New Director of Youth Ministry in Down and Connor
Posted on 09. Aug, 2012
New Director of Youth Ministry in Down and Connor
The Diocese of Down and Connor is delighted to announce that Pauline Dowd has been appointed as the new Diocesan Youth Director.
A former student of St Rose’s High School Belfast, Pauline has worked in Belfast Metropolitan College for the last 25 years. Having completed a primary degree in Youth and Community Work, she was a tutor in Community Education teaching on both the Routeways and Youthways social education programmes and lecturing in Computing.
In her most recent position Pauline has spent 10 years as the Research Manager of Belfast Metropolitan College, with responsibilities for managing a range of internal and external research projects and the collection of the ‘Student Voice’. She was also a member of the Change Management Team in the recent restructuring of the College.
Pauline also has a Masters degree in Computing and a BA (Hons.) in Irish Language and Literature.
Having previously served – along with her husband Brendan – on the former Executive of the Diocesan Youth Commission she has, since October 2011, been the Chair of the new Youth Commission. She has led the Commission through a period of transition and change, reflecting on both the work of the past and what can be achieved in the future.
As well as her organisational and managerial experience in both the educational and the voluntary sectors, Pauline has more than thirty years involvement in faith development. She has worked in youth clubs, music ministry, faith programme delivery and events management and she looks forward to bringing her enthusiasm for young people and what they can offer the Church to her new position.
Pauline has a vision of youth ministry that begins at a local parish level and shares good practice with others.
A parishioner of Holy Family Parish in North Belfast, Pauline wants to bring a new dynamic to youth ministry in Down and Connor where all young people can feel valued, safe and encouraged in their faith.
“I want all our Catholic young people to know and experience the love of God through friendship, service and community.”
Pauline begins her new job with the Down and Connor Youth Commission on September 3rd.