Epiphany youth celebration lights up skies near Norwich

image by Keith Morris

A youth celebration of Epiphany lit up the skies at Poringland near Norwich on Sunday evening (January 6) when around 200 young people and their families from across the Diocese of East Anglia enjoyed a candlelit Mass, bonfire, hot dogs and a firework display.

The annual Epiphany Candlelight Mass took place at the church of Our Lady of the Annunciation in Poringland, organised by the Ignite team with attendees from across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambs and Peterborough.

The Epiphany Mass, which marks the visit of the wise men to the baby Jesus, included a chance for participants to light a candle and donate a present to be given to children who are refugees in the UK.

In his homily, Youth chaplain, Fr Luke Goymour, said: "Tradition says that the three wise men came from different parts of the world, Persia, Asia and Ethiopia. This represented the whole of the known world at the time that Matthew was writing his Gospel.

"Epiphany is the showing forth, the revelation of God to the whole world. We celebrate that moment when the eternal, infinite God burst into our world as a little baby. God has come to us and been made man."

Fr Luke also spoke about the bright star which helped the wise men to navigate their way to where Jesus was. "Today we all have a spiritual navigation - the Holy Spirit - dwelling within us and guiding us," he said.

After Mass, everyone went outside to enjoy hot dogs, a bonfire and a firework display in the garden of the Bishop's White House.

Bishop of East Anglia, Rt Rev Alan Hopes, said: "The fireworks are part of our celebration of Christmas because we are lighting up the sky with our belief that Jesus Christ is the true light of the world. That is the faith which we share, drawing others into the light that gives such hope."

See more pictures here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmyPKrKs