Recently, the Youth 2000 regional Spring retreat for Connaught took place in The Claddagh, Galway. Facilitated by Youth 2000 National Leader, Helena O’Shea and organised by Connaught Youth 2000 leaders, Kathryn Freney and Stiofán Mac Brádaigh, the tone was set for the one-day retreat by final-year psychology student, Kieran Barrett-Gomez. Kieran, a convert to Catholicism, reminded all present that “God has a lot in store for us” and that the Holy Spirit led all to the retreat for various reasons.
Máire Ní Éineacháin, 34, a medical device factory worker from Castlegar, Co. Galway, said she went to “spend some time with Jesus in the setting of a Youth 2000 Mass where I knew the homily would be spot on”. Máire said she believes that more young people are searching for reason to life and that “it is important for the Church to stand up in these times, to hold firm to our faith and our teachings and be available to those who are searching for God.” Máire said she encountered Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament when she first went to Youth 2000 in her twenties and said, “My life changed and I began to follow Him.”
Mass was presided by Bishop Michael Duignan, Bishop of Galway and concelebrated by Fr Conor McDonough OP, Fr Matthew Farrell OP and Fr Chris Garrett (Elphin Diocese). Bishop Michael gave encouragement to all present during the season of Lent reminding that “the season of Lent holds out to us a special spiritual space to quit the procrastination, stop the dilly-dallying, and to seriously tend to the work of sorting out and renewing our own lives” and that “God is a God of new opportunities, a God of many chances and new beginnings”.
Fr Conor McDonough gave a talk on ‘Mary, our Mother’. Here he gave practical tips on praying the Rosary including using YouTube videos, the Hollow app, praying while walking, using imagery and praying in different languages. A talk was given by NET missionary, Brendan Gormely. After lunch at An Tobar Nua café, the attendees went to the Poor Clares in Nuns’ Island for a talk on Jesus in the Eucharist by Sr Faustina (OSC) and Sr Colette (OSC). Sr Faustina, the community sacristan, described the Real Presence with an emphasis on the importance of an eye for detail as she explained the importance of using corporals and purificators, palls with chalices, patens and ciboria. Sr Colette reminded all of the rays of love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament then quoting Pope Francis’ recent encyclical letter on the human and divine love of the heart of Jesus, Dilexit Nos encouraging all to “Mission, as a radiation of the love of the heart of Christ, requires missionaries who are themselves in love and who, enthralled by Christ, feel bound to share this love that has changed their lives.” The last talk was on reconciliation by Fr Matthew Farrell.
