By Katie Ascough - 16 November, 2019
Young adults attend Spiritual Batteries in Dublin.
Spiritual Batteries is an event for young adults (18-40) held on the third Wednesday of every month in Merrion Road Church, Dublin. The next one will be held Wednesday 20 November from 7.15 p.m.
The event attracts 80-100 young adults in their twenties and thirties each month, making it the largest regular Catholic event in the country. Spiritual Batteries is built on three pillars: piety, intellectualism and community. The evening includes adoration, guided prayer, music, confession, and benediction, as well as a short talk on a philosophical or theological subject that is aimed at challenging the mind and fostering discussion. Previous topics have included sexuality, what is salvation, proving the existence of God through reason, eternity, Catholic moral teaching and more.
Following the talk there is plenty of time for chatting, accompanied by light food and drink. Many people have been refreshed to hear an intellectual case for Catholicism, one that is often sorely missed. There have even been young people who have re-discovered their Catholic faith through the event, as well as countless others who have had their faith strengthened.
Head organiser Edward Barrett-Shortt, says, “Spiritual Batteries is designed to be welcoming. There’s no pressure, no follow ups, it’s easy to invite your friends too, whether they have some faith or none. We’ve got a formula that really works, one that is reverent and intellectually stimulating yet isn’t intimidating at all. If you have a friend who you’ve always wanted to introduce to Catholicism, then please bring them along as I honestly don’t believe there is a better place to do it.”
Spiritual Batteries Live was born from the successful podcast of Fr Justin Gillespie which reaches 40,000 people every month internationally. The live events are now run by Fr Donncha O’hAodh and Edward Barrett-Shortt who are joined by an array of guest speakers, all experts in their respective fields.
To find out more about Spiritual Batteries, visit here to see their website, and here for a link to their next event on Facebook.
