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Thursdays 6.30 – 8.30pm in the ‘Upper Room’ St. Raphael’s Church
Just what is Youth 2000 anyway?
Youth 2000 is an independent, international initiative that helps young people plug back into God at the heart of the Roman Catholic Church. Its main distinguishing feature is the emphasis it places on celebration of the Mass and Adoration of the Eucharist; next come a focus on active evangelisation and the organisation of retreats and spiritual events for young people throughout the world.
Youth 2000 works alongside both priests as well as religious communities, such as the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and the Community of St. John, within the Church and is open to any young adult who wants to take part – it’s not ‘members only’ for the simple reason it has no members. The initiative is active in many parts of the world. In the UK, it’s a registered charity and the National Office is based near Leeds.
Since 1991, Youth 2000 has helped thousands of young adults to ‘come home’ to the Church and to grow spiritually. This growth happens by experiencing the love of God, through prayer and also a sense of belonging, leading to a renewed faith in Christ and His Church. The best proof of its success is the many young people who are at the heart of the initiative, and who offer what they have received to others of their generation.
How would you describe Youth 2000?
The simple answer is that it’s an initiative whose driving force is the Holy Spirit. But to be more specific, here are some of the main features that mark it out:
Youth 2000 is focused on direct access to Jesus in the Eucharist
Youth 2000 promotes a deep focus on Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, creating a worldwide network of youth gathered around the Blessed Sacrament in prayer. This ability to have ‘live’ access to Jesus, through the Mass and Adoration, is at the heart of the Youth 2000 charism. Young people find the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist magnetic.
Youth 2000 sticks to the Bible and the official teaching of the Church
Youth 2000 encourages participants to dust off their bibles and get reading.
At retreats, it also encourages people to keep closely to the official teachings of the Church, drawing on the Scriptures, the Catechism and on papal encyclicals – rather than offering them simply personal points of view. Equally, however, people are encouraged to think and to ask questions - discussion groups and reasoned explanations of the faith are both hallmarks of Youth 2000 events.
Youth 2000 match-makes young people with Mary
The Virgin Mary is Youth 2000’s second favourite celebrity (after Jesus). Young
people who participate in its events and retreats soon pick up the rhythm of the
Rosary and through praying about Mary’s involvement in the life of Jesus, get to
know her well – including those who never used to bother much with her. The
reason for pointing people to Mary is so that she can whisk them straight to
Christ.
Youth 2000 worships God in a way that’s relevant to young adults
Youth 2000 has a
knack of bringing traditional forms of worship alive to young people in a way
they can relate to. Its prayer festivals resound with live music, with a
dedicated music ministry leading people in worship with contemporary Christian
songs. Its style of worship is down-to-earth and highly participative – its
services are not performances – everyone’s involved. But it’s also liturgically
sound. There’s no lying around on bean-bags wearing healing crystals or anything
like that.
Youth 2000 encourages time out for spiritual things
So often in the
modern world we live life on a very fast treadmill. Youth 2000 helps young
people step away from the ‘buzz’ of the world, slow down and spend some real
time in prayer. It also encourages young people to rediscover the power of the
sacrament of Reconciliation (or Confession) and the value of penance (in the
form of prayer, fasting and almsgiving).
Youth 2000 energises the couch potatoes
A useful way to think of Youth 2000 retreat is as a ‘Hymn Gym’, where young
people get a spiritual work-out (but in a good way!). Often people turn up to
events a bit spiritually adrift but find that they come back re-energised and
enthusiastic for the faith. The retreats kick-start people’s participation in
parish life and encourage them to be more actively involved in the life of the
Church, of Youth 2000 and in wider issues of social justice.
Youth 2000 spreads the word
Youth 2000 takes seriously the call of the late Pope John Paul II to evangelise
other young people. It encourages young people to devote a period of their life
in the service of the Church, offering them training and study in schools of
evangelisation to help them to do this. Young adults who have been touched by
the work of the initiative actively witness to the love of God in their
universities, schools, homes, on the streets, and places of work.
Youth 2000 runs a variety of activities
Its focus on
events means that Youth 2000 sponsors and runs many activities for young people
throughout the UK. You can find out more under the events section of our
website. However, to give you a flavour, these are the kind of activities it
organises:
Residential weekend prayer festivals ( Walsingham/Glastonbury/London)
Day School retreats
Pilgrimages
Four-week residential courses on Formation and Evangelisation
Weekend Courses of Formation and Evangelisation
Music Leadership Retreats
Street Evangelisation
Parish retreats
For further information about your nearest prayer group and event diary, please visit our web site www.youth2000.org or e-mail christopher.byrne@onetel.net
Alternatively you can phone Chris on 020 8390 1174