Celebrate Weekends
2008 saw the creation of Celebrate Weekends. The week-long, Easter Celebrate Family Holiday Conference, found by many to be a ‘well-of-faith’ to visit often, gave birth to a ‘weekends initiative’, enabling many more to have the multi-generational, family Celebrate experience of Church. From Brighton and to Manchester - with five others between, including Birmingham’s Archdiocesan Heart of England Celebrate Weekend, at Princethope – well over 3000 had the fun-filled friendship and family-Faith experience that is Celebrate. These weekends proved an exciting means of both encouraging the spiritually thirsty and reaching out to those whose previous faith experience may have gone no further than a ‘Sunday acquaintance’ with Jesus. Over 400 attended the Heart of England Celebrate, which was endorsed by Archbishop Vincent.
2009 Programme
In 2009 Catholic Today readers may be pleased to know the Heart of England Weekend is in a more accessible location. On 24th and 25th October, at the beginning of Autumn’s half-term holiday, the Celebrate Weekend’s new venue is Cardinal Wiseman School, Coventry. The Heart of England team is transporting much of Ilfracombe’s programme to Coventry. It features Internationally sought-after Catholic conference speaker, David Wells, co-Director of Formation in Plymouth Diocese who excites both young and old to explore their Faith. Another key international speaker is prominent House Church leader, Dave Matthews, who humorously shares about his Northern Irish roots and work for Christian Unity.
They’re joined by regular Celebrate speaker, Jenny Baker, whose down-to-earth explanation of the Catholic Faith has seen her promoting CaFE*, nationally and internationally. Key seminars come from Fr David Keniry – Director of Ark of the Covenant Centre for Prayer and Evangelisation, in Coventry, who has journeyed for many years with a vision to develop more vigorous parish evangelisation - and David Payne – preacher, author, scriptwriter, producer and presenter of CaFE* videos.
Music throughout the weekend is led by Ronan Johnston, leader of Dublin’s Emmaus Community for over 20 years. A prominent Irish TV presenter, Ronan’s spiritual song-writing makes his an inspiring music ministry. Drama and mime come from Monica Mccardle of Sion Community’s Mission Team and there are five exciting children’s and young people’s streams.
Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor, who visited Celebrate in Ilfracombe, said: “It has been a great encouragement to adults, young people, and children of all ages, with emphasis on good, practical Christian teaching, celebration, service and fun. Celebrate Weekends make the experience available to many more people in local parishes. I join with you in praying for their success.”
Anyone in the Birmingham Archdiocese, is welcome to join the 2009 Heart of England Celebrate Weekend. And bring those you’d like to introduce to Jesus as their weekday friend. It just might be a life-changing experience for them – and for you. Visit www.celebrateconference.org/heartofengland to find out more or phone Kathy and Martin Dady on 0121 451 2508.
*CaFE produces multiple programmes of Catholic Faith Exploration
