Catholic People's Weeks 2020 Programme launched

Ellen Teague
Nov 17th, 2019

Catholic People's Weeks (CPW) has launched its 2020 programme, with 10 events organised. CPW has been providing 'holidays with a difference' for nearly 75 years with family weeks and adult only weeks offered, plus a programme of shorter events and lectures.

The 75th anniversary will be celebrated on 15 August 2020 in St Cassian's Centre at Kintbury, which will be a significant gathering of the CPW members of all ages. CPW Chair Anne Dixon says:

"For 75 years we have provided the opportunity for adults with busy lives to participate in immersive learning experiences through talks and activities. Almost all our events are residential, creating an enquiring and supportive community of faith. We are currently engaged in a three-year programme examining our individual and collective vocations through the lens of our baptismal anointing through Christ as Priest, Prophet and King. Each event is unique, attracting a different group each time so new members are always welcome. Although deep friendships are often formed at our events, we are not a closed group and our aim is to return to our local faith communities refreshed, invigorated and enthused."

First events of 2020:

Feb 15, 2020 - Feb 16, 2020

Winter Weekend: Prophetic Imagination (Includes Dora Turbin Lecture)

In the year of CPW's 75th Anniversary this event at Hinsley Hall in Leeds will use stories of inspirational people who have been part of CPW's history to find ways to respond to challenges today. The speaker for the Dora Turbin Lecture on Saturday 15th will be David McLoughlin, Emeritus Fellow of Christian Theology at Newman University, Birmingham. The chaplain is Columban Father Jim Fleming who worked in Pakistan for 20 years and is now based in Birmingham.

Mar 13, 2020 - Mar 15, 2020

Spring Weekend: Prophets - Opening Unseeing Eyes & Unhearing Ears

This weekend will be held at Noddfa Spirituality Centre, Penmaenmawr in North Wales. What does it mean to have a prophetic task, and who were, and are, our prophets? What effect might it have if we really listen to the prophets' messages of the past?

Jun 29, 2020 - Jul 4, 2020

Walking Week: Walking as Witness

This weekend will also be held at Noddfa Spirituality Centre, Penmaenmawr in North Wales. What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8). The week will consider the implications of Micah's prophetic call, looking at Biblical and some modern prophets who walked or marched as witness to their calling.

Each CPW event is run by volunteers from the CPW community and is very participatory. Prayer is threaded through all activities and each event has a priest chaplain. Around 400 weeks have been run since 1945, when the three founders - Reg Trevett, a Taunton teacher; Dom Ralph Russell, a monk at Downside Abbey; and John Todd, a conscientious objector who worked on land near Downside during the war and was a co-founder of the religious publishing house Darton Longman & Todd - decided to create opportunities for lay Catholics to study theology and deepen their understanding of faith. After the boost given to lay formation by Vatican II, the weeks became ever more popular. The mixture of talks and activities, prayer and socialising, in a community setting, is popular with many Catholic families and individuals.

The educational programme at each CPW event is built around a particular theme. The theme could explore a piece of scripture, Catholic Social Teaching, or another aspect of our Christian life. The theme is well researched by the chair and speakers are chosen to complement the theme. On all-age weeks a parallel programme is designed for the young people.

Details of all 2020 events at:

https://catholicpeoplesweeks.org/events

Reports of recent events at: