The Parishioner - Edition 25

Keeping the Flame 2 alive in ouryoung people!!If anybody had passed St Simon Stock Catholic School on Saturday 7March 2015 they would have seen a very excited bunch of youngpeople and helpers on our way to Wembley! Was this for a popconcert or a football match? No, we were all going to Flame 2, acelebration of faith by young people.On Saturday 7 March 2015, 20 Phoenix Youth Club members andleaders together with 8 young people from St Simon Stock CatholicSchool together with Beth Reeves, the Christian Youth Worker andBrendan Wall, Head teacher. We were all gathered at St Simon Stockawaiting the coach to SSE Arena at Wembley to the CYMFED Flame 2Congress.A couple of members from Phoenix Youth Club had been to the firstFlame Congress in March 2012 but this was the first time I and most ofthe other people had been. I had no idea what to expect but I was reallyexcited to be going and had quite high expectations of the day.On arrival in Wembley immediately I wasn’t disappointed. As ourcoach pulled into the carpark there were other young people witht-shirts and hoodies with logos of the Diocese they had come with or thegroup of Catholic young people they were part of and you could reallyfeel the excitement in the air. As we entered the arena itlooked like a pop concert with large screens on each sideand a large screen in the middle, sound equipment, lighting,large inflatables advertising and welcoming, it wasbreathtaking.The show started with young people who work inyoung ministry dancing and singing followed by music fromMatt Redman which was amazing and really brought thearena to life, it is modern worship music which the youngpeople really enjoy. A couple of his more famous songs thathe sang are 10,000 Reasons and Our God, both of whichPhoenix Youth Club have sung when we have led the 6 pmMass.Lydia BurchellPhoenix Youth Club LeaderWe all really enjoyed listening to Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, theArchbishop of Manila, who had recently accompanied Pope Francisduring his trip to the Philippines. He encouraged everyone to text afriend the words “blessed are the merciful”. We also heard from FrTimothy Radcliffe, Baroness Sheila Hollins, David Wells and CardinalVincent Nichols. A group of young people told us about their yearworking overseas for CAFOD and how their faith helped in their dailylives. Along with two Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops, there weremany Priests from throughout England & Wales.During the break we all went outside to eat our lunch and enjoy thesunshine which we were so blessed with in March, the weather couldnot have been better.After lunch we took part in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament ledby Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, we listened toreadings and prayers. Cardinal Nichols gave a homily during which heprayed for all the young people of the church. Adoration thenconcluded with 8,000 young people singing Benediction led by MattRedman.The day went so quickly, it could not have been better and I enjoyedevery moment. I met many people I know from theDiocese who are involved in youth work and it was afantastic opportunity for everyone who is involved inyouth ministry together with the young people tocome together to praise God.I would like to especially thank the CatenianAssociation for their help with the transport costs toFlame 2 and for being one of the sponsors of theevent. With 8,000 young people in Wembley Arenanobody can say that the faith is not alive in the heartsof our young people. Many of us at Phoenix YouthClub are really looking forward to going to WorldYouth Day in Krakow in 2016.We were requested by CYMFED FlameCongress to Tweet a group selfie onthe coach as you travel to WembleyArena – This is our group selfie!Travelling to Flame with Rebecca, James, Mikaela andAbigaelAn excited Phoenix Youth Club group photograph onarrival at WembleyGroup photo (inc Brendan Wall,headteacher from St Simon Stock) atlunchtime in front of the WembleyArchCardinal Tagle from the Philippinesgiving the young people at Flame aninspirational talk “Blessed are themerciful”Beautiful moment when Wembley came alive with the torches onmobiles as everyone prayed togetherWonderful rousingperformances onthe stage atWembley Arch whilewe are showered inticker tape3