'With Every Breath': young Catholics encounter Christ at LifeTeen Summer Camp

More than 200 young people, parish youth leaders and young adult volunteers from across the Archdiocese of Birmingham and beyond gathered at Alton Castle this week for the annual LifeTeen Summer Camp which brought together adventure, friendship, formation and a deep encounter with Christ.

Organised by the Kenelm Youth Trust (KYT), the five-day camp welcomed young people aged 12-18 from Catholic parishes across the country, alongside a committed team of young adult volunteers and an experienced leadership team.

Taking place from Sunday 16 August until Thursday 20 August, the camp combined outdoor adventure with prayer, theological formation and the Sacraments, creating an environment where young people could discover that faith is not something separate from everyday life, but something that touches every aspect of it.

This year's theme, 'With Every Breath', focused on the person and work of the Holy Spirit, inviting young people to consider how the Spirit is active in their lives and how they might respond to His invitation.

Each day included Mass, opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and times of prayer and Eucharistic Adoration, alongside formation talks and small-group discussions. The young people were given space to ask questions, explore their faith and consider what it means to live as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Powerful periods of Eucharistic Adoration were a particular feature of the week, providing moments of stillness and prayer amid the energy of camp. With the Blessed Sacrament exposed, young people were invited simply to be present with Jesus, bringing their hopes, questions and lives before Him.

Alongside the spiritual and theological programme, campers enjoyed an extensive range of outdoor activities, including biking, trekking and archery. There were also day trips to Flip Out in Stoke and Alton Towers, giving the young people opportunities to relax, have fun and strengthen the friendships developed throughout the week.

Investing in young leaders

The camp's young adult volunteer team played a crucial role in creating the community to welcome and lead the participants. Volunteers arrived three days before the young people, giving them time to prepare together and receive training in safeguarding, evangelisation and theology.

Their formation was rooted in the camp's 'With Every Breath' theme, equipping the volunteers not simply to supervise activities but to accompany the young people in their faith and help create an environment in which they could encounter Christ. The formation was ably lead by Matt Franklin who joined us from California.

Matt was joining the camp for the second year having first been with the team in the summer of 2025 and this year he was joined by his 21 year old son, Andrew who led worship for the week.

Summer Camp Leader Beccy Roseman said: "It is such a privilege to be able to host the LifeTeen Summer Camp at Alton Castle. It has grown every year since the first camp fifteen years ago, and it is incredible to see how this community continues to grow and develop.

"One of the things I am particularly proud of is the commitment of our young adult volunteer team. They arrive early before the young people, some taking annual leave to prepare, pray and receive training.

"These young adults are not simply helping to run a camp. They are investing in the lives of the young people entrusted to them. They model what it means to live a faith that is joyful, generous and outward-looking, and they create a community in which our young people can feel welcomed, known and loved.

"I am also proud that the camp is inclusive of young people from different backgrounds. They come from different parishes and have different experiences of faith, but for this week they find a home together. They can have fun, ask difficult questions, pray together, receive the Sacraments and discover that they are part of something much bigger than themselves.

Ray, a parish youth leader from Birmingham said he came expecting a week where the young people would be impacted but found something more.

"At the start of the week I hoped our young people would be transformed and people who have been before told me this was the case. However, I was not expecting that I would be transformed also. I cannot thank the team here enough".

Encountering Christ in community

For the young people, the combination of faith and community has made a lasting impression.

Thabani, 18, from Birmingham, said: "Summer Camp has been eye-opening. I was able to go deeper than in my normal life. All the people get to know each other and all the age ranges are able to mix and share with each other. I would and have recommended it to anyone aged 11-18."

For Francis, 17, from Wolverhampton, the week has been particularly significant spiritually: "This week has been spiritually transformative. I have been able to encounter Christ and get to know my friends better. It is a place where I have been able to see Christ in others."

And for Isla, 13, who has attended the camp three times, the experience has become an important part of her life: "Summer Camp is one of the best experiences. Previously I have celebrated my birthday on camp and I wouldn't change it."

The camp takes place at Alton Castle, a historic Catholic retreat centre overlooking the Churnet Valley. A castle was standing on the site by 1176, while the present buildings include 19th-century work associated with the Catholic architect Augustus Welby Pugin. The site has been used as a retreat centre for young people since 1996.

Today, its ancient walls provide the setting for a very different kind of gathering: young people encountering the living Christ through the Eucharist, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, prayer, friendship and the beauty and challenge of the outdoors.

For the Kenelm Youth Trust, this combination is at the heart of its mission.

KYT is the youth service of the Archdiocese of Birmingham, working with parishes, schools and young people to create opportunities for them to encounter Christ, grow in faith and become missionary disciples.

As the young people return to their parishes, they take with them more than memories of Alton Towers, archery, biking and late-night laughter. They leave with friendships strengthened, questions explored and, for many, a renewed awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

The challenge of 'With Every Breath' is now to take that encounter beyond Alton Castle, allowing every breath, every conversation, every decision and every act of service to become an opportunity to live with the Holy Spirit and share the joy of the Gospel.

LINK

Kenelm Youth Trust: www.kenelmyouthtrust.org.uk/