Three years ago the Westminster diocese organised an evangelistic outreach over a weekend to end its “Come and See” three year renewal programme. Each parish was invited to do something to reach out to the wider community and witness to their faith. Four central London churches, St Patrick’s in Soho, Corpus Christi in Covenant Garden, The French Church in Leicester Square and Our Lady of the Assumption in Piccadilly, decided to work together for this and put on an event based on 40 hours adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

This became the basis of “Spirit in the City”, which has taken place annually since. Each year the event, under the leadership of Anne Marie Salgo, an ex-student of St Patrick’s School of Mission, has developed and grown. As well as the church based activities, there is a central open air event in Leicester Square with a stage and various Catholic performers. This year the line up included the energetic St Patrick’s Gospel choir and singer/song writer Tim Balfe, as well as many others.

Apart from the stage acts, dotted round the square were a series of tents and stalls. Among these was Goodnews. We shared a stall with the Little Sisters of Jesus who have a community in the East End, a Pro life Charity and the magazine “Love One Another”. There was also a prayer tent where the Blessed Sacrament was exposed and an opportunity for people to go for prayer or to have their confessions heard. The atmosphere was really fantastic and the different stalls gave people an excuse to stop and chat.

Gabriele from Goodnews had written up some appropriate scripture verses which we handed out like fortune cookies to passers by. These really stirred people’s interest and gave us an opportunity to talk to people. One lady from Malaysia burst into tears when she read hers. Another man when he got his, reached into his pocket and took out another piece of paper, received from someone else, which had the same scripture verse on it! The event was noticeable for the many Catholic young people there involved in various groups and communities in the capital. Brother Barnabas CFR who has been away from London studying in the Bronx for three years, said that since he had been back, he was struck by how alive all the London charismatic groups seemed to be and how well committed young Catholics were networking together. PRAISE GOD.