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YOUTH 2000 began as a result of the Holy Father’s call at World Youth Day in 1989 in Compostella Spain for a decade of Evangelization of young people leading up to the New Millenium. A young Englishman, Ernest Williams, was inspired by the thought of having thousands of young people gathering around Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration.
The first YOUTH 2000 Prayer Festival took place in 1990 in Medjugouje, and included 7000 young people from 24 countries. It was a resounding success. In 1992, YOUTH 2000 came to the US through the efforts of some of the participants of the original Prayer Festival. The first retreat was held in Dallas, Texas in June 1992 with 700 young people. The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal were among the preachers at the event. In the course of the year there were four or five more retreats. |
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In 2003, a group of parents and youth attended the YOUTH 2000 at Mount St. Marys in Maryland. In 2005, the first YOUTH 2000 was held in Raleigh with over 600 participants. The following year the name was changed to JOHN 6:35 (scripture verse “I Am The Bread Of Life”) and continues in the YOUTH 2000 format serving young people throughout North Carolina. The annual retreat has now become known as the JOHN 6:35 BIG EVENT and will be held April 9-11, 2010 at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh with over 1,000 participants expected to attend. A local Apostolate, separate from the JOHN 6:35 BIG EVENT, has recently begun to offer smaller JOHN 6:35 Youth Retreats to individual churches throughout the year. |
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History
