Our YouCat group began again today. It has a simple format. We meet in the front room of my flat for half an hour (and no more) to discuss a particular aspect of Church teaching. Today five of us reflected on the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I gave a little ten-minute exposition and then shut up. Questions and points came thick and fast: what is grave sin? does the maleness of the priest in confession make it difficult for women to speak about personal matters?; does God forgive sin outside of this sacrament?; how often should we go to confession? I chipped in here and there but by and large the students - one studying theology, one religious studies and two primary education - were educating each other. When the half hour was up I called a halt even though lots still remained to be explored and resolved - it keeps us all keen for next week.
In the evening, seventeen of us went ice-skating on the temporary rink at Millennium Square in Leeds. It was magical: the weather was mild, the nearby City Hall with its graceful, illuminated clock looked majestic and long streams of golden lights hanging around the square twinkled against the night sky. After an en route stopover at a pub with an open fire, I drove the minibus back to Leeds Trinity whilst behind me the students (a good number of whom had not known each other beforehand), revivified by the evening, chatted animatedly and laughed freely - a fine and joyful sound with which to close the day.
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