Hundreds of people gathered last weekend in Armagh, for Spiritfest 2011.
It is the first initiative of
this kind in the archdiocese, coming at the suggestion of Tony Hanna
from the office of Pastoral Renewal and Family Ministry of the
archdiocese, who had been at a similar festival in Australia.
The Archbishop of Armagh Cardinal Seán Brady formally opened Spiritfest 2011 after
Morning Prayer on Friday.
For the rest of Friday and Saturday,
participants were able to choose from a variety of workshops on
different forms of prayer, from traditional, to Taizé, to meditation
with scripture.
Keynote speakers included Fr Lawrence Freeman, Monica Brown, Fr
Paschal McDonnell and Professor Eamon Conway.
Bishop Richard Clarke
from the Church of Ireland, and Rev Ruth Patterson also spoke.
A huge crowd gathered to hear the acclaimed group The Priests who
led an evening of prayer and sacred music in St Patrick’s Cathedral,
Armagh.
Not only were those present physically at the joyful event able
to appreciate the fine music, but many other people were able to
participate through a live transmission via the internet on http://www.churchservices.tv/live/armagh.
Among the songs performed by The Priests, was a new hymn specially
commissioned by the Armagh diocese from Sr. Briege O’Hare OSC, called Lord Teach us to Pray.
The final day of the festival was a special family day
with a range of programmes offered to children, young people and
adults.
The event concluded with Mass in St Patrick’s Cathedral,
Armagh.
The main celebrant was Dean Colum Curry from Dungannon with
Fr Laurence Freeman OSB, Spiritual Director of the Christian Meditation
Movement giving the homily.
Speaking in advance of the festival, Cardinal Seán Brady said he saw
the festival as an essential preparation both for the World Youth Day in
August this year, and for the 50th International Eucharistic Congress
next summer.
“The Church has a wonderful tradition of prayer which takes many forms. Spiritfest aims to highlight and share as many of these forms of prayer as possible from praying the scriptures
to Taizé prayer.”
He said he saw the renewal of the Church came from the renewal of people’s relationship with Christ.
“People say we [the Church] should be listening. Yes, listen to the
Word of God to see what kind of Church the Lord wants and in what way do
I measure up to those expectations.”