Speaking Out

Alongside almost 200 people involved with youth ministry, I recently found myself at Toronto’s Nativity of Our Lord parish sharing in the desire to learn how to become better teachers of the faith to young people.

As a young person intending to enter the field of science, I can attest to the anxiety that Catholic students with similar aspirations experience when faced with the supposed conflict between science and religion. This myth of science and religion being incompatible is propagated by our secular society, and consequently causes students to feel the need to pick between their faith life and their affinity for the sciences.

The Pope recently had to deal with a scandal caused by the “Bishop of Bling” and, as I look around my school cafeteria, I notice several similarities to the corruption scandal involving the bishop of Limburg, Germany.

Have you ever seen a priest and thought, “He’s a teacher?” Recently, I’ve been noticing many similarities between priests and teachers, both professionally and personality wise.

When I was a child, I picked up what was to later become a revolutionizing piece of literature in my little, boxed world. Growing up, I had never known of “black” or “white.” My friends were all great because they made me laugh and it didn’t even matter that we had different coloured skins.

This summer, the world saw a multitude of young people descend upon Copacabana Beach in Brazil to stand in solidarity as Catholics. They br aved the harsh weather of the Brazilian coast to partake in the Eucharist as one body, and for the chance to hear a message from the Pope himself. It was a very moving image, and it would seem that from this sight alone, the Church truly does hold a powerful connection with today’s youth.

When I inform my family that I’m off to spend my free night in front of the TV, my words are greeted with rolling eyes and a chorus of long-suffering sighs. They’ve all lived with me long enough to know I’m a total sucker for a good TV series.

Heading home on the train one Tuesday night, I noticed a large flying insect trying to climb up the wall, but it kept falling down. It seemed injured and very weak, twitching incessantly. It would, however, not give up, climbing up and falling down dozens of times.

The excitement of hearing about your mother’s pregnancy seems unreal when you are a child. For my younger brother Matthew, he was especially delighted to hear that he was finally going to be a big brother.

It is easy to believe that our North American communities have always been founded on acceptance and equal opportunities for all, but it is a mistake to believe that we are no longer deeply tied to a dark past. Because of individuals who continue to fight against injustice, our communities continue to grow, allowing us to value those who have shaped our identity in moments of despair.