For Young People

Our motto is “Youth leading youth to the heart of the Church.” We have experienced the love of God in our lives, and come to know how joyful and fulfilling it is to live out the Catholic faith. We want to share this with others, and lead our peers to Jesus Christ, the source of all love, joy and happiness.

History: Youth 2000 was started by a young Englishman called Ernest Williams after World Youth Day in Santiago de Compostela in Spain in 1989, when Pope John Paul II called for young people to spread the Good News of Jesus among their peers. “It is to you young people that the task first falls of bearing witness to the faith and of bringing into the third millennium the Gospel of Christ, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.” – Pope John Paul II.  In response to this, Ernest began to gather young people together in prayer, and soon this initiative, known as Youth 2000, spread to more than 25 countries all over the world.

Youth 2000 International Mission Statement: Youth 2000 is a spiritual initiative established to draw young people through Mary to a deep and lasting union with Jesus Christ, especially in the Eucharist, the “source and summit of the Christian life.” Youth 2000 carries out its mission, based on the vision of St John Bosco, in the following 3 ways, known as the 3 ‘pillars’ of Youth 2000:

1.         Devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament

2.         Devotion to Our Lady particularly through the Rosary

3.         Fidelity to the Teaching of the Church, including a deep love for Sacred Scripture.

The patron saints of Youth 2000 are:

1.         St John Bosco

2.         Our Lady of Guadalupe

3.         St Joseph (for Youth 2000 Ireland)