Call to Prayer through the ‘We Believe’ Festival – Four days of Faith, Grace and Mission

Call to Prayer through the ‘We Believe’ Festival – Four days of Faith, Grace and Mission

The We Believe Festival, held over four days from Friday to Monday, was a wonderful celebration of our Catholic faith — four days filled with grace, prayer, fellowship, learning and a renewed sense of mission. Set in the beautiful surroundings of St Mary’s College, Oscott, the festival brought together bishops, priests, religious brothers and sisters from many different religious orders, families, young people, Catholic organisations, charities and lay faithful from across the country. 


From the celebration of Holy Mass and inspiring talks to Eucharistic Adoration, healing and penitential services, the Marketplace and opportunities for fellowship, the four days gave us a beautiful experience of the richness and diversity of the Catholic Church. 

The Holy Spirit Always Surprises Us


Msgr John Armitage reminded us that the Holy Spirit always surprises us and guides us according to God’s plans. He also spoke encouragingly about how the numbers attending We Believe have grown and shared the wonderful news that the festival is planned to continue for the next seven years. 


His words were a reminder that while we make our plans, we must remain open to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to lead us in ways we may not expect. 

A Blessing for Oscott and Birmingham 


Archbishop Bernard Longley reflected on two particular blessings. The first was the wonderful setting God has given us at St Mary’s College, Oscott. The second, and perhaps even greater blessing, was the people themselves and the faith they brought with them. 


He described We Believe as a real blessing for the seminary and for the city of Birmingham. His words captured something that could be felt throughout the four days: the festival was made special not only by its beautiful setting and programme, but by the faith and joy of the people gathered there. 

A Beautiful Kaleidoscope of the Church 


Archbishop John Wilson noted that although the number of people attending was greater than before, numbers were not the most important thing. What mattered was seeing people full of faith coming together to celebrate Holy Mass. 


He beautifully described the festival as a celebration of our Catholic faith and a “beautiful kaleidoscope of the Church.” His hope was that people would leave renewed in our beautiful Catholic faith and with a renewed passion for mission in our countries. He also expressed the simple joy of being there and sharing in this celebration of faith.

Faith and Vocation 


Bishop David Waller reflected on another important fruit of We Believe: it brings together people who are firm in their faith. Being surrounded by such faith can encourage people to think more deeply about their own vocation and God’s calling for their lives. For some, this may be a vocation to ordination or religious life; for others, it may be the vocation of marriage and family life, building strong Catholic families and passing the faith to future generations. This message was particularly meaningful when looking around the festival and seeing the presence of so many religious communities, young people, children and families. 

“We Believe, Therefore We Speak” – 2 Corinthians 4:13 


Another memorable and inspiring contribution came from Bishop-elect Fr Stephen Wang. Drawing upon the words from the Scripture reading from St Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 4:13) —“We believe, therefore we speak.” 


He reminded us that our Catholic faith is not something simply to be kept within ourselves. Because we believe, we are called to speak — to bear witness to Christ through our words, our actions and the way we live our daily lives. The message beautifully captured the spirit of the festival. We had gathered together to celebrate what we believe, but we were also being reminded that our faith must continue beyond those four days. We are called to return to our families, parishes, workplaces and communities and share the hope and joy of the Gospel. 

A Reflection from The Catholic Faith Explained 


Bishop-elect Fr Stephen Wang is also the author of The Catholic Faith Explained. Separately from his contribution at the festival, I was particularly struck by a reflection in his book concerning the Catholic understanding of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He recalls speaking at a college in West London, where a student who had been attending a Protestant church asked him a question about the Virgin Mary. 


In answering the question, he offered one simple but profound thought: “Everything that Jesus has done for us depends on what Mary has done.” He explains that if we understand this, we will begin to understand Catholic teaching about Mary. 


This is a simple statement, yet it opens the door to something much deeper. Mary’s “yes” to God at the Annunciation was an extraordinary act of faith and trust. Through her free response to God’s call, she accepted her unique vocation to become the Mother of Jesus. It is not about taking our attention away from Christ; rather, understanding Mary helps us to understand more deeply the mystery of Christ and God’s plan of salvation. Mary always points us towards her Son. 


I found this reflection particularly meaningful alongside the messages about faith, vocation and mission that were so prominent throughout We Believe. Mary listened to God, trusted Him and responded to His call. Her life shows us what it means not simply to believe, but to allow our belief to shape our response to God. 

The Church Gathered Around the Eucharist 


That beautiful “kaleidoscope of the Church” described by Archbishop John Wilson could be seen throughout all four days. For me, one of the greatest blessings was seeing so many bishops and priests gathered together. Celebrating Holy Mass and hearing the Eucharistic Prayer with so many bishops and priests gathered around the altar was a deeply moving experience. Amid all the activities, talks and fellowship, the Eucharist remained at the heart of the festival, reminding us that Christ is at the centre of the life and mission of the Church. 

Religious Life – A Powerful Witness 


Another striking feature of We Believe was the presence of so many different religious orders and communities. Religious brothers and sisters from different communities were present throughout the festival, each bringing the particular charism, spirituality and mission of their order. Seeing them together was a beautiful witness to the many different ways in which people respond to God’s call. Their presence also complemented Bishop David Waller’s message about vocation and provided a visible reminder that God continues to call men and women to dedicate their lives completely to Him and to the service of His Church. 

Young Families – Hope for the Future 


One of the most encouraging sights throughout the four days was the presence of so many young families and children. Seeing parents bringing their children to Mass, Adoration and the different activities of the festival gave a genuine sense of hope for the future of the Catholic Church. These families have an important role in passing our faith from one generation to the next. Seeing children growing up surrounded by prayer, the Eucharist and a joyful Catholic community was itself a powerful witness. 

Faith Engaging with Today’s World 


Throughout the four days there were many talks and sessions exploring different aspects of Catholic faith and life and helping us understand how the Church is responding to the challenges and opportunities of our time. One particularly thought-provoking discussion concerned Artificial Intelligence — how this rapidly developing technology might be used positively while maintaining appropriate ethical and moral boundaries and always respecting the dignity of the human person. It was encouraging to see the Church engaging with such contemporary questions while remaining firmly grounded in the values of our Catholic faith. 

The Marketplace – Discovering the Church at Work 


The Marketplace was another important part of the festival. It brought together a wide variety of Catholic organisations, charities, ministries and religious communities, giving us the opportunity to discover the remarkable amount of work taking place within the Church. 


Different organisations were supporting families, encouraging vocations, helping those in need, defending human dignity, promoting particular aspects of Catholic teaching, evangelising and responding to many different needs within the Church and wider society. Walking through the Marketplace helped us appreciate just how many people are quietly dedicating their time, talents and lives to serving Christ and others. 

 

Adoration, Healing and Reconciliation 


Amid the busy programme of talks, activities and conversations, there were also precious opportunities to become still and simply spend time with the Lord. Night-time Eucharistic Adoration allowed us to remain with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. 


The Healing Services and Penitential Services provided opportunities for prayer, reconciliation, healing and experiencing God’s mercy. These were truly grace-filled moments and a reminder that, at the heart of everything we experienced during the festival, was our personal encounter with Jesus Christ. 

Renewed and Sent Out on Mission 


Over those four days, We Believe gave us a glimpse of the Church alive in faith and mission: bishops and priests shepherding their people, religious men and women witnessing through their vocations, young families passing on the faith, Catholic organisations and charities serving others, and people of different generations gathering together around Christ. 


We arrived on Friday from different places and backgrounds, but we were united by one thing: our Catholic faith. By the time the festival concluded on Monday, there was a real sense of being sent out again — back to our families, parishes and communities — strengthened by the Eucharist, renewed in faith and with a greater passion for mission. 


May the Holy Spirit continue to surprise us, guide us and lead us according to God’s plans, and may the fruits of these four grace-filled days continue long after the festival itself. 


And may we carry with us the words of St Paul that Bishop-elect Fr Stephen Wang reflected upon: “We believe, therefore we speak.” – 2 Corinthians 4:13  
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