Mags GarganOver 1,000 young Catholics are expected to descend on the Cistercian College in Co. Tipperary next week for the annual Youth 2000 Summer Festival.
Youth 2000 is an international movement of young people called to spread the Good News and the cornerstones of its spirituality are the Eucharist and the rosary. The festival, which combines faith, fellowship and craic, has become an annual staple on the Irish religious calendar with free buses travelling from all parts of the island.
The guest speaker this year is Fr Bob Lombardo CFR, a founding member of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. He ministers in one of the poorest neighbourhoods of Chicago, in a mission called ‘The Mission of Our Lady of the Angels’, which aims to assist the poor and evangelise through an apostolate of retreats and preaching. Fr Lombardo was previously the festival’s main speaker in 2008 and organisers say he “has a great way of connecting with young people and communicating the life giving message of the Gospel”.
The festival, which is open to young people between the ages of 16 and 35, takes place in the Cistercian College, Roscrea from Thursday, August 13 to Sunday, August 16. For information, booking and free bus information contact the Youth 2000 National Office at dublin@youth2000.ie or 01 675 3690.3690.