In Memory of Fr. Sean – Clare Youth Service
It is with profound sadness that we learned of the sudden passing of Fr. Seán Sexton yesterday morning – Sunday November 17th 2024.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his brother Fr. Pat, his sisters Mary and Frances his brother-in-law Liam Ashe, his niece Mary, his nephews Killian and Colm, extended family, Bishop Fintan, Bishop Emeritus Willie Walsh, fellow priests of the Killaloe Diocese and his very many friends.
Under Fr Seán’s inspirational leadership, thousands of volunteers and youth work staff have learnt their craft from him and this is now embedded across Clare with centres from Lisdoonvarna in the north, to Shannon in the south, Kilkee in the West and Killaloe in the east of the county. Clare Youth Service with three hundred volunteers and sixty staff now connects with over three thousand young people in Clare each year which is a testament to his vision, dedication and leadership.
We know that Fr Seán’ s loss is deeply and widely felt – he changed ways of thinking, ways of working and ways of developing communities across Clare and further afield. So many thousands of young people and their parents have benefitted from his influence and insights, while over the years our partner agencies and funders all responded positively to his energy and efforts.
Fr. Seán provided innovation, integrity and inspiration that impacted our county profoundly and so we recognise the profound grief that is permeating our community this morning.
All of us have so many examples and teachings from Fr. Seán’s life – our best tribute to him now is to ensure that the values he lived are at the core of our lives and community.
A book of condolences has been opened in the Youth Centre on Carmody Street in Ennis and all are welcome to visit in the coming weeks.
Fr. Sean Sexton – a short profile
Fr. Seán Sexton was ordained in 1965 and in 1968 the then Bishop of Killaloe, Dr. Michael Harty sent him to Swansea to study Youth Work where he obtained a post graduate Diploma in Youth Work. Returning to Ireland in 1969 he took up a fulltime teaching post at the Ennis Vocational School – now Ennis Community College. In the same year Clare Regional Youth Service was founded with Fr. Seán as a volunteer director. Based initially over Cannocks (off the Square in Ennis) – then to Maurer’s Lane and then the Youth Centre in Carmody Street in Ennis. With the support of the Diocese of Killaloe in 1974 he left his teaching post to become a full-time Youth Director while continuing his ministry as a priest.
In setting up and developing Clare Youth Service Seán felt that many young people were disconnected. He understood that they lacked the necessary resources and needed the special encouragement and support that youth centers could offer. He believed that in youth clubs and centers, young people get an opportunity to make choices, build their confidence, take responsibility, speak up on issues, re-assess values, and – just as importantly – to have fun with other young people. He was a passionate advocate for the provision of youth services for all young people noting the challenges they face in moving through their adolescence.
Seán promoted all aspects of young peoples development. He was deeply aware that their personal and social growth was connected to their ability to get on in the world of work. In times of high emigration and unemployment, he worked tirelessly to ensure opportunities at home for young people, especially those whose strengths were not well developed by the formal education system. Therefore, his efforts were key to the development of youth training provision, not just in Clare but as it spread around the country and has now become a centre piece of education nationwide
An amazing innovator he established Youth Cáfes and music projects in the 70’s, opened a Youth Training Centre which continues today to offer fulltime education. He opened one of the first Youth Information Services in Ireland in the 80’s to respond to the needs of the large numbers of young people emigrating. This centre provided valuable information supports, repatriation when needed and has grown to offer a service countywide to young people and their communities. There are over 47 projects operating in Clare currently all of which operate to values and principles he developed.
Seán was involved in the development of Youth Work Policy on a national level. He was a member of the O’Sullivan Committee which published a report entitled “The Development of Youth Services in Ireland” (1981) and also of the Costello Commission whose final report was published in 1984. This Report was the first sustained examination of youth work services and their relationship with other aspects of youth policy provision. Its continuing significance lies in the fact that it set out for the first time a framework for the delivery of a comprehensive youth service at local and national level.
Fr. Seán was involved nationally and internationally in Youth Work issues. He was one of a group of people involved in the early days of the National Youth Federation, now Youth Work Ireland. He worked on various committees of the National Youth Federation and served as president of the Federation in 1974/1975. He was a founding member of the Irish Association of Community Training Centres IACTO.
Not alone has he been involved nationally in Youth Affairs, but he has been involved with European Partners and American Partners.
He was instrumental in setting up ECYC (European Confederation of Youth Clubs) in 1976. ECYC represents a European network of youth work and youth club organisations that practice and promote open youth work and non-formal education. ECYC unites 20 member organisations in 18 Council of Europe member states. Together, they reach 2 million young people in Europe every year.
On the occasion of Fr. Seán’s retirement from CYS in 2008 it was noted that there were few in the country who had given 40 years of dedicated service to Youth Work in the country and even fewer who demonstrated the same energy and passion for Youth Work. Young or not so young he had a unique ability to tune into the individual and listen to their story impacting on thousands of people throughout the country.
Following his retirement from CYS he continued his involvement with CYS serving on the Board of Trustees for over six years. His gentle guidance has supported the ongoing development of Youth Work in Clare with over 47 projects operating in all parts of the County.
Fr Seán had a great love of travel and also understood the great learning to be had from engaging with other cultures. To this end, he had over the years led and encouraged staff, volunteers and young people to “dip their toes in the water” and explore new boundaries. He brought young people to Northern Ireland when it wasn’t the “done thing” in the 1970’s -80’s, driven bus loads to London, managed to lose one or two on the Underground but unfortunately found them again!!!!!, drove the infamous Yellow bus to Germany and had to cross the Berlin wall more than once to find necessary parts to repair the bus. In his travel he met up with Teddy Hoffbeck, Lars Hansen, (Denmark), Richard Maizell in New Jersey and forged very strong links which saw many young people travel to these countries over the years.
Fr Seán was many things to many people – Friend, Trainer, Advisor, Counsellor, Listener, Mentor, Guide, Pastor, while different people feel that their experience of Sean is the full story, he is in fact the sum of all our stories.