Jubilee Year of Hope: Encounter 2025

The journey so far…

The Jubilee Year of Hope has been a time of renewal across our Diocese. In 2025, Don’t Forget the Holy Spirit Ministries, in collaboration with the Clifton Renewal Team, launched a Diocesan-wide Encounter programme, inviting people of all ages to deepen their relationship with God and rediscover the transforming presence of the Holy Spirit.

Inspired by Fr Matt Anscombe’s book Don’t Forget the Holy Spirit, and shaped by Holy Spirit evenings, parish encounters and a Diocesan Day of Encounter, the journey from Easter to Pentecost culminated in a vibrant Pentecost Vigil Mass. Together, we witnessed hearts being stirred, faith being renewed and communities strengthened as people opened themselves afresh to the work of the Holy Spirit.

The hunger for more has been unmistakable — and so the journey continues.

You can see the talks from 2025 here -https://www.youtube.com/@Encounter-d4p

Encounter 2026: A New Season of Renewal:

Building on the momentum of last year, Encounter 2026 invites us once again to pause, listen, and allow God to renew our hearts, our parishes, and our Diocese.

This year’s journey began with a Revive Day at the start of the year. Led by Ros Powell, this inspiring day was designed to awaken and revive our faith, setting the spiritual tone for the year ahead. Through worship, teaching, prayer, and encounter, participants were encouraged to open themselves more fully to God’s presence and power.

Now, we look ahead to the main Encounter 2026 programme — a series of evenings designed to deepen faith, nurture discipleship, and equip us to live and share the Gospel with renewed confidence and joy.

Encounter Mornings

We continue to meet monthly from 10.30 am -1pm at Clifton Cathedral our next session is on the 28^th February these mornings are designed to inspire us and encourage us for the journey ahead. This is a time for worship, prayer, talks and fellowship.

Our speaker on 28^th February is Harry Sadd, 16. Our speaker will be Harry Sadd. Harry is a college student aged 16 and is passionate about Evangelisation. He is participating the "Ascent" programme and has a presence on You Tube and other social media for young people. You can see his videos here.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwudZxyaELE

Programme Dates – Eastertide 2026

All sessions will take place on Tuesday evenings, beginning at 7.0pm – 9.0pm at Clifton Cathedral;

Our overarching theme; “Mission – How the Holy Spirit Guides me in My Vocation”.

The speakers and themes are;

21st April – Called to New Life: How the Holy Spirit Began to Guide My Life

Harry Sadd – 16, College Student

A young person’s witness to discovering faith in Jesus and experiencing the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This evening explores how every vocation begins with a personal encounter with Christ and the new life we receive through Him.

Here is the link to the YouTube video for Session One. Please do like, comment, subscribe and comment on YouTube and get in touch with us with any feedback. 
https://youtu.be/_gpNfhmTn14?si=-I-SB7hQCVpAbPxo

28th April – Listening to the Promise: Recognising the Voice of the Holy Spirit

Kevin Loud – Lay Chaplain, St Bedes Catholic College

How the Holy Spirit guides, prompts and assures us, helping us discern God’s call in the circumstances of daily life.

It was a priviledge to hear Kevin speak on Tuesday evening. Kevin spoke about his personal life with God and then about how he brings the young people he works with to a deeper relationship with the Trinity. I woke up on Wednesday morning still thinking about what Kevin said which is always a sign of the Holy Spirit. Do watch, share and like with your friends and family - especially with those with teenagers.

You can watch Kevin's talk here. 

Here is the guide for the session. 

5th May – Transformed for Mission: Allowing the Spirit to Shape My Calling

Fr Stephen Corrigan

How the Spirit forms our character, gifts and virtues so we can live our vocation more fully.

12th May – Building the Church Together: My Vocation in the Power of the Spirit

Gary Stephens – Head of New Dawn Conference and Evangeliser

Discovering how the Holy Spirit equips each of us with gifts and charisms to build up the Church and serve the mission of Christ.

19th  May – Sent in the Spirit: Living My Mission in Everyday Life

Ann Tarr – Christians Against Poverty Debt Centre Manager

Understanding how the Holy Spirit sends every baptised person on mission, not only in the Church but in family life, work and society.

Saturday 23^rd May - Fire from Heaven
A Pentecost Encounter Day & All-Night Vigil – 11.00 am – 7.00am at Clifton Cathedral (more details to follow) Speaker – Ros Powell - Evangelist

Music will be provided by Thomas Doyle and his friends from the Cathedral Music group and also by Tony Wadley for the Vigil day.

Each evening will begin with praise and worship, followed by teaching and a time of small group discussion. All talks will be live-streamed and made available afterwards on YouTube, enabling people from across the Diocese to take part.

If you are unable to attend in person at Clifton Cathedral, we encourage you to consider hosting a small group in your parish or community, allowing others to join locally in prayer, reflection, and fellowship.

To support parish hosts, small group training sessions will be held on Zoom on:

• 10^th  March 2026
• 14^th  April 2026

If you would like to host a group or receive support and resources, please email: Encounter@cliftondiocese.com

Why Encounter?

The aim of the Encounter journey is simple yet profound:
to equip and empower people to live their faith more fully, rooted in a deeper understanding of the Holy Spirit and a closer, more personal relationship with God.

Through worship, teaching, testimony, and prayer, we seek to   let God  moves, heal hearts  and transform lives —so that each of us may become joyful witnesses of hope in our families, parishes, and communities.

Join Us

Whether you joined us last year or are considering coming for the first time, Encounter 2026 offers a warm welcome to all.

Let us come together once more, asking the Holy Spirit to renew our faith, rekindle our hope, and send us out as joyful disciples in today’s world.

Come, Holy Spirit — renew your people.

Encounter Events

On Saturday 3rd May, over 200 people gathered at Clifton Diocese for the official launch of Encounter 2025 — a diocesan-wide initiative running from Eastertide to Pentecost. The event brought together the whole Church family, with tailored sessions for children and young people. One young participant shared, “I really enjoyed the day and I was made to feel part of the Church.”

Encounter 2025 is an inspiring journey that seeks to awaken your soul and empower your walk with Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Catch up on the talks here:

• First session with Caroline Sadd; New Life in Jesus:

• Encounter Session 2. The Holy Spirit - Promise of the Father Ann Tarr