Happy 30th Birthday Youth 2000! + VIDEO

Young people at the Walsingham festival

Youth 2000 is urging Catholics across the UK to share their stories of how it has helped them, as it prepares to celebrate its 30th anniversary over the August bank holiday (29th-31st August).

Over the past three decades, Youth 2000 has hosted hundreds of retreats, drawing tens of thousands of young people into a relationship with Jesus Christ and inspiring hundreds of vocations to priesthood, religious life, a fulfilling single life and marriage.

Young people can send their memories and stories into mystory@youth2000.org

Youth 2000 is also delighted to announce that the Most Reverend John Wilson, Archbishop of Southwark has agreed to become a patron of the charity, joining the Right Reverend Mark Davies, Bishop of Shrewsbury in this important role.

Archbishop John Wilson said: "I am both honoured and delighted to become a patron of Youth 2000. Having been involved with Youth 2000 for over twenty years, I have witnessed, first-hand, the impact of its retreats and festivals on so many young people, drawing them closer to Christ through His Church. As Youth 2000 reaches its thirtieth anniversary, I look forward to continuing to support its mission of reaching out to new generations of young people in the love, mercy, and joy of Jesus Christ."

Although the 30th birthday celebrations have not gone as planned with the restrictions imposed by lockdown, Youth 2000 has embraced opportunities using online platforms and has been able to reach over 1,000 people during the pandemic. Youth 2000 has hosted an online Mission School, organised two Alpha courses and has even coordinated an online festival.

Here's what one Mission School attendee had to say: "I definitely grew more in my faith since I became a part of mission team and it really made a positive impact on my spiritual & prayer life. It gave me a confidence to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ openly and wholeheartedly".

Ahead of its birthday celebrations, the charity wants to hear from people who have been involved over the past three decades.

The National Director, Annabel Ward, said: "It is an honour to work for such an incredible organisation and I cannot wait to see how the Lord will move in the next thirty years. We would love to invite anyone reading this to join us in praying for the mission of Youth 2000 by joining us in a Novena to Our Lady of Walsingham commencing on the 15th September. We would also love to hear your stories, if you have been impacted by the work of Youth 2000 over the past three decades, please get in contact with us and share your story. By sending them into mystory@youth2000.org".

Youth 2000 is a Catholic youth charity, aimed at young people aged 16-35 years. It was founded in 1990 by Ernest Williams and Robert Toone and has reached over 30,000 people since then. For more information, visit: www.youth2000.org.

Watch their new video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t7FzU9Edlc&t=12s