The Galloway Diocese Youth Office (RCDG Youth) who run events for Young People in P5 and upwards invite children to join them for their Easter Youth Gathering on Saturday 18th April. The day runs from 11.00 am – 4.00 pm in St Teresa’s Church, Dumfries, with free transport provided from St Joseph’s Church, Kilmarnock.

The day is completely free of charge and includes:

• A wide range of games and activities, facilitated by S3 Junior Leaders from St Joseph’s Academy and other Catholic secondaries.
• A free lunch: pizza, BBQ, sweets, chocolate, and juice.
• Two short talks on the theme of the Holy Spirit.
• Mass accompanied by the St Joseph’s Academy Junior Choir.

Many of our young people have taken part in their events over the last year, and in particular the monthly Youth Evenings in St Joseph’s Church, Kilmarnock, and have had an extremely positive and enjoyable experience meeting up with friends and making new friends too. The events are a particularly good opportunity for P7 pupils to meet other young people from across the cluster and to make friends ahead of their move to S1, although the day is open to any young people in P5 and up.

For full details and to register your child to take part, please see the Youth Office’s website: Easter Youth Day – RCDG Youth

The Diocesan Youth Office (RCDG Youth) invites young people in P6 and up to join them for the 2026 Advent Youth Retreat. The retreat takes place at Gowanbank SU Centre (near Darvel) from 27th-29th November and is open to any young person currently in P6-S3 (P7-S4 at the time of the retreat).

Over the weekend, young people will take part in a range of different elements including:

• Outdoor Activities: Archery, Archery Tag, Tree Climbing, and Nightline.
• Time with friends and making new friends too with: Arts and Crafts, Silent Disco, Games Room, and Breakout spaces.
• Mass, Prayer, Talks, and Discussion and Reflection in small groups, encouraging young people to explore the meaning and purpose of Advent.

Last year the group welcomed 29 young people from across the Diocese and they look forward to returning this year and welcoming even more young people along. The weekend costs £140.00 per person if you register before Easter, however bursaries and grants are available from RCDG Youth for any families in need, or for any families with more than one child wanting to take part. When registering, a £50.00 deposit is required.

To see photos from last year you can see their promotional video here: 2026 Advent Youth Retreat Promotional Video.

Or for more information and to register, see their website: Advent Youth Retreat – RCDG Youth

ADVENT YOUTH RETREAT
Friday 28th – 30th November

The Advent Youth Retreat is open to all young people in P7 and up. The weekend includes:

• A range of different outdoor activities, including: tree climbing, archery tag, nightline, and an escape room.
• All food and accommodation, with young people accommodated in rooms of 4-5 with their friends and young people of the same age/ stage (within one year group).
• A range of talks on the theme of Advent.
• Times of prayer, discussion and reflection.
• Lots of time for young people to relax with their friends: spending time with their friends and making new friends too.

The weekend costs £100, however grants and bursaries are available if required. For more information and to register go to: Advent Youth Retreat – RCDG Youth.

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MONTHLY YOUTH EVENINGS
St Joseph’s RC Church, Hill Street
for all P6 & P7 in the St Joseph’s Academy Cluster

The monthly Youth Evenings in the St Joseph’s Academy Cluster, based out of St Joseph’s Church, 15A Hill Street, Kilmarnock, have now resumed.

The monthly evenings run from 5.00 – 7.00 pm and are open to all young people in P6 and up. Each evening begins with Mass at 5.00 pm, and continues in the hall from 5.30 pm with a range of different games and activities led by S3 Junior Leaders from the Academy, a short talk on the theme of the evening, and lots of pizza and snacks.

The evenings offer a great opportunity for young people to meet others from across the cluster and to make new friends ahead of the transition to secondary school. If your child is attending for the first time, you can complete a parental consent form online: Youth Events Registration – RCDG Youth.

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MARY – THE MOTHER OF JESUS, AND A MOTHER TO US TOO
Sunday 26th October, 5.00 pm
St Joseph’s Church, Kilmarnock

Join P6 and up from across the cluster for their next monthly Youth Evening, this month reflecting on the theme of Mary: who she is and how she can help us. Join them for an evening of games, activities, pizza, and a short talk on the theme of Mary – all led by the S3 Junior Leaders from St Joseph’s Academy.

Interested? The evening is completely free of charge, just come along. If it’s your first time attending a Youth Office event, please complete a parental consent form online: Youth Events Registration – RCDG Youth.

 

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To keep up to date with all the latest news & events from the Diocesan Youth Office:

• Follow them on social media: @rcdgyouth
• Check out their website: youth.rcdg.org.uk
• Subscribe to their mailing list: Click here to subscribe.

The Diocesan Youth Office invites young people in P6-S6 to join them for a day of fun, games, activities, and prayer as they gather to celebrate Easter on Saturday 26th April in St Teresa’s Church, Dumfries, from 11.00 am – 4.00 pm. The day will be run by S3/4 pupils from St Joseph’s Academy (Kilmarnock) and St Joseph’s College (Dumfries) and overseen by the Diocesan Youth Office team. There is no charge for the event and lunch (BBQ and pizza) will be provided for all young people. A free coach is available to travel to/ from the event with pick-up/ drop-off available from St Joseph’s Church, Kilmarnock (KA3 1HB).

To register your child and to book a place on the coach, please click here: https://forms.office.com/e/1nMaaHb9qf.

If you have any questions, you can contact the Diocesan Youth Chaplain, Fr Kevin Rennie, by emailing: youth@rcdg.org.uk.