The session brought together French and English youth leaders from the Ottawa, Gatineau, Alexandria-Cornwall, Kingston and Pembroke dioceses as well as representatives from Catholic Christian Outreach, NET Ministries and Famille Marie-Jeunesse (Family of Mary’s Youth), a Catholic movement based in Sherbrooke, Que.

Prendergast was struck by how the youth hope to use the various Ottawa landmarks as symbols. Among them: the Parliament Building; the Eternal Flame on Parliament Hill; and the statue of Samuel de Champlain in a downtown park, showing the explorer holding his astrolabe, a navigation device.

The youth also noted how the National Capital Region straddles the French and English divide, linked by seven bridges, he said.

“It’s a great opportunity to build unity,” said Sue-Anne Hesse, an Ottawa volunteer.

She said participation will help people see beyond their own “little mission” or parish to create a broader vision of the church, just as participation in World Youth Day does.

“I kind of think of it as Canada Youth Day, instead of World Youth Day,” she said.

The brainstorming session included ideas for possible slogans such as “This is my Body”  or “Here I am”; work on a conference theme; questions on how much to engage non-Catholics as part of evangelization; and how to use the Internet and new social media as well as local advertising to “slip” awareness of the event into the wider culture.

The Youth Summits began in 2005 and played an integral role in preparations for the 2008 International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec City. Since the Summit is no longer tied to the Congress, youth representatives spoke of a need for an overall vision for their movement.

How to find it?

“It’s really us listening to the Spirit,” said Ottawa’s English-language youth director Ted Hurley.

Youth at these summits first raised the idea for a symbol similar to the World Youth Day cross. Thus, the Ark of the New Covenant came into being. Pilgrims accompanied the ark across Canada to raise awareness of the Congress,

The ark “journeys” on, and on Ottawa’s diocesan feast day June 25, it was received into Notre Dame Cathedral as the diocese marked the end of the Year of St. Paul and inaugurated the Year of the Priest.