"The future is very bright" Praise for "inspiring" New Dawn weekend
- online3895
- Aug 14, 2025
- 2 min read
By Andy Drozdziak
The recent New Dawn weekend in Manchester has been hailed as “truly inspiring.”
Taking place between 1st - 3rd August, around 500 pilgrims gathered, including over 100 children, at the first weekend New Dawn at All Saints Church in Barton, which New Dawn leader Gary Stephens described as “Pugin’s masterpiece in Manchester.”
Gary Stephens from the Prince of Peace Community who organised the weekend told CCR: “The impact was tangible, with healings throughout the whole weekend. Psalm 134, the Conference theme, was truly experienced, with pilgrims blessing the Lord day and night, lifting their hands with singing hearts giving glory to God.”
Following many previous New Dawn events in Walsingham, the recent weekend was the first to take place at All Saints Shrine in Manchester. The New Dawn organisers hailed the event as "truly inspiring", saying: “Seeing nearly 500 passionate pilgrims from across England and beyond gathered in faith, prayer, and fellowship was truly inspiring.”
“All Glory to God for an INCREDIBLE weekend.”
The vision for New Dawn came from the late Prince of Peace Community founder Myles Dempsey, who wanted to see "the beauty of the Church in all Her splendour; the Church with all its lights on and all its aspects celebrated – the charismatic, the liturgical, the Marian, the eucharistic, the sacramental, the mystical [and] the whole family there.”
Highlights included a moving reconciliation service led by Fr. Leon Pereira, Chaplain to English-speaking pilgrims in Medjugorje, and supported by priests from across the Salford Diocese and beyond, during which over 350 confessions were heard. Fr. Leon also led an anointed Eucharistic healing service, whilst a powerful Baptism in the Holy Spirit session was led by Fr. Frankie Mulgrew, and an empowering commissioning session by Fr. James.
Pilgrims shared many testimonies throughout, with one declaring: “The event last weekend was awesome, honestly, and I am sure that the New Dawn movement will go from strength to strength through the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and St Maximilian Kolbe. Last weekend indicated that the future is very bright”.
Over 100 children and youth took part in their own vibrant ministry streams, whilst talks on Our Lady and the Rosary were given by Daniella Stephens. Justin Lantz from St Timothy's, Florida, spoke about the soon-to-be saints Carlo Acutis and Giorgio Frassati, followed by the veneration of a first-class relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis. Gary Stephens also shared the vision and new mission of the Prince of Peace Community.
New Dawn said that keynote talks from the weekend will be uploaded to their YouTube channel "soon."
Photos by Theo Farrell – theo@tsfmedia.co.uk
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