Andy Drozdziak
A Catholic social action group is looking forward to joining in with the ‘largest Christian mission in the North West in a generation.’
Festival Manchester will take place from 1st to 3rd July at Manchester’s Wythenshawe Park, culminating in a Gospel-centred celebration.
Ben Gilchrist, Chief Executive for Caritas Shrewsbury, described it as a ‘fantastic opportunity to reach out and support the community.’
“As a group, we have supported the promotion of the festival as a whole-reaching out to churches within our charity networks to make sure social action is very visible,” Mr Gilchrist told the Universe.
“We are linked in with planting 5000 fruit trees, with a focus on climate change and social focus. It’s been great to support that.”
Caritas Shrewsbury is the social action and social justice agency of the Diocese of Shrewsbury. In the build-up to the festival, Caritas Shrewsbury has joined local churches in the North West in community action projects. Festival Manchester’s attractions include a fun fair, family fun zone, white knuckle sports zone and a huge beach.
Mr Gilchrist said he is looking forward to working with organisers the Message Trust. “We know how organised the Message are,” he said. “This is an opportunity to strengthen links.”
“I have worked with the Message over various points. I’m based in the Wythenshawe community centre. There’s a team heading up that work collectively called Love where you live.
“As a group, we have supported the promotion of the festival as a whole-reaching out to churches within our charity networks to make people aware of the activities and making sure social action is very visible. We are linked in with planting 5000 fruit trees, using our buildings, with a climate change and social focus. It’s been great to support that.”
Reflecting on his hopes for the festival, he said: “We are passionate about the place of social action and social justice. We also share in that bigger mission of people learning about the Christian faith, to find their place in the Church and find faith.”
To attend the festival, visit Wythenshawe Park from 16:00-21:45pm on Friday 1st July and from 14:00-21:30pm on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd July. More information can be found here