Youth Speak News
Editor's Note: this is the second place winner of the Friars’ Student Writing Award sponsored by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement and The Catholic Register. Nicole Fernandes is a Grade 11 student at St. Joseph’s Morrow Park Catholic Secondary School in Toronto.
{mosimage}Christian unity is far more than just the unity of Christians in the same belief, doctrine or principle. It is the unity of all Christians under the fellowship of Christ in whom we are all one. I believe that Catholic and Orthodox churches should come together and pray without ceasing because the power of prayer is massive and Jesus asked God to keep us united. I believe that by doing that we can achieve Christian unity and help change the world.
Friars' essay contest winners announced
By Catholic Register Staff{mosimage}TORONTO - Michael Scaffidi placed first in the sixth annual Friars' Student Writing Award contest for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which runs from Jan. 20 to 27.
Embracing Mary’s maternal tenderness
By Carine Lee, Youth Speak News{mosimage}VANCOUVER - When Celine Leigh consecrated herself to Jesus through Mary two years ago, she found herself part of a union of Roman Catholics who share in the spiritual graces through Mary’s intercession and provision.
Finding faith through action
By Peter Grbac, Youth Speak News{mosimage}A celebrated child rights advocate, dynamic speaker and New York Times best-selling author, Craig Kielburger is a testament to the power of youth engagement.
Catholic teen heralded an international hero
By Catholic Register Staff{mosimage}Kayla Cornale has gone from being her younger cousin Lorena’s hero to hero in the eyes of the global community. The 17-year-old was featured on CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute aired live globally on Dec. 6 from the American Museum of Natural History in New York for creating a learning program using music to help autistic children communicate called Sounds into Syllables.
Serving up dinner for refugees
By Dylan Robertson, Youth Speak News
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - Students, newly arrived refugees and guests chatted over platefuls of chicken, lasagna and vegetables inside St. Marcellinus Secondary School’s dimly lit auditorium while live piano music floated through the air. This was the scene during the fifth annual Christmas Refugee Dinner held Nov. 29.
Christmas gift ideas to make St. Nick smile
By Catholic Register Staff
Editor’s note: If you are scrambling for gift ideas during this third week of Advent let us assure you that there is an alternative to the cult of shopping mall madness. We challenge you to root through our free or inexpensive homemade last-minute gift ideas guide. Give with a social and ecological conscience in the spirit of Bishop St. Nicholas of Myra whose compassionate generosity, albeit twisted by our modern day consumer culture, points to a greater reality — the greatest gift of all: the coming of Jesus Christ.
Happy Advent
from the Youth Speak News Team
Ottawa archbishop shares his vision for youth
By Vanessa Baker, Youth Speak News
OTTAWA - Ottawa’s new archbishop looks forward to skating on the Rideau Canal, something he’s missed doing since studying at the University of Ottawa 37 years ago.
Working for change at the UN
By Shannon Joseph, Catholic Register SpecialLast spring I trekked up to the University of St. Michael’s College to hear a presentation by Anna Halpine, founder of the World Youth Alliance (WYA). The story she told was absolutely inspiring. When it ended I introduced myself and asked how I could get involved.
Jews, Christians, Muslims unite at camp
By Catholic Register Staff
TORONTO - “Twenty-four kids. Three faiths. One planet” is the slogan for Kids4Peace, a summer camp that aims to bring peace to the Middle East a dozen families at a time.
The music downloading dilemma
By Dylan Robertson, Youth Speak NewsLimeWire, eMule, Morpheus, BitTorrent and iMesh are all free music downloading sites that young Canadians are all too familiar with.