Youth Space
Youth 2000 retreats are a time for spiritual reflection and growth, Grace Masterson writes
If you’re between the ages of 16 and 35 and haven’t been to a Youth 2000 retreat yet…GO!
I remember two years ago when I went to my first Youth 2000 retreat, which happened to be their annual summer festival, and how I was so nervous the days and hours before I arrived. I only knew one other person going, a friend who had invited me to come, and she already had loads of friends from previous retreats that were going. I was sure I’d end up stuck on my own in the corner a couple of hours in, friendless, bored, and dying to go home. Part of me was only going because it was nearing the end of summer and I had nothing better to do, but another part of me was very curious to see what exactly was happening at this retreat that made my friend want to come back year after year.
I have been to numerous retreats since my first, the most recent being the Youth 2000 Summer Festival in August.”
As soon as I arrived and entered the building teeming with people, checked in and participated in the program, a whole new world was opened up before my eyes. I was meeting people who were my age, who were also funny, intelligent, joyful and they loved God and wanted to deepen their Faith!? Seeing these vibrant young people trying their best to follow the Lord and get to know Him better really encouraged me in so many ways. I was more motivated to engage in Mass and Adoration, and I began to understand why the Eucharist is so monumental in deepening your relationship with Jesus. I gained so much by listening attentively to the talks and testimonies, which were steeped in wisdom and really inspired me to open up to Jesus and his Blessed Mother. We under 18’s had our own designated hangout area, and during free time I got to speak to people about their own personal faith journeys, which was so important to me as it led me to realise I wasn’t alone on this path with God.
I have been to numerous retreats since my first, the most recent being the Youth 2000 Summer Festival in August. This is the biggest annual retreat for young people in Ireland, with up to 1000 young people from all over the country attending! You may think you’d get tired of going after a while, but I’ve been going to different Youth 2000 retreats now for the past two years and I haven’t regretted going once. It never ceases to amaze me how many incredible insights into the Faith you gain, moving testimonies you hear, and life changing spiritual experiences you receive in just one weekend. God is so good!
But of course, as most of us know, being a young person in the Catholic Faith in Ireland today is not easy. We are constantly being challenged by our peers and by society, and are told we have to compromise our beliefs, values, and morals in order to ‘fit in’. Before I started attending Youth 2000 retreats I would get caught up in the lies of the world and drift away from the Faith and the Church, feeling like I was the only young person in Ireland who had a desire to live a life striving for sainthood. Getting involved in Youth 2000 has really helped me to stay strong in my beliefs and convictions, to truly understand and treasure the Church’s beautiful teachings, and to meet people full of the Holy Spirit who help me to keep my eyes focused on the Lord.
Youth 2000 helps you not only find friends that are like-minded and love you for you, but you also discover how important you are to God and how he wants nothing more than to shower you in love, peace and happiness.”
Youth 2000 helps you not only find friends that are like-minded and love you for you, but you also discover how important you are to God and how he wants nothing more than to shower you in love, peace and happiness. In a world that is so broken and dark, Youth 2000 is like a light that shines through the darkness, and we, as young people of Faith in Ireland, need to help spread that light throughout the country to all those who are longing to discover the true meaning of life, and who deserve to live a life that fulfils and satisfies that desire in all of us for more.
I cannot encourage you enough to go to a Youth 2000 retreat. If you’re a little apprehensive about going, I would advise you to just give it a go and try it out. There’s no harm in trying, and I guarantee you will leave feeling happier and fulfilled than you did arriving, with lots of new friends to accompany you on your journey through this life. It worked for me! And don’t worry, if you regret not going to the Summer festival this year, the Christmas retreat is just around the corner!
