OVERVIEW

On this page, we go into more details about the programme, with additional information about the monthly themes and profiles of the speakers.

To go back to the main 2026 page click HERE

THE GREATEST GIFT IS LOVE
The transformative power of God's love

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Cor 13:13)

“He who is filled with love is filled with God Himself.” – St. Augustine

In 2026 we explore the foundational truths of our faith, and how they reveal the amazing and powerful love of God.

November 28th

"THE POWER OF LOVE” (On Zoom)

How to have victory in spiritual warfare.
“God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Tim 1:7)

How to engage in the battle in our everyday lives, understanding the magnitude of God’s power and love. We need to be rooted in God’s word and our faith in His victory, so that we will not be deceived or fearful. The battle belongs to the Lord; We are more than conquerors!

Speaker: Joe Livingston is an international evangelist and author with a powerful healing ministry. He has travelled to Lithuania, Zimbabwe, the United States and Germany for Healing Services and talks. Joe also promotes Our Lady's apparitions around the world. Joe's website: Foundation of Truth Ministries.

With the help of the Holy Spirit, we will be enabled to deepen our own understanding and appreciation of the Good News and will also be inspired and equipped to share it with others.

The whole programme is underpinned with prayer and each guest speaker is requested to conclude their talk with a time of prayer for participants to be re-filled with the Holy Spirit, and with God’s transformative love, so that they can be inspired and activated to put into practice what they have learned from the session.

2026 THEMES AND SPEAKERS

January 24th
“GOD IS LOVE” (On Zoom)

Jesus taught us that God is loving and merciful and we should relate to him as “Abba” our perfect father.
“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them." (1Jn 4:16)

We are His children, adopted into His family and unconditionally loved by Him. He wants us to love him in return and to accept His perfect will,

Speaker: Fr. Chris Thomas is the founder of The Irenaeus Project in Liverpool, hosting Prayer, Scripture and Renewal courses and events. He is also author of many books on practical spirituality, including real and inspiring stories from his own life.  Fr Chris's Books 

February 28th 
“JESUS – NO GREATER LOVE” (On Zoom)

There is no greater love than that of Jesus who laid down his life for us.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

How do we relate to Jesus? Do we have a ‘personal relationship’ with him through an active prayer life? Is Jesus “Good News” to us? How would we describe the Jesus we know to others?

Speaker: Charles Whitehead KSG is a highly respected Catholic Renewal leader. He has taught all over the world and is author of several books. Worked with Pope St. John Paul II as Chairman of the International Catholic Charismatic Office in Rome. With his wife Sue, he founded the Celebrate conferences.

March 21st
“THE SPIRIT OF LOVE” (On Zoom)

The Holy Spirit transforms us by opening us to God’s love.
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you (Ezek 36:26)
Introducing the person and role of the Holy Spirit and the transforming power of baptism in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit softens our hearts, making us more receptive to God's love. He moves us away from self-centredness towards a love for God and others. 

Speaker: Daniella Stephens is a Catholic Evangelist and founder of Parrhesia Ministries, who travels the UK and abroad speaking at churches, schools, conferences, retreats, prayer groups, youth groups and more. Information on Parrhesia Ministries.

April 25th
“SURRENDER TO LOVE” (In-person session at St Joseph's, Christchurch)
Our faith is a way of life; worshipping God because we love Him.
“God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” (Jn 4:24)

We need to make the Lord the centre of our lives, surrendering to him in trust.
Because God loves us, we love, worship, obey and serve Him. We discover Praise as a way of life; a way of expressing our love; and a way to break spiritual strongholds and set us free!

Speaker: Geoff Poulter has been in active Catholic ministry since 1976. He has a degree in Divinity, and a Post Graduate Certificate in Theology. He and his late wife Gina were Directors of the Catholic Bible School for 12 years. Geoff now leads training courses in Prophecy, Healing and Discipleship by request .

May 23rd
“THE GIFTS AND FRUIT OF LOVE” (On Zoom)
The Holy Spirit empowers us to be “other Christs”
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses … to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

Deepening our understanding of the work of the Holy Spirit, His power and His gifts. The Holy Spirit makes us more Christ-like so that we produce spiritual fruit through our active love and service of others. He empowers us, with gifts and charisms, to live out our faith and fulfil our calling to spread the Good News.

Speaker: Dr. Maria Heath is former Chair of CHARIS England & Wales and is now leader of Mission Northampton, supporting parishes in the Diocese to deliver effective catechesis, formation and training in discipleship and evangelisation.

June 27th “LOVE ONE ANOTHER” (On Zoom)
Being a disciple of Jesus in the modern world
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)

We are called to emulate Jesus and to pass on to others this “Agape” (selfless, unconditional) love that we have received. By the power of the Holy Spirit working through us, we can be bearers of light to an ever-darkening world.

Speaker: Jenny Baker is the National Leader of Celebrate Trust and Conferences. She previously worked for Catholic Faith Exploration (CaFE) producing and presenting Catholic formation DVD resources for parishes. She also served as Vice-Chair of the English Renewal Committee. Celebrate Trust Link

July 25th
“HIS BANNER OVER US IS LOVE” (On Zoom)
Responding to God’s invitation to His heavenly banquet.
“Let him lead me to the banquet hall, and let his banner over me be love” (Song of Solomon 2:4)

Our Father God invites us personally to attend His heavenly banquet - all He asks is that we say “Yes” to Jesus. As a foretaste of the banquet, Jesus invites us to the table of the Eucharist, which makes one with God who is love and we are given the food of eternity.

Speaker: Russ Fairman is a member of the CHARIS National Service of Communion (CNSC) and is part of the Harvesters Men's Network core team. With his wife Dierdre, he is on the leadership team of Worldwide Marriage Encounter (England & Wales). Russ has also completed two round-Britain sailing pilgrimages.

August 30th
“LOVE MERCY” (On Zoom)
Responding to God’s mercy to us by forgiving others.
“What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8)

When we turn to God in repentance, His mercy is bigger than any mistake that we have made. It is an expression of his unconditional love. Jesus taught us to forgive others as we are forgiven. When we do, God’s mercy may change their life and ours! 

Speaker: Fr Gareth Leyshon is a Parish Priest in South Wales, and a member of the Sion Community. He was responsible for Evangelisation in the Archdiocese of Cardiff for 6 years and is currently  vice-chair of the CHARIS CDSC for South Wales and Herefordshire. He also has a PhD in Astrophysics.

September 19th
“HEALING: LOVE IN ACTION” (On Zoom)
Stepping out in faith and love to pray for people.
“I will heal them; I will guide them and restore comfort” (Isaiah 57:18)
.
Jesus performed many miracles of Healing and, through these signs and wonders, many believed in him and his message of salvation and love. God heals through his people today. The same authority and power to heal that Jesus gave to his disciples is given to us through the same Holy Spirit.

Speaker: Ros Powell, a Catholic Evangelist with a healing, deliverance and prophetic ministry, she is a frequent keynote speaker at New Dawn Conference. She also has a powerful prison ministry: along with her team she speaks and ministers healing and restoration to inmates throughout the UK. Ros's website

October 24th
“THE HEART OF HOLINESS IS LOVE”

 In-person all-day session at English Martyrs, Reading. 
Sainthood is for ordinary people!
“We are all called to be holy by living our lives with love and by bearing witness in everything we do, wherever we find ourselves.” (Pope Francis)
Holiness is about recognizing and serving the Lord in those who are in need, as we live out our ordinary everyday lives. We do this out of love for God. The good we do, we do simply and humbly for and in Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Speaker: Judith Aylmer has been involved with ADoRE since the late eighties and is a member of the Core group. She co-ordinates ADoRE's Intercessory Prayer Support Team, helps with administration and is the principal Zoom meeting Co-host..She is also the CHARIS Portsmouth Diocesan Co-ordinator.

THE GREATEST GIFT

IS LOVE
The transformative power of God's love