Run to The Son 2019
"Welcome to the Run to the Son web page. We will be gathering for a weekend of Prayer and inspiration for mission on 21st-23rd June 2019, deepening our connection with Jesus, the Son of God, and with each other. We have the privilege and duty of passing on the inestimable treasure of our faith to those around us. My hope and prayer is that we will be empowered by this weekend to joyfully and enthusiastically reach out to others and evangelise."
Bishop Mark O'Toole
‘I have come to set the earth on fire'; Luke 12:v49
The 2018 Run to the Son prayer festival was a great success and we are looking forward to this year's festival. Below you will find some photographs of last year's event and a review from one of the participants, Andrew.
Run to The Son - New prayer festival for evangelisation off to a good start
A new format of prayer festival was established at Buckfast Abbey in Devon in 2017. The aim of the event, called 'Run to the Son', was specifically to equip Catholics for the urgent task of evangelisation. As Michele Thompson, co-organiser of the weekend says, “there is a lot of talk about the need for evangelisation and that’s good, but we wanted to create something which will actually give people what they need to go out and do it”.
The plan is for Run to the Son to become an annual event to join the likes of New Dawn, Youth 2000, Celebrate, and others, but with its own unique approach. There were workshops and an inspiring talk from Brother John Bosco of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. The highlight of the weekend was an all-night Adoration vigil with midnight procession of the Blessed Sacrament around the Abbey grounds, followed by a dawn Mass at 5.30am celebrated by Bishop Mark O’Toole. As one participant said, “although I had attended an all-night vigil before, the midnight procession was an amazing experience which summarised the whole weekend – taking God’s love out into the darkness of our world”.
Key note speaker - Anthony Gielty. Author of: 'Out of darkness'. The transformation of one of Scotland’s most violent prisoners.
The event was the brainchild of Fr Jon Bielawski and Abbot David Charlesworth of Buckfast Abbey. Fr Jon, who is head of the Plymouth Diocese evangelisation team, attended an all-night vigil in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel at Buckfast as a young man. As he explains, “the memory of seeing the beautiful stained-glass window of Jesus light up with the dawn has stayed with me over the years and provided the inspiration for this event”.
The timing of Run to the Son was also intentionally planned close to the summer solstice to underline the fact that Jesus is Lord of all creation and to emphasise the need to evangelise our contemporary neo-pagan culture.
The fact that the weekend took place at Buckfast underlines the generosity of the monastery and the creative way in which a contemplative community can aid the New Evangelisation
Quotes From Previous Years Event
“ it really was a special weekend for me in terms of how it deepened my faith and it was a great joy to meet so many other like-minded Christians.”
“The meals were not only an occasion of fellowship but truly enjoyable food - the Grange was a lovely background for the Friday buffet meal and the Saturday night Barbecue and the staff were so friendly and welcoming - it was a great pleasure to be there. We made a lot of new friends too and it was interesting to hear their faith stories”
“The most important message that I personally took away was: Don’t wait for a situation to arise to evangelise, pray for the opportunity each day and actively encourage faith conversations”
“ I am so excited to GO FORTH IN MISSION!”
“I realised that it is fear of varying kinds that is the obstacle and that prayer is important to overcome that fear and not let it become a stumbling block in God’s service. The workshops were really helpful in understanding this and knowing that others struggle with it too “
“For the first time someone explained “How to”
“Invaluable in developing discipleship skills”
“the opportunity to spend Saturday night in prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament gave such peace and contentment to our souls and for me personally, has brought about an inner peace”.
“The Blessed Sacrament procession at midnight was the pinnacle - it was just like following Jesus in the crowds when he walked this earth, deeply profound “
“the Service of the Anointing of Joy at the top of the hill was beautiful”
“The weekend also served to reinvigorate our own faith in God and the power of Jesus' name”.
“We brought our two children with us and the setting was excellent for them to make them feel like at home.”
“Good people, good food, well organised event”
“The perfect venue to learn the art of making disciples!”
