Celebrating 80 years of CPW - a unique lay organisation

Catholic People's Week at Boar's Hill

John Bell of the Iona Community was the keynote speaker at Catholic People's Weeks 80th anniversary celebrations recently.

Catholic People's Weeks (CPW) was founded when three lay people in Taunton Somerset developed a vision for Catholic lay education. At a time when most people left school at 14, the church was dominated by the clergy, and the Second World War was still underway, Reg Trevett, John Todd and Dom Ralph Russell's vision was ambitious, but in 1945, just after the end of the war, the first residential study week was held in Oxford.

And it was just outside Oxford at the Carmelite Priory in Boars Hill that around 50 people gathered last weekend to celebrate CPW's legacy, look to its future and take inspiration from John Bell's talk entitled `At Odds with the Culture of Contentment'.

Bell interspersed his talk with short songs and hymns - a novel approach that was refreshing and helped build a sense of hope while delivering a sometimes difficult message. While not dismissing contentment, he warned that it can lead to looking back in a way that romanticises the past and ignores some of its shortcomings.

He talked of young people and their worries for the future - including some he had met who have decided not to have children because they believe the world is not a safe place for them. He challenged those present to tell young people that we have faith in them and to believe that hope is possible. As he memorably put it: `Unlike optimism, hope is a verb'.

Barbara Wilson, a co-chair of CPW, said: "Over the course of the weekend we celebrated our amazing history, the inclusive liturgies we share and the genuine communities that form at our events. We are looking forward to whatever the future brings. As John Bell said: 'The kingdom isn't about contentment, it's about change.' "

Today CPW runs events of different lengths across the country. Some are for all ages and others are just for adults. Topics may cover personal spirituality, church life, theology or Catholic Social Teaching, such as the upcoming week (which still has a few places left) on the theme: "Where is God in the Climate Crisis?" Entertainment is organised for each evening and there is plenty of free time to enjoy the local countryside or the amenities of the venue.

From the very beginning, building a faith community on the week has been a hallmark of a CPW. Discussions and arguments could be intense but everyone had a voice. Brid Fitzpatrick, another co-chair commented: "CPW was doing synodality long before it became a buzzword in the Church - and was acting in the spirit of Vatican II years before that council was convened."

Louise Cook, a lifelong member of CPW, said: "CPW genuinely includes everyone from toddlers up to the elderly and all enrich each other. Many families return each year because their teenagers beg them to. I don't think there is another Catholic organisation quite like it"

A recording of John Bell's talk will be available shortly on the CPW website: https://catholicpeoplesweeks.org/

John Bell leading singing as part of his talk

The members who attended the 80th anniversary celebration