Uncategorised

After prayerful discernment following discussions with the teams at the University of Sussex, we’ve taken the decision to move the Young Persons’ Life in the Spirit Seminar “Uprising” from 11–12 October to 28 February–1 March 2026.

We made this shift not out of convenience, but to ensure the weekend sparks a lasting movement at the University of Sussex, across Brighton and beyond. By taking extra time we can:

• Deepen youth engagement before the event, equipping local youth groups and emerging leaders who’ll carry forward the fire of the Spirit
• Integrate with other outreach activities (e.g., Alpha) so the seminar becomes part of a holistic discipleship journey rather than a standalone moment.
• Strengthen our partnership for ongoing collaboration and support with local youth groups long after the weekend concludes.

Please update your calendars to 28 February – 1 March 2026.

We’re confident that this change to the timing and deeper groundwork will bear abundant, long-lasting fruit in participants’ lives and for the wider youth mission.

Thank you for your flexibility as we prepare for a truly transformative weekend.

A driving desire in unity for a New Pentecost upon the whole world in this “Pilgrims of Hope” Jubilee Year 2025. “Let’s return to the Holy Spirit, so He would return to us” St. Elena Guerra.

The Vatican based international Charismatic Renewal Service (CHARIS) founded by the late Pope Francis is calling for everyone throughout the world, united as one heart, to pray the Novena to the Holy Spirit during this Jubilee Year, so that the world will experience a NEW PENTECOST.

There are many signs that our Lord Jesus Christ is giving us, such as great revivals in many parts of the world and we must act on this opportunity! Our Lord is calling us to claim for a great and powerful outpouring of the fire from above. “Therefore, without fear, united hand in hand with God and with one another, let’s go forward, let’s be disciples of the Christ. The Christ precedes us. The world needs His Light. Humanity needs Him as a bridge to be reached by God, by his love” (His Holiness Leo XIV). As Pope Leo XIV asks and repeats: let’s become a bridge. In this case, let’s become a bridge for the Holy Spirit to come upon us all….to come in us and through us!

CHARIS have asked that we use the Novena of Saint Elena Guerra: “A New Cenacle”. The novena starts on Friday May 30th (the day after Ascension Thursday) and continues for 9 days to Saturday June 7th (Pentecost Vigil). You can pray the novena individually or as a group together (even using an online meeting!) – but however you pray the novena, let’s pray from the depth of our hearts, with fervour, hope, and great faith, knowing that all our novena prayers are rising to heaven and being heard.

You can read more about St Elena Guerra here: https://www.charisuk.com/post/a-new-saint-elena-guerra-apostle-of-the-holy-spirit

The Latin American bishops’ document of Aparecida No. 548 beautifully emphasises:
“We cannot waste this hour of grace. We need a new Pentecost! We need to go out to meet people, families, communities, and peoples to communicate and share the gift of the encounter with Christ, who has filled our lives with meaning, with truth and love, with joy and hope! We cannot remain quietly waiting passively in our churches, but rather we urgently need to go out in all directions to proclaim that evil and death do not have the last word, that love is stronger, that we have been freed and saved by the Easter victory of the Lord of history, that He calls us to the Church, and that He wants to multiply the number of His disciples and missionaries in building His Kingdom…”

“When You send forth your breath, they are created; and you renew the face of the earth” (Ps 104:30)

Your A&B Charismatic Service of Communion team have some wonderful events lined up for our Diocese for the 2025 ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ Jubilee Year. You can see details of these below and this page will be kept up-dated as details are confirmed and if any changes are made.

Lighthouse Saturday 26th April

Prayer Ministry Training – Set the Captives Free

Diocesan Charismatic Prayer Group and Community Meeting 19th July at St Edward the Confessor, Poundhill, Crawley, RH10 7EQ.

Healing the sick was an integral part of Jesus’ mission of salvation. As the Catechism says: “Jesus has the power not only to heal, but also to forgive sins; he has come to heal the whole man, soul and body; he is the physician the sick have need of.” (CCC #1503)

On October 26th there is an opportunity to participate in a free mini-retreat morning that will explore in more depth how we can have the confidence to realise that Jesus has chosen us to pray for healing, in God’s will. The Church teaches that it is “praiseworthy for individual members of the faithful to ask for healing for themselves and for others.” (Instruction on Prayers for Healing 1999 by the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.)

This meeting on Zoom, “Heal the sick – ministering in the charisms of the Holy Spirit” is hosted by “ADoRE” one of the longest-running charismatic days of renewal in the country. The session includes Mass, Adoration, Praise and Worship, inspired Teaching and Prayer for all participants to foster the presence of the Holy Spirit in them. The main talk is given by Joe Livingston, a Catholic evangelist with a powerful ministry of healing.

It is part of the 2024 ADoRE programme developing our understanding and appreciation of how we are to respond to God’s call to holiness; co-operating with the Holy Spirit as He transforms our lives so that we can be inspired and equipped to help others.

“Healing is an undervalued ministry in the Catholic Church,” said ADoRE Leader Alastair Emblem. “People outside the Church are turning to all sorts of New Age and non-Christi

an healing remedies, yet the Church can offer physical and spiritual healing from the Divine Physician Himself, with the help of the Holy Spirit.

“We at Alton Day of Renewal have been guiding people to the Holy Spirit for the last 49 years at our monthly Days of Renewal, and we invite people from across the country to find out more at what promises to be an exciting session.”. Please register for the Zoom meeting in advance at bit.ly/ADOREOCT2024 More information at www.altonrenewal.com

A colour picture for this month is attached, and a poster plus other publicity materials can be downloaded from: https://www.altonrenewal.com/your_parish