The Amex stadium in Brighton saw a very different crowd to its usual when around 11,000 parishioners came to celebrate with Bishop Richard 50 years of the diocese soon after his installation as our 5th bishop. The day started with pouring rain, but it didn`t dampen spirits and it gave the Redshirts a chance to show off their red umbrellas as they greeted people arriving. Most came in the over 200 coaches. Others came by train. To begin the day Bishop Richard led Morning Prayer in the vast stadium. He thanked everyone for coming and the 1500 volunteers using the words of Young Mr Grace in `Are you being Served` `You`re all doing very well`. It was then time to visit some of the almost 100 stands representing endless aspects of diocesan life, all fortunately under cover. The funfair couldn`t be moved inside, but some brave souls enjoyed the various attractions nonetheless. The main arena then heard a number of distinguished speakers. School choirs and groups from the many cultural presences in the diocese provided singing and dancing performances all over the vast building. Creche facilities and childrens` activities drew large numbers and the young people did various exciting and thought provoking things. There were also many opportunities for quiet prayer in the Spirituality area –, constant adoration throughout the preceding night, spiritual guidance offered by the Poor Clare Sisters. And many hundreds took advantage of the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation with priests who had been booked for 30 minute slots averaging over an hour and a half each. The climax of the day was the Mass. All the music for gathering and during the Mass was led by a choir of 800, assembled from many parishes and conducted by Anne Ward. The clergy, priests and deacons, numbering about 150 processed in through the players entrance, cheered by the congregation and waving in response. They were followed by Cardinal Cormac, Archbishop Peter Smith, Archbishop Bernard Longley of Birmingham (once a priest of A &, B), Bishop Dan Turley of Chulucanas Peru and the Abbot Luke Jolly of Worth. The Mass setting was Missa Orbis Factor, specially composed by Paul Inwood for the Jubilee. Bishop Richard`s homily is reproduced in the main part of this paper. The Celebration was both uplifting and reverent and it was as if the seagulls had come to worship too, swooping overhead all the time in what was by then a beautiful sunny day. Bishop Richard has the final word: Our Diocesan Festival 50 was a wonderful occasion and I am truly grateful to the many people across the Diocese who did so much to prepare and facilitate the weekend. Thanks go, too, to the AMEX Staff for all their hard work. The Festival was a great opportunity for me to meet with so many people of our Diocesan family. With young people spending the evening and night of Saturday in prayer together, the walking pilgrims who left Arundel on Friday to walk to the Stadium and the very great number - something over 10,000 - joining in the celebrations on Sunday, it was a grand day for the Diocese. Schools provided music throughout the day, events for children, opportunities for families, fine speakers all added much to our celebrations and reflection on the life of the Church. It was a particular joy to welcome Bishop Dan and others from our Sister Diocese of Chulucanas - with Bishop Dan speaking with great passion about the links between us and the life of a Diocese where one parish will cover a greater area than the whole of our Diocese! The celebration of Mass was a prayerful and joyous occasion and I am sure we all departed home with joy in our hearts and a renewed commitment to the Mission of the Church. Certainly, I returned home with great hope for the life of the Church in the task that lies ahead for everyone in the Diocese. Festival 50 - A wonderful occasion for Arundel &, Brighton 5 July 2015

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The Walking pigrimage arrives having come from Arundel cathedral over two days and nights Bishop Richard greets one young person arriving for the day with a ‘,high five’, The diocesan Deaf group Cardinal Cormac The Cardinal was 23 years our bishop and says that he loves coming back. He feels at home here. `This is a lovely occasion. A&,B is always young with new initiatives - for the sake of the Gospel`. David Matthews David became a Catholic five years ago, having been brought up in the Shankhill Road in Belfast. He had never met a Catholic until he was 18 when he became involved with Charis- matic Renewal. He describes himself as ‘,excited about the Church’,. He is still like ‘,a little boy in a sweetshop’, especially in the Mass and being able to receive the Eucharist. Fr Timothy Radclif Fr Timothy has some links with th Worth 8 –, 12 years of age and, o for groups preparing for Festival 5 have any male Dominicans in the sisters both active contemplative elsewhere in the Middle East and Burma and Lay Domincans throu Some of the peop Dr Rowan Williams The former Archbishop of Canterbury is photographed here being interviewed by A &, B NEWS. He is very heartened by the progress in ecumenism. Now Catholics and Anglicans pray together and talk together. He sees the road to unity only through the constant getting together in prayer. He expressed pleasure in his personal relationship with Pope Benedict.

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ffe O P he diocese as a school boy at f course, appeared in the DVD’,s 50. He regretted that we no longer e diocese. The Order however has in Crawley as well as in Iraq and d has missions in China and ghout the world. Elizabeth Davies Elizabeth works for the Marriage and Family Life Department of the Catholic Bishops’, Conference. She describes the need for the Church to live in ‘,the messiness of family life’, messiness which never ends. In families we learn to love more deeply and to be loved more deeply. Now marriages can last 70 years, when once 15-20 years was the norm. This sometimes leads to new challenges. Clare Dixon She is pictured with Deacon Mark Woods, now diocesan Commu- nications Officer. They worked together for CAFOD in the past, where Clare is now Head of the Region of Latin America. She has many important tasks and visits the Continent regularly, She partic- ularly proud to have been present at the Beatification of Oscar Romero in El Salvador. Bishop Dan Turley Bishop Dan is bishop of our sister diocese in Peru –, Chulucanas. His diocese celebrated 50 years last year. He was born, raised and ordained in 1968 all in Chicago, but has spent all his priestly life in Chulucanas. For 25 years he worked in more distant parts of the diocese with no electricity or sewage and travelling by mules, donkeys or walking. His people are poor but 75% Catholic, a faith which often expresses itself through popular culture. He is most grateful for the `33 years of service from A &, B ` in many ways. Bishop Dan seen sharing a joke with Bishop Richard. le who were there Young people perform ‘,Twisters’, Part of the Arts and Crafts exhibition Canon Tim Madeley sells teddy bears wearing the diocesan logo.

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More things that went on The first part of Festival 50 to kick off was the Youth Vigil on the Saturday night. About three hundred people were there, many of whom then slept overnight! Groups of young people and young adults started arriving at the Stadium at about 4.30 on Saturday, greeted by a fantastic welcome team and an array of games, stalls and other activities. (If you’,ve never seen a monk having a sword fight with a foam sword, then you’,ve probably missed the only chance you’,re likely to get!). At seven o`clock the vigil itself kicked off, and the young people present (aged about 14 to 35) were treated to some fantastic talks, some excellent live music from ‘,One Hope Project’,, and to an incredibly moving hour of adoration, with prayer ministry and the Sacrament of Reconciliation on offer. After the vigil ended, many of the participants went home to return the next day, while some camped out for the night in the Stadium’,s Heineken suite. Not the best night’,s sleep to be sure, but a wonderful experience! For those who couldn’,t sleep, there was adoration throughout the night. There was also a dedicated youth stream on the Sunday morning, again very well attended. It was really lovely to see so many young people entering in to Festival 50, and it was so amazing to see so many young adults, clergy and others working so hard to make their experience a good one. A Mauritian choir from Crawley A group of Polish dancers form Eastbourne St Mary’,s school, Portslade, choir signing their singing One of the many flower displays in the building. The Cathedral treasures Photos for this supplement were taken by David White, Harry Robertson, Marcin Mazur (Catholic News) Frances Fernandez, Emmanuel Chimezie. Many more photos can be viewed on the diocesan website or on www.mazur/catholic news –, flickr A few statistics of the day Over 11,000 attending 1,500 volunteers 1,000 cups of tea served to those needing care 800 choir members 500 A&,B Teddies 200 young people in vigil overnight 19 6 coaches 15 0 clergy 101 pieces of Art 90 exhibitors and stallholders 36 priests celebrating Reconciliation (most for 90 minutes) 36 miles walked per organiser (app measured!) 30 school choir performances 8 keynote speakers &, One happy New Bishop welcomed! Saturday Night Youth Vigil

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