Catholic speaker Leah Darrow gestures to the Eucharist in the monstrance during her talk in the morning of March 12, 2022, at YOUTH 2000 held at Brescia University in Owensboro. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
Forward in faith
YOUTH 2000 celebrates 25th anniversary
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
“We all have problems… but I know a guy,” said Leah Darrow, gesturing to the Eucharist in the monstrance during the Saturday morning session of YOUTH 2000 on March 12, 2022.
Speaking to a crowd of approximately 280 young people, not to mention their youth ministry leaders and chaperones, the popular Catholic speaker shared her testimony of returning to her Catholic faith after years of turning away from God.
Darrow said many people, including herself, have labeled themselves as “I’m this type of sin – I’m this type of screw-up.”
And yet, God is “who he says he is – he’s the restorer of our life,” she said, and encouraged the youth to take advantage of the opportunity for confession that weekend. “The one who can help us with our cross is the one who carried it first.”
“Do not let anybody ever tell you that you can’t be better,” she said. “Do not let anyone trample your dream of becoming a saint. Your past does not define your future; your next step does.”
Youth kneel in prayer on March 12, 2022, during YOUTH 2000 held at Brescia University in Owensboro. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
Darrow was one of two guest speakers brought to YOUTH 2000 that weekend in celebration of the annual retreat’s 25th anniversary. The other guest speaker was Fr. Stephen DeLacy, vicar for the Office of Faith Formation for Youth and Young Adults from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
“We need to constantly be in rebellion against the tendency to sin and reject God,” he told the youth during the Saturday afternoon session.
Natalie Rhinerson, a senior at Trinity High School in Whitesville, said she liked the praise and worship music and that “the testimonies really spoke to me.”
Her classmate Brianna Park, a first-time YOUTH 2000 attendee, said she appreciated the inspiration through learning that “God chose people that had flaws.”
The youth group from St. Joseph Parish in Bowling Green also enjoyed the weekend. Andrew Embry called the retreat “a good chance to get closer to God.”
Demi Smith said YOUTH 2000 is “an enlightening experience” and that the priests gave “helpful advice” in confession, and Grace Himmelbrand said this was “really nice to take a step back from everything to be with God.”
Their fellow youth group member Noah Lipp summed it up: “This retreat is like taking a step back from the world and taking a step forward in faith.”
Click here for more photos from the weekend!
Originally printed in the April 2022 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
