Upcoming Events
FLAME 2023
“Rise Up” was the theme for the event, from Luke 1: 39 “Mary arose and went in haste.” Flame was organised by the Catholic Youth Ministry Federation in the UK. It was well attended, about 8,000 young people from different parts of England and Wales.
It was wonderful to start an event of this kind with a message from the Holy Father Pope Francis for Flame 2023. “Sending heartfelt good wishes and the assurance of his spiritual closeness to all taking part”
There was an atmosphere of excitement, flashing lights and loud cheering at intervals during and after each performance. Yet my experience was that of the “Church” in a different style of Fellowship. From the beginning when the statue of Our Lady of Walsingham was brought inside the arena, I knew it was going to be an awesome experience. She was ushered in with so much reverence and taking her place on stage as the Queen Mother, was edifying.
The opening liturgy was mind blowing with music by One Hope Project and drama by Pupils from St. Angela’s and St. Bonaventure’s schools in East London.
It was a six hours event that featured a wholistic presentation and performance. From the different artist that performed on stage to the giving of testimonies of lived faith experience and the delivery of yet another inspirational talks by Cardinal Luis Tagle and Archbishop Timothy Costelloe of Perth (Australia). Both speakers spoke in the language that were familiar to the young, yet invitational for them to rise up to the challenges of simple ordinary daily life situations. Cardinal Tagle spoke in his usual captivating manner, about some significant “angles” in his life who inspired him to “rise up” and in that sense invited all present to reflect and recognise those people whom God sends to us as “angels” urging us then to respond by “rising up.” In like manner, Archbishop Costelloe, urged the young people to build bridges not walls and to be active in the Church and the world. He said “on the way home from Flame, ask yourself, what do I need to do?”
Another remarkable presence was that of Robert Bilott, an attorney from Cincinnati in the United States, who stood up for communities that were badly affected by chemical poisoning as a result of production waste from a huge chemical company. A situation that he described as David taking on Goliath but it was the right thing to do. He remarked that it was a journey that took 24 years, but it was worth it. A clip of the film ‘Dark Water’ about his life was shown.
Jenny Garzon Saavedra from Colombia, a CAFOD partner talked about her work with youth and parish groups in areas of caring for creation.
After all the presentations, then came the time for adoration in absolute silence. Cardinal Vincent Nichols who presided over the closing liturgy, spoke of “how much we have to thank God for today, the music, testimonies and moments to treasure and draw encouragement.”
“This is Church as you have never seen it before or been it before, but this is Church” Fr. Dominic Howarth (CYMFED chair) No wonder the Irish students who attended Flame but studying in the UK expressed their desire on how they would love to have a similar event in Ireland.
Sr. Mary Usifoh
Pope Francis’ 10th anniversary: ‘Ad multos annos, Holy Father!’
As Pope Francis celebrates the 10th anniversary of his pontificate, our Editorial Director and the Director of the Osservatore Romano explain Vatican Media’s coverage of this historic milestone, and offer their best wishes to the Holy Father.
By Andrea Tornielli and Andrea Monda
On the evening of 13 March 2013, Jorge Mario Bergoglio appeared, for the first time, at the central loggia of St Peter’s Basilica dressed in white.
Along with the affectionate homage to his predecessor emeritus, his initial greeting already contained several salient features of his pontificate: the emphasis on being the Bishop of Rome of the Church “that presides in charity over all the Churches”; the centrality of God’s faithful people from whom the new Pastor asked for a blessing before he gave one himself; and the prayer for “a great fraternity” in a world torn apart by injustice, violence and wars.
In the days that followed, the Pope explained the meaning of the name he had chosen, linking it to the dream of “a Church that is poor and for the poor”.
Francis of Assisi, he said, is “the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation”.
A few months later, in November of that same year, the Pope published his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, which offered the true road map of his pontificate. With it, he asked Christians to bear witness to the joy of the Gospel with their lives, as well as to bring everywhere, and in particular to those who suffer most, the closeness and tenderness of our God who forgives, welcomes and embraces.
Ten years later, we at the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication wondered how best we could celebrate this anniversary across our various media outlets. Gradually, an idea that emerged which was not so much of us talking about Pope Francis, but of giving space to what his testimony and his Magisterium have provoked or are helping to promote.
We therefore chose to give the floor to various testimonies of people from the most diverse situations in the world: to those who every day recognise the face of the Nazarene in those who suffer, are rejected, or are distant; and, to those who tell wonderful stories that document the power of love and the miracle of forgiveness in contexts of hatred or indifference.
Each of them describes the reverberation of one of the main themes of Pope Francis’ pontificate, composing a mosaic that rekindles hope.
This hope is possible, despite the many gloomy signs we are unfortunately witnessing, the first of which is the ever more concrete risk for humanity to self-destruct.
Giving voice to the testimonies seemed to us the most appropriate way to tune in to the people
of God who love Francis and continue to pray for him.
These people follow the Pope, and they turn, along with him, to Jesus with the words of Peter, recognising the source of hope and salvation: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”.
Ad multos annos, Holy Father!
2023 CWR Ireland Conference PRESS RELEASE
Join the 2023 CWR Ireland Conference: Register Now!
Dublin, Ireland – CWR Ireland is thrilled to announce that registration is now open for the 2023 CWR Ireland Conference. The event will take place on 22nd April at the Ashling Hotel in Dublin, and is open to all women religious leadership teams, communication personnel, lay and religious individuals, and anyone interested in the ministry of communication.
The conference will feature two plenary speakers who will be sure to inspire attendees. Kathleen Bryant, RSC, will deliver a talk on “Joy and Vulnerability: An Unlikely Marriage,” while Ken Gibson will speak about “Sharing Good News with Joy and Purpose.”
In addition to the plenary speakers, the conference will also feature a choice of exciting workshops. Sheila Campbell, MMM, and Nadia Ramoutar will present a workshop on blogging, while Suzanne Ryder, RSM, and Attracta Tighe, RSM, will co-present a workshop on podcasting. Ken Gibson will present a workshop on communicating in challenging times.
The full conference programme, including details about the workshops, is available on the CWR website (https://c4wr.org/cwr-ireland-2023-conference/) and attendees can register for $75 (€70). Registration closes on Saturday 8th April, so act fast to secure your place at this exciting event.
If you have any questions about the conference, please email cwrirelandbooking@gmail.com.
Don’t miss out on this enriching opportunity to learn and grow with other communicators. We look forward to seeing you on 22nd April!