Jubilee Day 2025 has been celebrated as a ‘joyful and heartening success’ as people from across the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle gathered together for the first event of its kind at Cardinal Hume School in Gateshead.
Hearing, sharing and experiencing collective messages of hope was in abundance as Bishop Stephen spoke of the ‘indulgence of God’s Love’ in a Jubilee Year and the call to witness.
Delegates of all ages heard from impassioned speakers from our Refugee Project, SVP and the Prison Chaplaincy who encouraged patience and understanding and reminded us all that personal connection works both ways and benefits our society immeasurably.
Those who attended gave kindly to the social action stall with sufficient tins, packets and toiletries to be generously distributed to several local projects.
The Muhoroni People’s Foundation sold handmade crafts from their women’s resource centre where women from polygamous and violent relationships can find refuge and support for themselves and their children. Proceeds from the sales fund school fees, medical insurance, initial emergency accommodation costs and much more.
Many of the groups and organisations exhibiting at the event have been approached by those expressing an interest in volunteering.
Event attendee Katherine Wilson said,
“I enjoyed the welcome and worship and the address by Bishop Stephen. It was a great day. I really enjoyed listening to the three speakers in the morning session and they all gave a sense of hope despite working in difficult circumstances and challenged us about how we might become involved in some way.
“I enjoyed the seminars….. sessions were informative and thought provoking and delivered by enthusiastic, inspirational speakers.
“I really enjoyed catching up with folk I knew from across the Diocese…. It was a chance to meet new people too.”
Ruth Gibson, also attending added;
“My son and I attended the Climate Change / Cry of the Poor workshop which was really helpful and has given me useful information to take home and to feed back to our parish.
“The speakers were very interesting, giving us great insights into these important issues. My son has already expressed an interest in being a prison visitor so we will explore that.”
You can find out more about the speakers and exhibitors here
