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Mallow Parish
The young Irish in love with
Jesus in the Catholic Church
Fr. Sean Corkery
What an absolute revelation it was to travel the road to Clonmacnois a few weeks ago where the Youth 2000 Summer Festival was in fun swing. If you are 18-35 and have never experienced your peers embracing Jesus with joy and fervour, then you have to get in touch with these beautiful people. Their motto "Youth leading youth to the heart of the Church " is so true that walking about the festival complex felt really special - Footballs, Hurleys, Card Games, Coffees, Pop Concerts, Chill-out Tents, Rosary beads, Prayer and sharing groups, singing and beautiful liturgies which lift the heart to Almighty God. For young Irish people who can sometimes feel brow-beaten by negativity and disapproval of anything Catholic, this is an absolute revelation of the potential power of the Gospel in action.
Remember Jesus said "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). As a priest, you sometimes have the very high honour of speaking with people about their faith. Some of the young people at the festival came for a look on Thursday and by Saturday, were in love with Christ in a whole new way. One young man told me he came with a friend of his, feeling pretty down with life and he found an encouragement and a joy which opened his eyes to the full dimensions of our precious human nature. He said to me, 'I came here pretty angry with God and with life and now I see a whole new world opening up.' As I thought about his words, I realised the power of Jesus at work within us. For me, the Holy Hour on Saturday afternoon with a reflection on Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Protectoress of all life, was really powerful. Mary brought over 1000 young people into a powerful moment of union with her Son. Being in a room where the feeling is one of positive longing for God by means of a common search was really beautiful. How could you not be blown over by the reverent and positive attitude of so many of your peers? Like everyone else, I sat on the floor of that tent and opened my heart to Jesus in quite, meditative conversation.
As I left that 6th century Monastic Site of St Ciaran on the east bank of the strong and fertile Shannon River, a place once teeming with fresh and scholarly searching for Jesus-in-our-midst, I felt moved by the power of "Youth leading youth to the heart of the Church ". The Church in Ireland has an enormous asset which grows stronger every day - young people who believe with all their energy that they are loved by God as Temples of his Holy Spirit. When we are together, among our own, as it were, we help to confirm in each other the Word of God: 'Do not be afraid. . . for I am with you to protect you' (Jer 1:8).
It pains me to read and hear some people making a political football out of religion and the Church. When I see the joy and passion with which so many young people embrace the faith it knocks me out of a potential sadness which works as an evil spirit within us. We need one another in this life and need to be strong and true in our friendships. Youth 2000 is providing just such an environment. With Jesus at the centre, the Church is alive and the Church is young. Young people want to play their part in the life of the Church and young people love being together, learning about the life and about the beauty of the human person. Life could never be the same after being in a place where the presence of Jesus is so tangible. That is a most precious blessing in today's wacky and wonderful world.
Sunday, 5th September, 2010.
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