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Lianne Bernardo

Living faith through the written word

By  Lianne Milan Bernardo, Youth Speak News
  • May 24, 2013

Faith can be explored through prayer, through social activities and through art. And so writing for a religious publication, such as The Catholic Register, has been a step in my journey of faith in a number of ways.

Writing for Youth Speak News (YSN) has made me more aware of the Catholic c ommu n i t y here in Canada and of the many different ways that youth groups and parishes have been celebrating their faith.

In a world that is becoming more secular, it is wonderful and inspiring to encounter and hear about these vibrant expressions and activities happening in the community.

They are also wonderful examples of what St. Paul wrote about in Corinthians: “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone” (1 Corinthians 12: 4-6). Writing about these events has made me feel closer to the Canadian Catholic community and what is important to it.

As a YSN writer, I also have had the opportunity to express and explore my faith outside of weekly Mass and daily prayer. This has especially been the case with writing columns where I am able to reflect on my own thoughts and my faith and apply them in everyday matters, such as a trip to an art exhibit or handling the stress of holiday season.

It is a reminder that faith is not something that can be compartmentalised to certain times and days of the week but that it can — and is — applicable to everyday life.

My time writing for YSN has also enabled me to contribute my skills and talents directly to the Catholic community. Pope Francis recently reached out to young people on Twitter, telling them not to “bury your talents, the gifts that God has given you! Do not be afraid to dream of great things!”

One of my dreams in life is to become a writer. Over the years I’ve written pieces for school literary magazines, online e-zines and even a few op-ed pieces for my college newspaper while completing my undergraduate degree.

But until I began writing for The Register I had never written for anything on a national scale and certainly not in a way that tapped into the religious and faith aspects of my life. It was something new and challenging, but it was also an opportunity to learn new things, enhance my writing skills and use those skills in a meaningful way.

Writing for a religious publication has been a wonderful experience in continuing my journey of faith. While tapping into my talents, I was also able to further explore and understand my Catholic faith.

(Bernardo, 26, is a practical nursing student at Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology in Toronto.)

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