The Lasallian Family comes together to celebrate Flame 2025: Unstoppable: Fan the Flame of Hope

Over 200 Lasallians from the District of Ireland, Great Britain and Malta gathered to take part in Flame 2025 at the Wembley OVO Arena on Saturday, 15 March. Flame, sponsored by the Catholic Youth Ministry Federation (CYMFed) is a biennial event which brings together over 10,000 young people and is the largest Catholic youth gathering in England and Wales. This year’s theme was Unstoppable: Fan the Flame of Hope and was fitting as the Church celebrates the Jubilee Year: Pilgrims of Hope.

As part of the ongoing celebrations of the 50th Anniversary of St Cassian’s Retreat Centre, Kintbury, and with the initiative of Emma Biggins, Director of St. Cassian’s Retreat Centre, the De La Salle Brothers GB CIO sponsored Lasallian Trust and Associate Schools, to bring students, teachers, Chaplains and school leaders together for the event with some schools bringing upwards of 30 students. Current and past team members from Kintbury also joined the group. Sara Amarillis, Assistant Director of St. Cassian’s was a lead organiser and designed the t-shirts the Lasallian Family donned during the event.

The atmosphere at the Wembley OVO Arena was electric as the various speakers and musical performers engaged with the young people throughout the day. A very special keynote was delivered by Brother Chris Patiño, FSC, who serves on the General Council in Rome and who is a friend of the District. Brother Chris offered an inspirational speech to the over 10,000 in attendance. Brother Chris shared about his own journey and vocation as a De La Salle Brother and highlighted the global impact of the Lasallian Educational Mission. He encouraged the young people to be unwavering in hope and reminded them that the Church and the world needs their hope, witness, and passion. “The Church and the world need your unstoppable hope!” Brother Chris said.

Full video of Brother Chris’ keynote

Students, teachers, Chaplains and school leaders all enjoyed the time connecting and reconnecting with other each other and it was powerful to see the wave of Lasallians all seated together as the programme began. As Emma Biggins reflects on the event, “It was a joy to gather with so many Lasallians at Flame 2025, and to celebrate on a HUGE scale the Faith, Fun and Friendship that St. Cassian's has shared with young people over the last 50 Years. We were reminded that we have the power to be UNSTOPPABLE Good News!”

The day concluded with Adoration and was a wonderful celebration of Church. Many thanks go to Emma Biggins, Sara Amarillis, the team at Kintbury, Kevin Humphrey and the De La Salle Brothers GB CIO for making the event possible. The Lasallian Family looks forward to future Flame gatherings.