreat at Ovoca Manor.<br />
At Ovoca Manor in December (2017) 162 Junior<br />
and Senior Infants from schools in the Avoca<br />
Wicklow locality joined us for the Follow<br />
the Star dramatized version of the Nativity.<br />
Ovoca Manor turned into a recreation of the<br />
Nativity Story and our own staffs hidden drama<br />
skills came to the fore including our very own<br />
Mary and Joseph aka Mr. and Mrs. Bourke. The<br />
next Follow The Star will be in December <strong>2019</strong>.<br />
We ran several Confirmation retreats in new<br />
schools and new Parishes which was exciting<br />
as it was a very positive experience for all<br />
involved including our team of Scripture<br />
Union Volunteers and our very own 2018<br />
Interns Ashleigh and Paxton.<br />
I also want to thank everyone in Scripture<br />
Union who has greeted and welcomed me into<br />
the organization with such warmth and hospitality.<br />
I have met a lot of truly amazing people and I<br />
look forward to crossing paths in the future.<br />
I would also like to give a big shout out to Cáit<br />
Cummins, who was able to motivate and inspire<br />
us on the journey of continuing the new<br />
confirmation resource (NUA: Odyssey) script<br />
writing process. I would like to also thank Eric<br />
Hughes and Jonny Somerville who have been<br />
amazing in helping to bring this great project<br />
to life. I’m certain that none of our efforts in<br />
building the kingdom of God will to go to waste.<br />
Please keep me in your prayers as I move on<br />
from Scripture Union Ireland.<br />
Claire Devaney<br />
Follow the Star<br />
23
Change language