Courtney McGrailChristine Lavin
The first time I attended a Youth 2000 retreat, I went alone. I knew no one and I remember tagging along behind a girl who had started chatting to me on the bus. As I dodged between the people shouting greetings and running into hugs I felt my nerves dissolve a little. I realised two things: these people were young and they were normal.
That weekend I found out that it was okay to be into my Faith. I realised it was okay to have a relationship with Jesus. At a time in my life when all my peers were turning away from the Catholic Church I found people my age who were embracing it wholeheartedly. I made friends for life that I know I can count on and found peace in knowing that I had also found a place where I could be my real self.
Two weeks ago, I attended a retreat in Westport, Co. Mayo – my home county. I was reminded of the true meaning of retreat as I had just had two extremely busy weeks in college to the extent that I forgot about the retreat until the day before!
We opened on Friday evening with Mass, leading to the rosary and all-night adoration. I spent hours afterwards chatting to old friends and new. I feel that while I might not see some of these people every day, I am closer to them than many other people in my life.
Barrier
When you meet people who practise their Faith the barrier of worry about being judged quickly dissolves. I try to be myself in every situation but being able to share faith, which is such a big part of your life, helps build the foundation of trust in a friendship.
On the Saturday we started with morning prayer, surrounded by song and praise. I always wonder what newcomers think of this part of the retreat. While I have become accustomed to the energetic, fast-paced songs I’ll never forget that initial shock of seeing people clapping and singing songs as if they were at a concert, while at the same time praising God.
We then had a series of talks and workshops dealing with different aspects of the faith ranging from pro-life to vocations and love and relationships. These were followed by small share group discussions. This is an opportunity to break into small groups to reflect on the talks. I’ve found that listening to other peoples’ experiences really helps me discover new perspectives on my relationship with Jesus and digest the deeper aspects of what the Church teaches and why.
My favourite part by far of every retreat is the healing and reconcilliation service. On Saturday evening, priests from the locality come to offer confession. People are free to go in their own time, while listening to an examination of conscience and beautiful live music.
For me, this is the most moving time of the retreat but also the most challenging. After all the hustle and bustle of daily life, after all the singing and dancing and catching up with old friends, you suddenly find yourself alone with Jesus. You find yourself being more honest with yourself than you have been in a long time. For many, it is the first time they discover the very real and personal relationship that is possible to have with Jesus Christ.
After the healing service a guitar was produced and we proceeded to sing into the night. Ed Sheeran, Lukas Graham and Queen were belted out. As the crowd gathered around the guitar slowly began to dwindle (around 3am!), I was stuck once more by how lucky I was to have discovered Youth 2000. There are very few opportunities in society that offer the combination of genuine camaraderie and time to deepen our faith.
On Sunday we had more prayer and praise as well as two more talks before concluding with Holy Mass. I love to see the difference in the canteen during our last dinner together. That initial shyness that some newcomers felt has disappeared and people hop from one table to the next, trying their best to share the last few hours with everyone.
Sometimes it can be deflating to go back to the real world of college or school or work after being on a Youth 2000 retreat. People seem less engaged with one another, less aware of the awe and wonder of life. Yet the support network that new friends in the faith weave through the background of our lives on Facebook, through phone calls or weekly coffee is something that makes even the bleakest of tasks colourful and worthwhile.
The next Youth 2000 retreat is the national Christmas retreat. People from all over Ireland will gather for a weekend of worship, music, prayer, small group discussions, workshops and inspiring talks in Newbridge College, Newbridge, Co. Kildare from December 16-18. The retreat is donation-only and for anyone between the age of 16 and 35.
Free buses are being organised and meals are provided – just bring a sleeping bag and pillow. I encourage you to give it a chance.
For more information visit youth2000.ie or call Brian on 01 6753690.
Christine Lavin, 20, from Mayo is a second year B.Ed student at DCU.