Birmingham day one (2) evening

Birmingham Day One (2) Don Bosco Relics

The pilgrim experience opened in St Chad's Cathedral for a late night vigil hosted by Birmingham youth service and CYMFED. The evening was focussed around the work of young animators of youth ministry, and groups from around the diocese and beyond gathered around Don Bosco to celebrate their common concern for young people. 

Archbishop Bernard spoke warmly about the wonderful work done by those in youth ministry around the diocese. Among the groups represented were the teams from Alton Castle in Shropshire and Soli House in Stratford as well as a wide network of groups that also make up the heart of the Birmingham Diocese youth ministry and groups from further afield in Leicester and Telford. At the closing service at the end of the first day Sue MacDonald, the national youth coordinator for the Salesians gave a good night thought that deliberately left people with unanswered questions about how they worked with young people.

The pilgrimage hymn "Friend of the young" with its lively chorus of da mihi animas (give me souls - part of Don Bosco's motto) is really catching the attention and the imagination of pilgrims. It is available for download on the web site (www.donboscorelics.co.uk)

The road crew left after 10.15 pm to stay at a local premier inn for a good night's sleep before doing it all again on day two.