META Youth visit ‘cradle of Christianity’

30 young people and leaders have now arrived in Ireland from around the world, where they will be forming a temporary community of prayer and mission team in the very place where St Patrick started his mission to Ireland.

They will be having prayer times at Saul Church, known as the Cradle of Christianity in Ireland, as well as at Down Cathedral, where St Patrick is said to be laid to rest.

Tradition holds that St Patrick and his companions landed at the mouth of the Slaney river in 432AD. Patrick encountered Dichu, the local chieftain, who gave him a barn for shelter. The word for barn in Irish was Sabhall, from which we get the anglicised word Saul. From here Patrick traveled extensively, driving out the demons/snakes from Ireland and sharing the message of Jesus Christ. Patrick died here on 17th March 461 having set up and commissioned Abbeys and Abbots to spread the word of Christ all over these islands.

May the META Youth be similarly inspired as they walk in his footsteps.

some of the team gather at London Heathrow on their way to stay at the RIOT centre near Newcastle and Donwpatrick