03.10.2013
3Rock Duo’s Hard Work Honoured at Farewell Party
The hard work and enthusiasm of former 3Rock Youth director, Greg Fromholz, and staff member, Susie Keegan, were recalled with gratitude at a farewell party in the Crypt of Christ Church Cathedral yesterday evening.
Among those gathering to honour the work they have done and wish the duo well for the future were the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Michael Jackson, the Archdeacons of Dublin and Glendalough, the Vens David Pierpoint and Ricky Rountree, members of the 3Rock oversight team, youth workers and former youth workers and family and friends.
Paying tribute to Greg and Susie, Archbishop Jackson said 3Rock had become so much part of the weave of the dioceses that it could be taken for granted. However, he said it was important to honour the outstanding individuals who had inspired people of the younger generation.
“Both Greg and Susie have always impressed me with their communication skills and their ability to tell young people about God… Their exuberance is as important as the content in what they have done,” he stated. “They are very generous people and they enable youth workers to do this work in their locality and in their parishes so that there are tens of thousands of young people who have been touched by 3Rock.”
The Archbishop thanked the 3Rock oversight team for their work and for continuing while 3Rock is in a period of transition.
Greg said it had been an immense honour to serve the dioceses and thanked all of those who had worked with 3Rock along the way. He recalled starting 3Rock in St Catherine’s 10 years ago and said he had come along way to his new role leading the Diocesan Ministry to Young Adults.
He thanked all the youth leaders and interns, his wife Alex and his children as well as the friends who had inspired him. “We have seen over 100,000 kids reached, over 1,000 leaders trained… I hope we can continue to see young people know who Jesus truly is. It’s been a huge honour to collaborate with the dioceses and people over the last 10 years,” Greg said.
Susie thanked the dioceses for allowing herself and Greg to be creative to tap into what is not really touched on in faith. She said she started in 3Rock as a volunteer and was later employed by them. She paid particular tribute to Archdeacon Rountree.
Susie said it was necessary to celebrate Greg as it was him who had the dream and put it into action. She said he had kept pushing forward to achieve what has been done in the dioceses and nationally and internationally. “We owe him a lot and I’m glad that I’m still involved in working with him,” she concluded.
The pair were presented with tokens of appreciation by Quentin Heaney, a member of the 3Rock oversight team. He said that having been involved as a volunteer youth worker at a parish level in the ‘90s it became clear that something bigger was needed for the dioceses.
He said that Greg trained leaders, worked in schools and was sought after throughout Ireland and internationally for his skills in youth work.
Concluding proceedings, chairperson of the oversight team, the Revd Cliff Jeffers, said it had been a pleasure to work with Greg and Susie and thanked them for what they had done on behalf of all the oversight team.
3Rock is the youth ministry for the Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough. It is currently being reviewed and anyone wishing to have an input into the review process should contact their rector.
Photo caption: Susie Keegan and Greg Fromholz of 3Rock Youth were presented with parting gifts by Quentin Heaney of the 3Rock oversight team at a leaving party in the Crypt of Christ Church Cathedral.