The inside track on Flame 2019! Got your tickets?
Fr Dominic Howarth, Chair of the Flame core group, and Fr Dermott Donnelly, CYMFed Chair, have more info on Flame 2019, and why it’s going top be a great event to bring your young people to.
The CYMFed Flame Congress is now just 8 weeks away, on 2nd March 2019, at Wembley Arena. Many parishes and school groups have already booked tickets for their young people to enjoy this amazing celebration of Catholic faith, in a vibrant atmosphere, full of joy, with content presented in a way which resonates for young people.
If your parish or school has not yet booked, there is still time, and we – as organisers – will make it as easy as possible for you. We are bringing groups ourselves, and so we will hopefully offer you all the practical information you need as you prepare to travel to Wembley, and a memorable and inspiring day when you get there.
Podcast from Ireland talks about issues young people face
Are you among the growing audience for the YouthPod Ireland podcast? Set up and hosted by four youth workers from Bray, Co Wicklow, Adam Burke, Paul Tracey, Jamie Brierton and Michael Fleming, the podcast features lively chats on issues affecting young people, including mental health, drugs and alcohol education, that will resonate wherever you do your youth work.
Flame 2019 to feature interview with Jean Vanier
In addition to an already fantastic line-up for Flame 2019, including Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Guvna B, Timothy Hughes and Emma Borquaye, the event will feature an exclusive video interview with Jean Vanier, founder of the L’Arche organisation.
His many accolades include the French Legion of Honour, Companion of the Order of Canada, the Rabbi Gunther Plaut Humanitarian Award 2001, the International Paul VI Award, and the Templeton Prize. He has furthermore been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Jean Vanier, and those who came to share his vision, learnt two important truths in the early years, which remain at the heart of L’Arche today. People with learning disabilities have a great deal to contribute to society and, by living in intentional community with people with and without learning disabilities – living with diversity and difference – we open ourselves up to be challenged and to grow.
If you’ve not yet booked your tickets, get onto it right now! Book online at CYMFed
Pope’s WYD 2019 message: “a revolution of service”
Vatican News published a video this week with an energising message from Pope Francis for January’s World Youth Day in Panama.
In the video, he talks about the WYD2019 theme – Mary’s response to God’s call, and encourages young people ‘to discover what God wants from us and to be brave enough to say “yes”’.
Flame 2019: Call for 60 second videos
The CYMFed Flame 2019 team will have more exciting news about the line-up of speakers very soon, but right now, they’re offering young people the opportunity to talk about the theme for 2019 – SIGNIFICANCE – in short videos. A selection will be shown in the arena during Flame, and all videos submitted will be posted on the CYMFed website after the event. Read more
Can’t get to Panama? Do WYD@Home!
Excitement is building for WYD2019 – but Panama just isn’t do-able for many of us. But if you want the WYD vibe without the big journey and the cost, what about World Youth Day @ Home?
The Youth Services of the Dioceses of Leeds, Salford, Shrewsbury and the Archdiocese of Birmingham have come together to create a weekend festival from 7-9 June 2019, hosted at Alton Castle. It will be celebrating all things WYD, but much closer to home.
Prepare the Way Advent Concerts
Jo Boyce and the CJM Music Collective are taking their Prepare the Way Advent and Christmas concerts to 3 venues in Birmingham, Salford and Stevenage from 7-9 December 2018. The concerts are a beautiful way for people of all ages to come together and enter into the spirit of the Advent season. Read more
Interactive Youth Music Weekend 17-18 November 2018
Gen Verde, one of the international performing arts group of the Focolare movement, will be back in the UK in November. They have been invited by the dioceses of Plymouth and Birmingham to work in some of their schools, however they will also do a music weekend for young people in Welwyn Garden City on 17th-18th Nov, which is open to whoever would like to be there (as long at they are between 15-23 years of age).
News from the CYMFED Synod Gathering: Rome
PHOTO: CYMFed
Forty Catholic Youth Ministry Federation members and colleagues from England & Wales have gathered at the Casa Bonus Pastor in Rome for a conference and retreat coinciding with Synod 2018. CYMFed members fill us in on what’s happening:
On 16th October, Fr Dominic Howarth opened proceedings by celebrating Mass at the Casa Bonus Pastor with the whole group.
The first speaker was Mr Paul Jarzembowski, an assistant to the US Bishops at the Synod. Paul spoke about the experience so far at the Synod, and how among other things, the ‘sacred middle space’, ie, the ‘wise and generous guides’ are hugely important to young people today. He noted four key trends experienced in the US today; Read more
BBC to broadcast #Synod2018 panel discussion with young people
Next week, the BBC World Service will be in Rome to record a special broadcast for its documentary series, Heart and Soul. The programme, Heart and Soul Gathering, will feature a panel of young people talking about what they want from our Church, and will be recorded with a live audience. (Tickets are free but you need to register) Read more