Prayer is essential for the renewal of the Church

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.”

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