Hi, I'm a 2nd year student in NUIG, my name is Kate and I'm going to tell you about my involvement in the church at a parish level. I've become involved in the church for many reasons. Like many young people in our diocese, I attended a Catholic primary and secondary school but it's only now that I realise that this gave me a wonderful opportunity. My parents also had an influential impact of my religious beliefs. I suppose my first real involvement with the church was by serving every month. This then led to my taking part in a Youth choir. Here, I got to socialise with other young people my age and also felt like I was taking part and contributing to the Mass in a unique way. My early interest in my local church enticed me to continue my involvement throughout my secondary school years. I volunteered to read and do so on a regular basis. This gives me the chance to interpret the reading in a more meaningful and personal way. I also feel like I am truly part of the celebration of the liturgy.

Even though Mass may sometimes feel like a boring and tedious experience, becoming involved meant that I was also getting something out of it. It was through my parish that I became involved with WYD. Since then I have never looked back. Every little step along the way has led to me benefiting in something new and exciting. By getting involved with the DYC I now feel part of something very special. I have now become part of the wider circle of the Tuam Diocese, meeting many new people along the way. I am no longer on the outside looking in.

I do realise that because we have such a large diocese, it is extremely difficult for young people to feel like they belong to something more - to a larger group of people involved in their church. In many small parishes it is impossible for priests to organise youth events or to get young people involved for whatever reason. Despite this, it is through the parishes and at local level that we want the youth of our diocese to hear about the DYC. We want to give them the opportunity to meet other like minded youths through the events we organise and encourage them to get involved in their church, bringing their DYC experiences back to their parishes and reaching out to more young people. We want give the young people of the Tuam diocese the opportunity to celebrate, experience, live and explore their faith. Through my role with the DYC I am actively taking part in my parish and diocese. I do not just sit and watch on. For change to come about we must all first change in a small way. From serving to singing, to listening to speaking, reading to writing, getting involved with my parish, my church, and my diocese has allowed my faith to grow from strength to strength.