Sep 21, 2016
Here comes everybody!
It was a real privilege to join the Youth 2000 team in England for their preparations in the run up to the Conquerers Festival in Walsingham. Each year 1,500 young people journey from all over the UK to sing, pray, attend workshops and play tug of war together – as you do.
Some festivals can be too serious!?!
All this doesn’t just happen and the organising team was on site a week in advance anticipating every challenge and preparing the way. We spent days moving food boxes, setting up tables and sorting out the sound system in the Big Top. Each night we had a time of Adoration, so as to ground everything we did in prayer.
The Eucharist is a central part of the weekend
Eventually Thursday arrived along with the first of our groups. There was a real sense of anticipation and excitement. As the first buses and cars start to pull up and the people offload we move into overdrive. We began with a talk about God’s love for us and our search for Him, followed by Mass with Fr. Stephen Wang. Then it was tents up and hair down for a relaxed evening renewing old friendships and making new ones.
Hanging out with others is another essential part of Walsingham
Friday was all about getting to know God better, starting with our morning talk ‘Who do you say that I am.’ Small groups are an essential part of the faith sharing for the young people and they allow them to really express their hopes, questions and above all themselves. That evening dozens of priests took part in the Reconciliation Service, which emphasises the mercy and compassion of God for all of us. For me it’s the highlight of the Festival. (more…)
Sep 12, 2016
The MSC group in Poland for World Youth Day (minus Jaime – he had a sole leg)
After an amazing week with the parish community of St Mark’s outside Warsaw we finally arrived in Kraków. There we were joined by Sarah, Anne Marie and the pilgrims from our Dublin a Parish. Our hotel was already full of Malawians and Canadians pilgrims, giving you an idea of the wonderful diversity of World Youth Day. The following day was about getting ourselves orientated and making our way to the Blonia, where all the big events in the run up to the WYD would take place.
Meeting some of the fantastic Polish volunteers who are always ready to lend a hand
The opening Mass and the concert that followed were full of joy and music, but it was the journey home that I remember. There were conga lines of every nationality making their way back into the city centre, as well as high five relays with Polish seminarians. As with every other WYD I’ve been to, the train stations get packed, but the atmosphere is always good humoured. (more…)
Aug 20, 2016
The MSC small group with Beth and Ellie, our amazing leaders. There really are no words to describe World Youth Day. It’s an incredible event for the seventeen of the MSC pilgrims, coming from Galway, Cork, Dublin and London. We joined up with the Archdiocese of Birmingham for the 40 hour drive / flight / taxi / bus / ferry / bus trip to Poland. However, before you know it were in the parish of St. Marks, Łomianki, just outside of Warsaw. There was an incredibly joyful group of parishioners, who were delighted to welcome us to our Mission Week.
Helping out with the sensory garden
Mission Week is an essential part of the WYD experience. It’s about taking the time to ground your faith in acts of service. This is especially important during Pope Francis’ Year of Mercy. We’re told to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, bury the dead, shelter the homeless, care for the sick, and visit the imprisoned.
Altogether there was 120 pilgrims in the group, who were divided over a variety of projects. We don’t tick every box during Mission Week, but we were close.
Everybody just got stuck in!
The first team headed to Sadawa, a residential home for people with disabilities, to build a multi sensory garden. They had to dig up paths, decorate jumbo pots, and paint a sail boat. They also managed to fit in time for bike rides through the forest, dancing, as well as arts and crafts. The next group built a Rosary walk in a home for the elderly. Another spent a few days entertaining the kids at a local paediatric hospital with drama and music. The rest of us were in the park organising few days of games and activities for local children. It was pretty manic, but we had loads of help from Ola and the members of the Łomianki youth group. They were just brilliant.
MSC selfie with a photobomb from Sue, our amazing nurse!
By Sunday the songs were sung, the garden dug, and pots were planted. Bishop William Kenney CP blessed the sensory garden and Rosary walk and then we all headed for a barbecue – as you do. The next morning our Polish families saw us off on the bus and we began our journey to Kraków. On the way we visited Wadowice, the birth place of Pope John Paul II. We also paid our respects in Auschwitz Concentration Camp. It was a sobering reminder about the world’s need for justice and mercy.
Late on Monday evening we finally arrived at the Junior Krakus in Kraków, tired but excited for Week 2 of World Youth Day!
Jul 12, 2016
Thanks, but no thanks!
You can see that they are sceptical. The arms are folded and the legs are crossed. No one can do militant disinterest like two hundred and fifty teenagers in a marquee on Friday morning. They are having none of this Jesus carry on. It’s a little surprising an hour later when you see everyone one of them jumping up and down and singing along with Guvna B. Apparently Grime is in at the moment.
But then things get really moving!
This is the wonderful thing about the Brightlights Youth Festival. It succeeds in engaging young people who, on the surface, want to be disengaged. Through music, drama, and inspirational speakers they allow them to celebrate what faith should be about. It’s something real, not imagined, and it is relevant to their lives.
(more…)
Jul 2, 2016
It’s June, so that means it’s time for the Spirit in the City Festival in the centre of London. It’s based in the parish of Notre Dame de France, home of the wonderful Marist Fathers and their passionate team of laity. Over four days of music, cinema, outreach, and liturgy we reached out to the 250,000 thousand who pass through Leicester Square every day.
We started on Wednesday with the European premiere of Full of Grace in the Prince Charles Cinema. It normally holds Rocky Horror Picture Show sing-alongs and John Carpenter retrospectives (I was at one the month before – Big Trouble in Little China is a classic!). This was something entirely different. It was a reflective, prayerful film on the life of Mary after the Resurrection. I was on usher duty, which was no mean feat, as we had a full house. The movie was followed by a discussion of the role of Mary in the early Church and her continuing impact today as an example of Mercy. (more…)
Jun 23, 2016
Moving at a different pace
It wasn’t looking good. Anytime I checked the weather app it said rain. When I checked back a few minutes later, hoping against hope, it was only getting worse. The threat of thunder and lightning is certainly not the ideal circumstances for a 114km walk along the ancient and beautiful pilgrimage route toward Santiago de Compostella. Still with bags packed, water bottles filled, and enthusiasm unbridled we began our Camino from the sleepy town of Sarria just before dawn. It was to be the beginning of a wonderful adventure. (more…)
