New members sometimes ask how Project 2030 got started.
In the mid 90s I was talking to Richard, then in his early 20s and who was
helping us with our computers, etc in the Dehonian parish in Irvine, Scotland. I
asked him if there was anything we could do to help him, not really expecting an
answer. He said he would like to help set up a group for Catholics in their 20s
("not necessarily to do religious things"). He'd tried unsuccessfully to get
something going in the parish. There were not enough of them to form a group. I
wasn't based in that parish at the time and was unable to do anything ("you
would need a bigger area", he said), but the idea stayed with me.
In 1999, when I was due to finish my previous job, I was asked by my
Provincial Superior if I had any ideas of work I would like to do. I put forward
the plan of setting up groups for Catholics in their 20s. Our community, the
Sacred Heart Fathers, always had a tradition of youth ministry. I moved to Dehon
House, our Youth Residential Centre near Liverpool. My original target age was
18-25, but I thought we would get mostly 16 and 17 year olds, so I went for the
Twentysomethings. It was more middle to late 20s who responded. There were so
many in their 30s wanting to join that we soon had to set up The
Thirtysomethings "to keep them out" and give the younger ones their own space.
The 30s groups have prospered even more.
After getting the approval of the dioceses and the support of the priests, I
sent questionnaires to be answered by 20 year olds in the parishes and then
called meetings during Lent of 2000 in the North West of England, Glasgow and
Dublin where our community also had houses. The London 20s were started in 2001
and the 30s in 2002. At the same time I had been doing a doctorate on the faith
and attitudes of Catholics in their 20s. When the groups started I became too
busy to continue to study. Maybe a group of us could continue the research
sometime.
The 20s who responded to the initial questionnaires were more interested in
spiritual matters, having Mass together and helping the poor, etc. I was tempted
to set up the groups along those lines, but decided to keep to my original idea
of getting people together and asking: "What do you want to do together? How can
I help?" I wanted the agenda to come from the grass-roots, for individuals to
feel that they each had a part of the ownership of the group (the last person to
join has as much right to be there as someone who has been there from the
beginning). The group depends on enough members having the ideas and energy to
put on various events at a local and inter-group level. At first people were
mostly interested in doing walks, meals and other social activities, but
gradually began to say things like: "It's coming up to Christmas, let's do a
retreat". Nothing is obligatory, nothing is excluded "as long as it is not
dangerous or sinful", I usually say.
The title Project 2030 was chosen because originally it was
for people 20-30, then it became for 20s and 30s, and it also posed the
question: "Where, or who, do you want to be by the year 2030?" Where will the
Church be? Who knows? All we can do is do our bit for one another now and see
how things develop.
It has been an interesting ride so far. Welcome on board.
Fr. Hugh Hanley |
