File photo of a pre-pandemic Youth 2000
festival The Catholic Faith is anything but in decline in Ireland, writes Amy McCann
The annual Youth 2000 Christmas retreat is, for many of its veterans, the highlight of a year filled with prayer groups, regional retreats and a vibrant summer festival. This was my first Christmas retreat, and it was not hard to see why it is so beloved by the growing Youth 2000 family.
Here, young people aged 16-35 from all across Ireland, and at various stages in their Faith journey, come together to participate in and fulfil the mission of the organisation: that is, ‘youth leading youth to the heart of the Church’. The itinerary was full, with Mass, Confession, the Rosary, talks, workshops, testimonies, praise and worship music, and fun. It was a weekend of spiritual growth and community.
We were particularly blessed to have Perpetual Adoration for the duration of the retreat.
Redeeming
Reader, make no mistake, the youth of Ireland is filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit, and through Youth 2000’s ministry, God is renewing and redeeming this country.
The Saturday night was the apex of the weekend for many of us: a powerful talk on Reconciliation, followed by 23 priests offering Confession to approximately 500 young people.
When all Confessions were heard, the congregation knelt around the candlelit monstrance on top of the ‘burning bush’, singing in full chorus Matt Maher’s ‘Lord I Need You’. The song of surrender was proclaimed, and the atmosphere was overflowing with the Holy Spirit.
This is something that will stay with me always. As the praise and worship came to a close in the main hall, the monstrance was removed in a reverential, candlelit procession in which the Blessed Sacrament was taken into St Dominic’s Church in the grounds of Newbridge College.
Youth 2000’s ministry has doctrinal integrity, evident in the strong support and guidance of the clergy and religious that attend the retreats.
Their vibrant Faith is a witness to Ireland’s youth that a life dedicated to Jesus, however counter-cultural, is one which can be full of joy.
What was impressed on me was the diversity of our Faith: as I looked around that Saturday evening, I saw everyone joined together in prayer and praise.
It struck me that Youth 2000, like Jesus, throws it arms open wide, making room for everyone in God’s family.
This most certainly appeals to those coming to these events for the first time, and it is one which keeps many, like me, coming back again for more.
Youth 2000 events are free, no charge is in place as these young people don’t want any barrier to get in the way of other young people experiencing the love they have found in Jesus Christ and his Church.
To be part of this mission, to give and keep these events free contact us on (01) 675 3690 or email development@youth2000.ie