Spiritfest 2011
The archdiocese of Armagh is hosting a fascinating three day festival on the theme of prayer. It is called SPIRITFEST and will take place in Armagh on the first weekend of July 2011 (1st-3rd). International keynote speakers such as Lawrence Freeman and Monica Brown have been invited. They will be joined by Bishop Clarke, Rev Ruth Patterson, Fr Paschal McDonnell, Prof Eamon Conway.
Throughout Friday and Saturday there will also be workshops on a variety of prayer types. On Friday evening there will Taizé prayer in St Catherine’s College at 7.30 pm. The acclaimed group ‘The Priests’ will conduct a prayer and sacred music evening in Armagh Cathedral on Saturday evening at 7.30 pm and among their repertoire will be a new hymn specially commissioned by the Armagh diocese from Sr Briege O’Hare OSC. It is called “Lord Teach us to Pray” and it sums up the theme of the Conference.
The three day festival will be a preparation for the International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin in 2012 as well as for World Youth Day. Sunday will be a special family day with a range of innovative programmes being offered to children and youth in addition to the adult programme. The festival will conclude with Mass in the Cathedral at 3 pm officiated by Cardinal Brady, assisted by Bishop Gerard Clifford. The homily will be given by Fr Laurence Freeman OSB spiritual director of the Christian Meditation Movement.