The Youth 2000 Summer Festival will begin at the Cistercian College in Mount Saint Joseph Abbey, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary on Thursday next, 7 July. The theme for this year’s festival is ‘Receive my mercy … inherit my Kingdom’ (Acts 26:18). Up to 1,300 young people are expected at this year’s Summer Festival which runs until 10 July, and which takes place just two weeks ahead of the beginning of World Youth Day in Krakow.
Archbishop Charles J Brown, Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, will celebrate Mass at the festival on Saturday 9 July. Bishop Donal McKeown of Derry, Bishop Denis Nulty of Kildare and Leighlin and Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan of Waterford and Lismore are also expected to be present during the festival. The main speaker at this year’s festival is Father Patrick Cahill, the National Spiritual Advisor of Youth 2000 Ireland. Father Cahill is a native of Thurles, Co. Tipperary and belongs to a community in Rome called ‘The Family of Mary’. He was guest speaker at the last two Youth 2000 Christmas retreats.
On Friday 8 July, there will be a reconciliation service which will see more than 1000 young people go to Confession. On Saturday 9 July, there will be a healing service with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and this will be followed by a praise and worship concert. Other events across the four days include talks and workshops, Masses, music, drama, games and social events.
Registration for the event can be completed on www.youth2000.ie. Free bus routes are provided to and from the festival, details of which can also be found on the Youth 2000 website.
ENDS