Hawkstone, August 2009
35 people from London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool and Germany came together for this 'mini congress' where the theme was 'On a Mission'. Essentially it was a congress for young people and led by young people. It was a great faith and fun-filled weekend.
The pictures below give a sense of the activities and capture the spirit of the weekend.
Gallery
A few days in the Hawkstone Hall house
Day 1
All housemates safely arrive from the London province. Housemates have travelled from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, London and as far afield as Germany. Housemates are given time to settle in, eat and get to know one another as many have not met before. Ice breakers commence. Parachute games excite the housemates. All are given the chance to purchase brand spanking new hoodies. The crew are kitted up for the following days.
The housemates are briefed by Gerard Carroll on St Alphonsus, the founder of the Redemptorists. This sets the mood for the following days. The housemates then celebrate mass with Fr Dominic as it is the feast day of St Alphonsus. Housemates were drawn to the dining room by the smells of a celebratory feast. It was scrumdeliumptious!!! (although for some folk who 'dunny eat fruit or veg' it didn't go down as well!!!) The party continued with lots of socialising, dancing and with a little tipple. At 23.52 in the Hawkstone Hall house the first housemate retired to bed. By 03.11 all housemates were safely in bed and asleep.
Day 2
Housemates arrive for breakfast from 8.30 am. Some naughty housemates slept through breakfast. The Scottish housemates, with a little help from their London pals, prepared morning prayer. Through mime and personal experiences housemates were focused on the idea of loving themselves. Guest speaker, Hugh Anderson McKnight, led the housemates through a seminar on loving yourself. A moving symbolization using stones allowed housemates to express their feelings in a personal way, and have what they saw as negative attributes taken away by a fellow housemate. Housemates were then given time to reflect on the mornings' ideas and stock up on some well deserved tea, coffee and biscuits.
At 11am housemates attended their chosen workshop. Options included God's ipod, Out the Box, the Potter and the Clay and lastly Get into the Groove. All housemates worked peacefully at their task. Andrew, who attended God's ipod uses the words from the song 'love, love, love, love, love yourself' to remind fellow housemates of the theme of the day. All participants were able to share their final products from the workshops during Mass. After another tastetastic lunch and free time (which housemates used in varying ways from walks to sleeps and music rehearsals to magazine reading) housemates were asked to reflect their personality on a t-shirt. All housemates were encouraged to wear these to evening mass. Mass was celebrated in a pleasant and traditional manner.
After a light supper housemates had time to get changed and dress in the way they felt most comfortable. Housemate Peter sported a quality, colourful and delightful waistcoat. Again, another night was well spent by housemates drinking and dancing. One housemate claimed it was 'a peachy and swell night'.
Day 3
Following a similar format to the day before, with a few more sore heads (!), the Liverpool housemates put on a reflective morning prayer. Housemates were asked to think about their relationships with one and another and focus on their love for others. Fr Ed shared with housemates the well-known stories of the good Samaritan and the Prodigal son. Many housemates reported this was inspiring. This again focused all housemates on loving one another.
Housemates then participated in task one of the day. This was entitled a film making festive. Housemates were split into three groups and were instructed to use their imagination to create a film showing love for another. Housemate Sarah will famously be remembered for her not so successful great escape!!! Another un-named housemate felt the need to share 'ooooft I like them big'. Films to be premiered at 20.16 in Hawkstone Hall TV room.
Again, housemates were faced with a scrumptious banquet. This meal encouraged many to sleep the 'headaches' off, whilst other housemates indulged in a game of football. Housemate James L was heard saying 'the game of football was the highlight of my time in the Hawkstone Hall house'.
Housemates were welcomed aboard the pleasure bus on their route to reconciliation. The bus was a memory that will never be forgotten by any Hawkstone Hall 2009 housemate. However, housemates reported a shift in the service which led to a great mix of emotions. Through role play and powerful music, many housemates were moved to tears. All housemates were given absolution.
After another light supper, housemates dressed up as some one they loved. This involved certain housemates cross dressing and others choosing to go as dogs, cartoons, sport stars and pregnant sisters!! Some even had to go on a train the next day still in costume!!!!! The last night was 'celebrated' by watching an incredibly traumatizing film - Pay it Forward. Housemates lifted the mood again by partying well into the night.
Day 4
For their last morning together housemates indulged in a fry up or the healthier option of cereal. Morning prayer involved setting all housemates up for their journeys home and in life. This involved powerful role-play and the giving of goody bags to remind housemates of their love for themselves and others, and for God's love for them. At 10.23 housemates were left to say their sad farewells to old and new friends.
All housemates have safely returned to their homes with a reminder of their love for God, themselves and others.
All housemates, we think, will agree it was a pretty 'boss' weekend!!! Lots of loving for God, ourselves and all our fellow housemates.
Andrew and V. (St Patrick's, Edinburgh)