Talks on Celtic Christianity, prison work, environment at ‘A Call to Live’ gathering

Talks on Celtic Christianity, prison work, the environment and everyday miracles, along with powerful music and singing, were delivered to an enthusiastic audience at the ‘A Call to Live’ gathering in Milltown Community Centre on Saturday.

Speaking at the close of the event, the organiser Vonnie O’Rourke said that it was “a gem of a day with some really inspirational talks”, and “a good growing ground for such events in the future”.

“I feel everyone that was here went away with something,” she added.

Vonnie was particularly pleased with the show of “unity” at the event with representatives from various religions attending.

It was originally intended that the “festival of faith” would be held at Belvedere House and Gardens in Mullingar, but when ticket uptake failed to meet the threshold levels necessary to run the event to the scale that was planned, it was decided to move it to Milltown.

“It was too soon for the festival concept, but it is a start and this is the day the Lord has made, this is what he wanted,” Vonnie said.

There were three authors in the line-up - Rev Scott Evans, Rev Michael Mitton and Luke Whelan, along with Phillip Larragy of Release, a group who help people rebuild their lives after prison, Rev Nigel Gill, Methodist minister serving the midlands, Ciara Murphy, who spoke about saving the environment, and Brendan Talbot from Naas, who has been a healing minister for 20 years.

For more than an hour after the talks, people lined up to receive blessings from Mr Talbot and Rev Gill. As the blessings were being bestowed, Vonnie and her husband Aidan, along with Thomas Coffey and Marian Edwards, led the crowd in a variety of spiritual and uplifting songs.

More than 200 people regularly attend the prayer meetings Brendan Talbot hosts in Naas every Friday, and healings and miracles are commonplace, he says. Brendan’s basic message is “I’m not a healer – I just tell you that God is real!”

Rev Gill, presenter of Heartlands on Midlands 103 radio on Sunday mornings, led the music and singing all day with a meditative music interlude in the middle. “This day would not have happened without him,” Vonnie said.

Rev Evans said the Bible does not read like an ‘IKEA how to’ manual, but is a huge resource to help in everyday life.

Rev Mitton regularly delivers retreats at sacred sites in Ireland and England and took in the Hill of Laragh and St Patrick’s Chair on his visit to Milltown.

Luke Whelan, a young man, spoke powerfully of a faith he had just found, and was an inspiration to the guests.

Philip Larragy, founder of Release, presented powerful testimonies from Brian, who was present at the event with his family, and Jason (via video clip). They shared their stories of huge suffering, forgiveness and hope.

Ciara Murphy, environmental advocate with the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice, spoke of practical steps being taken in communities across Ireland to make it safe for children to cycle together to school. She encouraged everyone to do the doable and the necessary.

Vonnie said that last year, to facilitate Pope Francis’s call to share the Holy Spirit with everyone, the Life in the Spirit Talks were held at Milltown. As a result, a weekly prayer meeting sprang up and from it the idea of having a faith festival, an event rooted in the words of Jesus, for young and old, with unity and compassion at its core. It is hoped that it will become an annual event.