29.07.2026
DGYC’s First Interns Look Back on Exciting Year
Over the past year Dublin and Glendalough Youth Council welcomed its first ever interns. Molly Clarke and Nana O’Sullivan joined DGYC’s 10 month internship programme and were based in Kilternan and Kill O’ the Grange parishes respectively. Their journey into ministry officially began in October 2025 when they were commissioned by Archbishop Michael Jackson to serve as DGYC interns.
Working closely with their Rectors, the Revd Rob Clements and Canon Alan Breen, and with Dublin and Glendalough’s Youth Ministry Development Officer, Emma Fawcett, Molly and Nana took part in the programme which is geared to help develop their skill set and leadership capabilities through serving in church youth ministry.
Molly was based in Kilternan where there is an established youth group with up to 30 teenagers enjoying their monthly youth nights.
“My main role was largely to just connect with the teens and to create a rapport with them throughout the year. Additionally, I was able to develop youth programs, help out at confirmation classes, create programs for teenagers to go to on Sundays, and even started a youth worship team,” she says.
Singling out a highlight from her internship is almost impossible, Molly says. “I’m sure DGYC’s other intern would say otherwise, but I was blessed with the best group of teenagers. Realistically, they’ve probably done more for me than I have for them, and they’re all absolutely fantastic people,” she explains.
“However! I was able to find two highlights, the first being confirmation classes. This year, we followed the Youth Alpha program, meeting once a week to catch up, watch the video, then discuss in small groups the point that had been made in the video. The classes lasted for about eight sessions and it was such a privilege to see the teenagers that frequently and in a smaller, slightly more controlled environment than youth group normally is! It was also so lovely to be at the confirmation with them all, and see them all declaring their faith and belief in God,” she adds.
Her other highlight was the conversations she had with teenagers after church. “I was so blessed to be coming into a community church, where the whole ethos is based around shared love, laughter and often food. I found that if I sat down at the couches that we have in church, a group of teens would slowly start to appear and soon enough I’d be holding council to 10 young people who all needed to update me on their lives. The biggest problem that I faced was leaving church before 2pm, having finished the service at 10.30! They’re all so interested and interesting, and it’s a real honour to be let in on their stories,” she concludes.
Nana was placed in Kill o’ The Grange Parish Church where she helped Jonathan Byford with youth ministry. This included leading two youth groups, Maxpack (5th and 6th class) and Core (1st to 6th years), with the help of two teams of volunteers. She also attended world belief classes in Newpark Comprehensive School and assemblies in Kill O’ the Grange National School; and enjoyed coffee on a Friday morning with various members of the congregation.
“As you can imagine, one of the first lessons I learnt in my internship was that church is not just on a Sunday, there are many opportunities to connect with God’s people throughout the week. The physical act of connecting with others and being present in those different spaces has a spiritual impact. Everything is spiritual, learning my youth’s names is a way for me to worship God, dancing in assembly to ‘Jesus You’re My Superhero’ is worship, and being gifted a winter coat by a lovely lady in my church who didn’t want me freezing at the bus stop is worship,” she recalls.
Nana is full of praise for DGYC. “At every turn, DGYC exemplifies their mission to support parishes. Emma Fawcett and Canon Alan Breen, DGYC Development Officer and Chair, were very intentional in choosing a church where I could feed into the work they were doing, and a church that would support my faith journey. I am confident that I have helped Maxpack and Core to the best of my ability and truly had an impact in the youths’ lives. I have facilitated spaces and games where they can be curious and have fun with their faith. As well as written and presented talks for them that engage with the Bible in a fresh way. It has been my joy to get to know the youth, my heart warms when they come up to me during youth group and tell me whatever it is they are excited about that day. Or, when they wave and yell my name when we pass each other on the street. Not only the youth, but everyone at Kill has been wonderful. I have learnt so much in my time here and felt truly cared for. It has been an honour to serve the people in this parish,” she says.
Her internship officially ended with a bang in June at Summer Madness. Now, Nana looks forward to entering her final year of university and completing her English with Creative Writing degree, where she hopes to continue worshipping God through her writing.
If you would like to learn more about DGYC’s internship programme or feel your parish would like to welcome an intern please visit https://dgyc.org/internship