Looking back at Summer Madness and Streetreach!

Monday July 17th 2023

Worship in the marquee at Summer Madness 2023.

Due to holidays, we’re a bit late to the party with these photos, but it looks like the young people of Connor Diocese enjoyed a great start to summer 2023!

First there was the annual Summer Madness camp which ran from June 30 until July 4 in the fantastic surroundings of Portglenone.

There may not have been wall to wall sunshine, but the weather didn’t deter those young people and leaders who came to camp or to spend a day at the annual Christian youth festival, with the Connor sub-camp buzzing with food and fellowship.

Clergy and leaders ensured a ready supply of barbecue, and the annual Sunday barbecue, with Bishop George Davison helping flip the burgers, was a great success!

Diocesan Youth Officer Christina Baillie said: “What an amazing time! Huge thanks to all the groups who came, camped, day tripped, helped with the catering and for all of you who made Connor Sub Camp so special!”

The following parishes were all involved in the Connor Sub-camp of Summer Madness 2023:

The grouped parishes of Ballyrashane & Kildollagh
St Nicholas’ Church, Carrickfergus
Christ Church Parish, Lisburn
The Hub Belfast & Church of the Resurrection
Church of the Holy Spirit, Mossley
Mettle at Lisburn Cathedral / Lisburn Cathedral
The United Parish of Christ Church & St John’s
St Michael’s Church / St Stephen’s & St Luke’s Parish Church
St. Columba’s, Derryvolgie
St Colmanells and Portglenone Church of Ireland
Muckamore & Killead Grouped Parishes
St Patrick’s & St John’s united parish
St Patrick’s Parish Church, Broughshane
Ballymena Parish
Parishes of Larne, Glynn and Raloo
Belfast Cathedral
St Paul’s Lisburn
St Brigid’s Church, Glengormley & Mallusk
Christ Church Derriaghy
All Saints’ Parish Church, Antrim

Practical team out and about during Streetreach 2023.

Hot on the heels of Summer Madness was Connor Streetreach which ran from July 4-7 in partnership with the Grouped Parishes of Ballyrashane & Kildollagh, the Grouped Parishes of Ballintoy & Dunseverick with Rathlin Island and St Patrick’s Coleraine & St Andrew’s Ballysally.

The young people were involved in organising kids’ clubs, outreach, practical and prayer teams across all the parishes, with pop-up prayer meetings in each church.

Bishop George joined the young people for an evening debrief in Dunseverick when they shared stories and spoke about what God had done during the second day at Streetreach, with the Bishop reading from Philemon and sharing an encouragement to the team to never underestimate how God can use us, even in the little things.

Our album below includes images shared on social media by Engage Connor Youth and some of the parishes who took part in Summer Madness and Streetreach 2023.