Welcome to YouCAN!

My name is Rina. Many of you will know me from my voluntary work with the Benedictine Monks at Downside Abbey in Somerset. Over the years I have organised pilgrimages, most importantly to the Holy Land, Retreats, and Pilgrimage Walks for young Catholic adults.

Arising from this work over several years, I became aware of the declining numbers of our young Catholics.  In late 2019, and with the support of the English Benedictines, and the English Dominicans, who were both similarly concerned, the idea of YouCAN came into being.

However, during the Coronavirus pandemic and resultant lockdowns, YouCAN mutated into something all together different to what was originally envisaged!

So what is YouCAN now?

All that YouCAN has ever sought to do is bring young Catholic adults together so that they become one prayer filled community.  Being part of a strong community enables them to stay faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church and share in the common  Mission of telling others about their Catholic Christian Faith.

As we went into that first lockdown in March 2020, I realised that many young Catholics would be isolated and need companionship with others. A WhatsApp Group was established for them, and within a couple of days there were 60 participants. In the three succeeding years, hundreds of young Catholics have been members of the group. There are still, nearly four years later, coming on to 400 participants, and the group is always growing!

As we started to emerge from isolation in 2021, there were calls from the young people themselves for in person meet ups. We have since met many times at various Monasteries and Retreat Centres, and will continue to do so.

We now have Regional Groups across the UK, and YouCAN+ for Catholics between ages 30 and 45 . We are now in touch with a very broad cross section of  UK young Catholics.

All this has been achieved with no funding from any other organisation. I, and members of our Strategy Group who will increasingly run YouCAN, do so on a voluntary basis. At events, each person pays their own way, although occasionally we, together with our Partners with whom we work, are able to assist with costs.

We take inspiration from our early Saints, such as Saint Augustine of Canterbury and Saint Columbanus. We see our Spiritual Homes as being within one of  our Monasteries. Each Region has a Monastic Spiritual Home, and that of YouCAN UK has transferred from Downside to Buckfast Abbey.

Working with other Catholic organisations for the future of the Catholic Church in the UK

Very many religious orders and lay organisations are supporting the group with their daily prayers. Just look at the list of our Partners and Sponsors! It is truly amazing that so many are praying for young Catholics. Anyone’s name can be added, so just get in touch!

It is our fervent hope that we can continue to build our young Catholic adult Community in the UK . In strength we can take Jesus’ message to those around us, so desperate to hear His message of love, mercy, and forgiveness! Please keep YouCAN, all of our young Catholic adults, and our Catholic families in your prayers.