What does this mean?
Follow in the footsteps of St. Alban and dare to be present!
The Vision
Brightlights was born out a vision for a weekend Festival of young people, aged 16 - 30, set in the beautiful grounds of All Saints Pastoral Centre at London Colney; a place where you can discover something more about yourselves, others and God in a safe and relaxed environment; a place where you can experience something of the depth and diversity of the Catholic Church and share your own faith and experiences with others of the own age-group and outlook.
The first Brightlights Festival was in 1995. A marquee sprung up in the field outside the SPEC building, there was lights, sound, bands, an impressive line-up of speakers, workshops, prayer, Reconciliation, Mass, barbeque, sports and fun. And the people came. A host of small tents mushroomed around the central marquee area. Bedrooms in the Pastoral Centre and dormitories in SPEC were filled. The first Brightlights was a success and the evaluation forms spoke enthusiastically about the opportunity for change and growth that this weekend had opened up in many young lives.
A sense of Brightlights community began to develop and 'Brightlighters' would meet up at events in Central London, and elsewhere, during the year, at SPEC for retreats and conferences and, more recently, for the sparkling bonfire night "Explosion" evening. Groups from Brightlights have travelled to World Youth Days with the Pope. Then, of course, there would be the great reunion at Brightlights the following year.
The festival has grown and developed over the years. Many familiar faces still return, many new faces join us each year. But the unique Brightlights atmosphere remains unchanged. Each year's festival is "the best ever!" even when it rains!
15 Years and counting
Last year we had our 15th Brightlights. As usual there was great live music. As usual there was inspiring speakers workshops, activities and prayer. As usual there was the great Brightlights atmosphere. People who went to Brightlights last year will tell you how the festival nourishes and sustains their faith. They returned to their lives, their work, their parishes renewed and recommitted to living their Christian faith and vocation more deeply.
It is easy to think of 'church' as the place where we go on Sunday - familiar, predictable and - for most of us - sometimes boring. But the Church is more than that. It is rich, diverse and filled with young people who shine with the real joy of being part of it. World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia last year made international headlines and was a testimony to this. Brightlights offers a glimpse of this rich, wider Church where there is something for everyone, and everyone is welcome. Brightlights offers an experience of Church which is engaging and enjoyable. Religion ceases to be 'something that other people do' or ‘something I just do on a Sunday’ and begins to become 'relevant to me and the whole of my life'. Brightlights is a place where you can simply be...
