By MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / March 3, 1999

RESERVE – “It is to you young people that the task falls of bearing witness to the Faith and bringing into the third millennium the Gospel of Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, the Life.”With those words at World Youth Day in Santiago de Compostello, Spain in 1989, Pope John Paul II called on the youth of the world to bring Christ’s Gospel to the world. The youth of the River Parishes will have a chance toanswer that call at the Youth 2000 Prayer Festival this weekend at St.Charles Catholic High School.

The Prayer Festival, sponsored by Ascension of Our Lord Church with the help of St. Joan of Arc and St. Peter’s, is a worldwide movement startedsoon after the Pope’s speech in Spain. The first Youth 2000 Retreat washeld in the former Yugoslavia in 1990 and has spread around the globe, from England and Germany to South America and the Caribbean.

The first Youth 2000 in the United States was held in Dallas in June 1992, and hundreds of retreats have been held since that time around the country. This weekend’s retreat marks the third time Youth 2000 has cometo the New Orleans area. The retreat was held at the Convention Center in1992 and at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner in 1994.

Janet Guillory, youth programs director at Ascension of Our Lord, said she and the Rev. Benny Piovan have been trying to get the retreat to come tothe River Parishes for the last two years. Their determination came tofruition last November when they found out a church in Florida had to pull out of holding a retreat this week. Guillory wrote to Bishop Greg Aymond,executive director for Christian Formation for the New Orleans Archdiocese, to ask for permission to hold the retreat. She receivedpermission in December, setting the ball in motion.

At a special mass at St. Charles Catholic High School during CatholicSchool’s Week in February, teen-agers who had attended the previous retreats in New Orleans made motivational speeches to encourage the students to come. Young people ages 13-30 from throughout the RiverParishes have been invited to attend. Guillory said she has also beencontacted by groups from Gonzales and Pineville as well as St. StephensChurch in New Orleans.

“It is well-known among the faithful,” Guillory, who is expecting 200 young people to attend, said. “The reputation of the retreat precedes it.”St. Charles Catholic High School has agreed to house the retreat. The Youth2000 altar will be set up in the middle of the gym with everybody either sitting or kneeling around it.

The retreat begins Friday night. Registration begins at 6 p.m., followed bymusic and a welcome to the retreat. The Rev. Robert Vincent, the head ofthe St. John/St. Charles Parish deanery, will say the opening mass.The retreats are usually held by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal based out of New York. But because that weekend is their vow week, theywill not be available. The Youth 2000 home office in Dallas was able tolocate priests who were familiar with the retreats, however.

Those priests, the Rev. Sylvain Casavant from Canada and the Rev. Tuckerfrom Nebraska, will give talks about the new millennium and the role of the young people in the church. Guillory said they have also brought theirmusic ministers with them with music also be providing by the choir from the high school. The first day ends with music, meditation and adoration.The retreat continues Saturday morning with music and a morning prayer.

After the Youth 2000 priests give another talk, those attending will break into groups and be guided into discussions based on the talks. The groupswill led by those who have had experience with retreat teams.

“The success of the retreat is the involvement of the teen-agers,” Guillory said.

In the afternoon, an International Rosary will be held with each decadent being said in different language. A mass will follow then another talk andmore music and meditation.

That night is one of the most powerful of the program, according to Guillory. An eucharistic procession will be held with the priest walkingaround the room.

“It is an opportunity to really repent,” Guillory said. “Each personattending will have a chance to touch the robe of Christ. It is a powerfulexperience.”An all night adoration will be held Friday and Saturday from 11 p.m. to 7a.m. Guillory said she is having volunteers spending an hour each for theadoration. Volunteers from Ascension of Our Lord, St. Joan of Arc and St.Peter’s will also serve as chaperons. The Youth 2000 priests and theirhelpers will be housed at the homes of host families.

Sunday will open with music and a morning prayer and another talk. Thatmorning, the Crowning of Mary will be held followed by a Mass. The retreatwill conclude with testimonies by those attending.

Guillory said while the devotions are very Catholic, the retreat is open to all faiths. Priests from the deanery will be on hand during the entireweekend to hear confessions but also to offer spiritual guidance.

Those interested in attending the retreat and have not already registered can do so at the door Friday night. Registration is $20 and includes lunch,dinner and beverages on Saturday. Registration forms can be picked up atthe Ascension of Our Lord rectory or at the door Friday night.

Guillory said the credit for the retreat should go to Vincent and Piovan.

She said those attending can expect a very touching experience.

“It is very light but also very deep and very real,” Guillory said. “It isdeep to the heart and to the soul. It is a wonderful opportunity.”

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