Important Meeting for Our Young Papal Pilgrims

15 September 2010
Location: Apostle Room, Clifton Cathedral
Address: Pembroke Road, Bristol BS8 3BX
Time: 5.30 pm

As we focus clearly on the forthcoming visit of Pope Benedict XVI, in just a few short days, our young people look forward to a final get-together before setting off for London on pilgrimage to the Holy Father.

Our Youth Ministry Coordinator Dave Wheat told cliftondiocese.com: “On Wednesday 15 September there will be the final meeting for young people who will be attending the youth events during the visit of Pope Benedict XVI.

“The meeting is taking place in the Apostle Room at Clifton Cathedral and kicks-off at 5.30 pm.

“Our meeting is a great opportunity for young people to get together as a whole group to get to know each other and make final preparations for the pilgrimage to London on the following Saturday (18 September). There will be loads of activities and information along with the pilgrim packs and our t-shirts to give out.

“At 7.00 pm the whole group will take part in the Our Lady of the Taper prayer vigil where Bishop Declan will commission the group to represent our diocese at Westminster Cathedral and Hyde Park.

“Come along, enjoy the evening, learn more about the papal visit and represent your diocese at that evening’s Light Up Our Hearts prayers.’

We look forward to welcoming Pope Benedict who comes to help us, as a society, to see that faith in God is not so much a problem to be solved as a gift to be discovered afresh.

The papal visit begins for our diocese on the eve of the Holy Father’s historic visit to the United Kingdom.  A special evening of prayers will take place in the Cathedral led by Bishop Declan and Bishop Tom Burns of Menevia, we will join together and pray that the papal visit lights up the heart of our nation.  All are welcome to take part from 7.00 pm to 10.00 pm on Wednesday 15 September.  You can find out much more about this unique celebration by listening to our 'Taper Tales' podcast series preseneted by Father Jason Jones, the ector of the National Shrine of Wales.

As we prepare to welcome Pope Benedict XVI we invite you to an evening with the man who’s presenting the BBC’s portrait of the Holy Father.  Award-winning TV documentary maker Mark Dowd will share with us how he’s grown in his understanding of the Holy Father’s vision for our world.  All are welcome to this free event as we look forward to welcoming the Bishop of Rome.  It takes place in Bath on Friday 10 September at 7.00 pm.

The official website thepapalvisit.org.uk is the best place to find out the most up-to-date information in the build up to the special time in the life of the Church in our countries.  It will also provide full coverage during the visit - a great place for you to follow the visit virtually if you are unable to be at any of the large public papal events.

Other ways to follow the papal visit online and have your say include Facebook, Twitter and Flickr.

Our series of podcasts introducing us to Cardinal John Henry Newman ran througout August on cliftondiocese.com.  We heard from local Newman scholars who’ll give us an insight into life of the man Pope Benedict XVI will beatify here in England.  All the episodes are still online:
The Life of Newman
The Life of Newman - The Discussion
Newman’s Importance Today
Newman’s Importance Today - The Discussion
Newman and Education
Newman and Education - The Discussion
Newman and Laity
Newman and Laity - The Discussion

As August came to a close it was time for us to focus clearly on the forthcoming visit of Pope Benedict XVI.  Our podcast series takes you to the places where Cardinal John Henry Newman lived, preached, and where he’ll beatified by the Holy Father.  All episodes of 'In the Footsteps of Newman' are still online:
Maryvale
Oscott College
Newman's room
The Oratory
Cofton Park

Another of our podcast series saw Clifton Diocese Papal Visit Coordinator Father Michael McAndrew visiting local people preparing for the papal visit.  All episodes of 'Father Michael Meets' are still online:
Father Richard McKay
The Connors family
Hugh Greenhalf
Bernice Pascal
Oisin Hawes

Bath priest Father Peter Cornwell presented a podcast series on Cardinal John Henry Newman for cliftondiocese.com.  Father Peter has a particular insight into Cardinal Newman as he’s a former Vicar of Newman’s old church in Oxford - the University Church of St Mary the Virgin.  All the podcasts are still online:
Getting to Know Newman
Newman the Pastor
Battered Newman
To Live is to Change - Newman the Thinker
Journey’s End

You can also make your donation towards the visit at the official website.  It's simple, secure and direct.

Sign-up to the e-alert packed with the latest news about the Holy Father’s historic visit.

Our striking posters, displayed in all our parishes and many other places, welcoming Pope Benedict XVI to the United Kingdom are available to all.  You can download your copy in the multimedia panel on the right and put them up to welcome the Holy Father and his historic visit.  You can also download posters promoting the events in Bath and the Cathedral.