Shared joy as Youth 2000’s festival returned in-person

The annual retreat for young Catholics took place in 10 different locations across Ireland, with a higher turnout than expected, Youth 2000’s national leader has said.

Peter Sands said the hybrid-festival, mixing in-person and online gatherings, “went very well, we were extremely blessed. Attendance was very good, higher than expected, online as well as in person”.

“Joy was the overriding feeling, everyone was delighted to be back, delighted to be able to meet safely, to gather and be together,” he told The Irish Catholic. “It was wonderful to invite people to a meeting not on Zoom.”

The main talks were given by a Cistercian monk from Bethlehem Abbey in Co. Antrim Fr Aelred Magee OCSO.

The festival took place at the weekend, August 13-15, and Mr Sands said the feedback they received was “exceptionally positive”.

“To quote one young girl, she said it was ‘absolutely amazing after the year we’ve had to meet other young people who are in love with Jesus’,” Mr Sands finished.