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Aylesford Priory hosts WYD@Home


Jo Boyce with CJM

Jo Boyce with CJM

In the spirit of Pope Francis “I hope there will be noise” nearly 1,000 young adults gathered with the Carmelite community at Aylesford Priory for WYD@Home as part of the  annual Brightlights Festival, now in its 18th consecutive year serving young people and the church in its mission of evangelisation.

This four day event commenced on Friday with ‘Born for This’ a dramatic and moving production of the Stations of the Cross through the grounds and gardens of the Priory. The Big Top was action packed with inspiring speakers including David Wells, Frankie Mulgrew, Mgr. Tim Menezes and Fiona Mansford. The Shrine became the perfect venue for CJM to lead worship and celebrate liturgy with preaching from Fr David O’Malley, Bishop Declan Lang,  Archbishop Peter Smith and Archbishop Vincent Nichols who shared the message of Pope Francis to young people on Discipleship.

Mass on Sunday ended with an impromptu conga line, a wonderful witness to see young adults with their Priests and Religious celebrating the vibrancy of the Church together.

The joyous atmosphere all weekend was encouraged by a great line up of musicians and bands that provided moments when the tent rocked to such bands as Sunday headliners Sounds of Salvation. After link ups with pilgrims in Rio via a big screen before and after Sunday afternoon Mass in the Shrine, an evening of latino style celebrations and a tasty Hog Roast followed.

The Friars at Aylesford opened their home to the young adults sharing their community prayer times and Carmel spirituality. This ancient pilgrimage site provided the perfect backdrop to the festival.

Festival goers travelled from Zamora in Spain, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland as well as from England and Wales. The majority of who had never been to a large Catholic gathering before. The weekend made a significant impact to individuals from Birmingham who told a group leader “This weekend has changed my life”.
CAFOD Partners César and Freddy from Bogotá in Colombia   shared their experiences of social justice, peace building and young leadership with the energetic crowd of young Catholics from the UK, Ireland and Spain. Freddy held a graffiti workshop and Cesar played his AK-47 rifle that he has transformed into a guitar to play their songs of peace

We were also privileged to be joined by Westminster Deaf Services who provided sign translation throughout the weekend. Their presence at the festival was so well received that everyone present at Mass started to sing the Alleluia in sign taking lead from the deaf young adults who attended. Demand was so great that an extra last minute introduction to signing workshop was arranged.

The weekend was packed with teachings , opportunities for discipleship in ambitious and creative styles and those who arrived young disciples left as missionary after a three- fold instruction ‘Go’ ‘Serve’ and ‘Be imaginative’ by Archbishop Vincent Nichols.

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