Joe

Search for the Light – 2010

This year 'Search for the Light' - our open Easter retreat, is taking place from Thursday 1st to Sunday 4th April. Download the booking form here!

Diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes

We are now taking applications for young people 16 – 18 (years 11 – 13) who are not in a Catholic school but want to go on our Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes. This is a great opportunity to celebrate our faith and serve members of our diocesan family on pilgrimage.

Live it – Derby

Live it Derby is working with the parishes of Derby to put on a musical interpretation of The Stations of the Cross. Click here to find out more.

Team 2010/2011 – Applications now being taken

The Briars and Reach4 are seeking applicants for next years residential and outreach team.

Advent retreat 2009 – The Photos

The photos from Advent 2009 are finally up, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

The Briars 40th Anniversary Reunion

October the 9-12th saw the biggest ever reunion of past and present Briars team members. In part of a series of events to mark the 40th Anniversary of The Briars over 150 people dropped in at some point to make this weekend a truly memorable celebration.

The Relics of St Therese

As part of the visit of St Therese’s relics to our cathedral in Nottingham, the Youth Service led an All Night Vigil. Starting at 11.00 on Monday 5th October and finishing the next morning with Mass at 6.30, it was split into three parts, each focussing on a different aspect of St Therese’s spirituality.

Joe Hey! I’m Joe, I’m 18 years old and I’m from Eastwood.

When I’m not at the Briars I live either with my Mum and brother in Nottinghamshire, or with my Dad in Derby. This may be confusing to some people but I am in fact a Derby County fan despite me mainly living in Nottingham. It’s just nice to be different.

I used to go to St. John Houghton school and after I had finished there I went to Trinity Sixth Form where I literally had the time of my life. It’s honestly the most friendly place to be (apart from the Briars).

I love my music and possibly have the widest variety and taste you will ever hear; from straight Base to Jason Mraz. I am also a proud fan of Mcfly! They’re just too good to hate. I also play guitar, I’m not too bad just don’t ask me to play Hendrix or Clapton. I will learn how to…eventually.

Like my music I do love my films. Anything with Will Smith in and you can’t go wrong! A must see is definitely 7 pounds.
Living here is my first time living away from home and it’s a top laugh, you’ll see when you come up and visit.

Peace

Joe

SYO and St Mary’s

Posted by Webmaster On March - 15 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

CONFIRMATION GROUP AND YOUTH ORCHESTRA

Hello people, what can I say?! This weekend has been sick getting to know you all. It’s been jam packed with so much stuff. I hope you all enjoyed your time up here getting to know team, aswell as getting to know each other a little better.
I have to say I’ve never actually played so many games in just one day! I was loving it.
I hope your confirmation goes well and that you continue loving life!
Also a big hello to the sheffield lot, you guys are seriously talented! I loved walking past and hearing Pirates of the Carribean bursting through the doors, it was big time.
Also thankyou for letting me hold a violin for the first time ever, abit of practice and maybe one day I’ll join you!
Peace

Joe, The Briars Team

Year 10 Becket

Posted by Webmaster On March - 15 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

BECKET

Easssssy everyone! Hope you’re all well!
I’ve got to say it’s been so sick having you up this week, I’ve absolutle yloved the short time we’ve had to get to know each other! It’s just been so packed with stuff I don’t know where to start?!
I guess I might aswell start with a shout out to my ’small’ group ‘Brown Paper’, you guys were sick! Despite there being 13 of you, I feel I got to know you all amazingly well, I hope you felt the same.
What the heck did we do this week??? Oh yeah we went bowling…that was big time, I don’t think I’ve ever done so well in my life! I was on fire.
Cheers for the fun memories, whether they be from doing that treasure hunt game thing or it be those chilled out times in prayer journeys.
I hope you’re all able to stay in touch somehow
God bless

p.s We definately sold that post-it note!!!

Joe, The Briars Team

Trinity Year 9

Posted by Webmaster On March - 8 - 20102 COMMENTS

Easy yo!

What can I say, what a sick weekend! We got up to so much and I can’t even remember what we did!

It’s a real shame you guys couldn’t have stayed for a week, I know some of you were dying for a couple more days with us.

Big shout out to mine and Orla’s group, fair play to you all it’s been fun!

I hope you all keep in touch

Peace

Joe, The Briars Team

SJH Year 9

Posted by Webmaster On March - 8 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

Safe safe everyone! How you all doing?

I’ve got to tell you that I have absolutely LOVED you all being up this week, it’s been safe as anything! Big shout out to my small group, I was loving your company J We pretty much just dosed around getting to know each other…I was in Heaven. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did.

Prayer journey’s were joke as well…nothing like a fire alarm to kill a mood. I hope I was able to cheer you all up as well!

This has been such an eventful week! I’m only just remembering that we went bowling!!! How could I possibly forget?!?!

We were definitely the best group, we didn’t even need a group room.

I really hope you all enjoyed your time up here, spending the better half of a week just dosing around getting to know the rest of team. Please come up and visit and let us know how your all getting on!

Peace yo!

Joe, The Briars Team

Mount St Mary’s and Holy Trinity

Posted by Webmaster On February - 14 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

It has been an amazing weekend. The banter had been unreal, especially about Jack Wills and rugby…the perfect combination. I hope you enjoyed every second of your time up here.

God bless

Joe

Joe, The Briars Team

St Martin’s Part 2

Posted by Webmaster On February - 14 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

Hello everyone, it has been amazing working with you, I’ve had so much fun.

I hope you all got something out of your visit with us, especially playing the word game whilst sharing our ideas. I hope you all come to visit soon.

Peace

Joe

Joe, The Briars Team

Blessed Robert Yr 6

Posted by Webmaster On February - 8 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

Hello everybody! It has been a great couple of days having you guys up. Although I didn’t have small group, I still loved the fact that I was able to get to know you. Meal times were top notch! I hope you all come up again soon!

Bizzle

Joe

Joe, The Briars Team

All Saints Yr 7

Posted by Webmaster On February - 8 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

Helloooo everyone. Thankyou all for such an amazing weekend, I was loving every second of it. Big Time. For such a large group I thought we all did well to get to know everyone and especially my small group, I was proud of myself that I was able to remember 11 names in just 2 days!!!
I want to thank my group especially because I absolutely loved just chilling out in Upper, you guys were so talkative and enthusiastic I loved it!
Thankyou for the great relaxing weekend, I hope you all wish to come up soon.

Peace

Joe, The Briars Team

Thomas Becket Yr 8

Posted by Webmaster On February - 8 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

What can I say?!?! What an energetic couple of days we’ve had together. I can’t even begin to describe how much energy and enthusiasm all of you have.
A big hello to my small group! Good times just chilling out in oak room.
I hope you all wish to return sometime next year and I hope you all got something from your experiences up here.

Peace

Joe, The Briars Team

St John Houghton Yr 10/11

Posted by Webmaster On February - 1 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

Easy guys and girls.
It’s been great having my own school up for the weekend, brought back some memories of mine when I was there.
I can’t tell you how much I loved the banter this weekend. It’s all about the banter!
Also, how good was it just to listen to the Derby Forest game?!?! I was LOVING it…not just because of the perfect outcome.
I hope you all visit soon.

Peace

Joe, The Briars Team