Held from 24–27 July, the festival brought together families, young people, clergy, religious and lay Catholics from across the country and beyond for a weekend of prayer, formation, fellowship and celebration.

Among those attending were members of the Diocese of Shrewsbury, including Bishop Mark, Deacon Jim Kay, Deacon in Wallasey, and Fr Godlove Amungwa, Parish Priest of Our Lady Star of the Sea, Ellesmere Port.

Reflecting on the festival the following weekend, Deacon Jim described it as “a fantastic celebration of Catholic Life”, with more than 2,000 people gathering at the Church’s major seminary at St Mary’s College, Oscott. Many, including Deacon Jim himself, camped on site throughout the four-day festival.

The festival brought together three themes – Truth, Goodness and Beauty – offering a programme of talks, presentations and practical activities across the three themes. Deacon Jim explained that these “transcendentals” point beyond the physical world and towards the heavenly realm, with Truth engaging the human intellect, Goodness calling the human will towards virtue and right action, and Beauty lifting the heart and imagination through art, music, poetry and dance.

A Church united in its diversity

For Fr Godlove, one of the most striking features of WeBelieve was the sheer diversity of those who gathered.

“The diverse nature of those who were in attendance was one of the things that really struck me. There was a wide range of ages and cultures and tongues.”

He spoke of meeting people from Eastern Europe, Latin America, Australia, Africa and the UK.

“They were very different in their interests, careers and ages, but all united in their love and/or search for Jesus Christ.”

That diversity was visible throughout the festival. Different generations and cultures came together in prayer, conversation, worship and celebration, demonstrating something of the truly universal nature of the Catholic Church.

Yet despite the differences between those gathered, there was a profound unity: a shared hunger for Christ and a desire to know and live the Catholic faith more deeply.

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At the heart of the festival: Jesus in the Eucharist

While there were countless activities, talks and opportunities for fellowship, the heart of the festival was its liturgical and sacramental life.

The huge main tent, named St Peter’s, was large enough to accommodate the 2,000 people attending the daily Mass. Alongside the daily Eucharistic celebrations were a healing service led by the Franciscans of the Renewal and opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

For Deacon Jim, the response to Confession was particularly striking.

Two dozen priests sat outdoors hearing the confessions of hundreds of penitents – a powerful witness to the hunger for God's mercy and the desire for renewal.

Fr Godlove likewise identified the festival's liturgical celebrations as among his greatest highlights. He was also deeply encouraged by the number of people who came forward for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

“The many people turning up for the beautiful Sacrament of Reconciliation was very encouraging.”

The festival showed that, beneath all the activity and celebration, it was Christ Himself whom people had come to encounter.

“Our faith is not dead”

For Fr Godlove, another memorable feature was the energy and enthusiasm of those attending.

“The liveliness with which people engaged and carried themselves around reminded us that our Faith is not dead. It shouldn't be dormant. Following Jesus Christ is energising and worth it.”

This spirit of renewal was also central to Deacon Jim’s reflections.

He described a Church experiencing growth, with an increasing number of people seeking to become Catholic. In the Diocese of Shrewsbury, he noted, the number of converts had doubled compared with previous years.

He reflected that, in a world where young people can encounter so much falsehood and negativity, many are searching for something deeper – for Truth, Goodness and Beauty.

“They are also seeking Beauty.”

Deacon Jim suggested that this hunger for beauty helps explain the attraction of traditional liturgy among younger people and families, with its sense of mystery, silence, Gregorian chant and reverence.

WeBelieve offered a vivid picture of that living faith: young people, families and adults actively participating, praying, learning and celebrating together.

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Welcoming families into a life of faith through Baptism

A particular highlight for the Diocese of Shrewsbury was the contribution of the Director of Evangelisation and Catechesis, Natalie Orefice, who was part of a workshop with the Baptism Collaborative exploring how parishes can reimagine their approach to Baptism preparation. The Baptism Collaborative seeks to help the Church rediscover the transformative power of Baptism and to accompany families in building the domestic church.  The workshop reflected on how Baptism preparation can become much more than a practical or administrative process: it is a unique opportunity to encounter a family at a particularly tender and significant moment in their lives, and to introduce them to the person of Jesus Christ and the life of the Church. By welcoming parents with warmth, listening to their hopes and questions, and accompanying them beyond the celebration itself, parishes can help families discover that they are not simply arranging a ceremony, but being invited into a relationship with Christ and a life of faith within the Church. The Collaborative's resources emphasise this accompaniment of parents and the formation of the family as the domestic church, both before and after Baptism.

Families and the seeds of vocation

For Fr Godlove, one of the most encouraging sights was seeing families praying and taking part in activities together.

“Seeing many families praying and doing activities together – with no phone distractions – was a real highlight.”

He also noted the presence of many priests and religious men and women, visibly engaged with festival-goers.

For him, this was especially significant when it comes to vocations.

“The young ones can't want to become what they cannot see.”

The presence of priests and religious, openly living and sharing their vocation, provided young people with the opportunity to see something of the joy and beauty of a life given to Christ.

Deacon Jim similarly identified vocations as one of the key themes of renewal.

The festival highlighted vocations to marriage, the single life, religious life, the permanent diaconate and, especially, the priesthood.

One particularly moving moment came during a homily when Fr Stephen Wang, Bishop-elect for Arundel and Brighton, invited anyone present who felt called to the priesthood or religious life, or who was even considering such a vocation, to stand so that the congregation could pray for them.

As Deacon Jim looked out from the sanctuary, “slowly heads started appearing as more and more and more people stood up”.

“What a joy that was to see.”

He prayed that many of those young people would go on to discover and fulfil the “God-sized dream” that the Lord has for their lives.

Preparing for a new generation of Catholics

The festival also prompted an important question for parishes: How ready are we to welcome those who are seeking the Catholic Church?

Deacon Jim recalled Archbishop John Armitage asking those gathered:

“When we go back to our parishes, what are we going to do to prepare for new converts seeking to join the church? How are we preparing to welcome them?”

He encouraged parish communities to consider how they can become places where those searching for the faith feel genuinely welcomed.

The joy of WeBelieve, therefore, was not intended to remain within the festival grounds. Those who attended are invited to bring that renewed enthusiasm back to their parishes, families and communities.

An invitation to come to WeBelieve

For Fr Godlove, WeBelieve is an experience he would warmly recommend to anyone seeking to deepen their faith.

“I'd advise anyone struggling with their faith, or discerning what the Lord is calling them to do, or wanting to be reaffirmed and encouraged in their faith, or to share the joys and struggles of the faith, to attend the WeBelieve Festival.”

Whether young or old, newly discovering the Catholic faith or seeking to renew a lifelong commitment, WeBelieve provided an opportunity to encounter a vibrant and diverse Catholic community.

And as the festival becomes an annual event, there is already an invitation to return.

The organisers of the Festival are committed that WeBelieve should now continue annually, with the intention of building towards 2033, when the universal Church will celebrate 2,000 years since the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

WeBelieve may have been a four-day festival, but its invitation continues: to seek Christ, to encounter Him in His Church, and to carry the joy of the Gospel back into our homes, families and parishes.

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The next festival is scheduled for 23–26 July 2027.

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