Thousands of Roman Catholic worshippers are attending mass at the American Express Community Stadium in Falmer this afternoon (Sunday 5 July).
They are welcoming the new Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, the Right Reverend Richard Moth, to the hallowed turf of Brighton and Hove Albion.
And they are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton.
In his welcoming service this morning the new bishop urged the congregation to care for the homeless, not least because Brighton had a notable problem with homelessness.
One of his predecessors as bishop, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, was among the preachers, as was the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and the Dominican priest Father Timothy Radcliffe.
Although a heavy downpour watered the pitch first thing this morning, about 11,000 people celebrated the jubilee mass in pleasant sunshine this afternoon.
The diocese said that it was possibly the biggest Catholic event in Britain since the visit of Pope Benedict in 2010.
Aside from religious worship, there were also funfair rides, stalls, displays and exhibitions, choirs singing and other music, theatre performances, cinema screenings and activities for children.
Among the local schools and organisations to be represented at the event was Cardinal Newman Catholic School in Hove.
+ Richard processes for Mass #Festival50 pic.twitter.com/fxGcGTh1oH
— Simon Dray (@PaDray_Simon) July 5, 2015
An estimated 11,000 at the Amex for #Festival50. Possibly the biggest Catholic event in the UK since the Papal Visit.
— Diocese of A&B (@ABDiocese) July 5, 2015
Bishop Richard Moth entreats us to care for the homeless. Brighton has the highest number per capita in the UK #festival50
— Dr Samuel James Hall (@samjamhall) July 5, 2015
Carnival times at the Amex Stadium @ABDiocese #Festival50 pic.twitter.com/W2ZIsgHr9J
— Sounds of Salvation (@sosska) July 5, 2015
“to get rained upon is God’s blessing, so God has abundantly blessed the diocese ” says Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP… That’s one way to see it
— Jo-Anne Rowney (@JoAnneRowney) July 5, 2015
Migrants crossing the Med, they are our brothers and sisters. The Muslims in Syria they are our flesh and our blood, Fr Timothy #festival50
— Jo-Anne Rowney (@JoAnneRowney) July 5, 2015
Arundel and Brighton has never been a gloomy diocese, says Cardinal Cormac at #Festival50 echoing the words of St John XXIII
— Adam Simon (@AdamWeybridge) July 5, 2015
Cormac has spoken. Now they are doing a Mexican wave.
— St Hugh Knaphill (@StHughKnaphill) July 5, 2015
The West concourse is clearly the place to be… #festival50 pic.twitter.com/92zvwlJlzx
— Diocese of A&B (@ABDiocese) July 5, 2015
The Christian way to do Giant Jenga #Festival50 pic.twitter.com/22VPM9KQp5
— Diocese of A&B (@ABDiocese) July 5, 2015
A bit of Diocesan history in the West Stand #Festival50 pic.twitter.com/UVDlRf7VwL
— Diocese of A&B (@ABDiocese) July 5, 2015
The hallowed turf of the Amex Stadium getting a good watering this morning #Festival50 pic.twitter.com/OcQR4cRwVr
— St Peter’s Chaplain (@chaplainstpeter) July 5, 2015
