Speaking Out

As I look back over my high school career, which just ended, I realize that my fondest memories of the past four years are directly or indirectly connected to the Catholic faith.

Though not one to readily admit that I enjoy school, attending Toronto’s Brebeuf College has given me a handful of experiences that I won’t soon forget.

Leading up to the close of the Year for Priests, the Vatican faced intense criticism regarding the allegations of abuse within the Church. At the closing ceremonies on June 11, Pope Benedict XVI apologized for the abuse on behalf of the Church. He asserted that the Church would do everything possible to prevent such crimes from happening again.

There are still many people, including many young people, who are weary of the Church, due to the past offences of some priests. What many people don’t realize, however, is that the number of abusive priests is miniscule compared to the number of priests and clergy who serve the community.

While it has been hard for me to stay committed to the Church in such a tragic time, I continue to remind myself of all the men and women in the Church who have positively impacted my life.

The superb and thoughtful documentary The Human Experience reminds us that enduring difficulty and stepping out of one’s “comfort zone” and taking up the cross make us human.

That basic Christian idea lives on in four young men. They are brothers Jeff and Cliff Azize and their friends Matthew Sanchez and Michael Campo. These men have not only answered the call of Jesus, but have made a documentary showing how they answered it. The film made its Canadian premiere with a pre-screening in Toronto at Dante Alighieri Academy May 28. The film has gone through more than 200 pre-screenings worldwide, racked up more than 18 awards and its producers at Grassroots Films in New York are working on a deal to have it released in theatres across the United States.

The Human Experience fills hearts with emotion and heads with questions about life and the purpose of mankind. It touchingly reveals both the potential of man and the work of God.

Their journey is a long and affecting one that brings the four friends to a variety of places and connects them with a variety of people. It begins with the Azize brothers sleeping on the streets of New York City, and then caring for orphans in Peru.

Sanchez and Campo join them on their visit to a leper colony in Ghana. In addition, the Azizes reunite with their estranged father to forgive him for physically abusing them during their childhoods.

There’s a lot to like about this documentary. For one thing, it’s beautifully shot. Director Charles Kinnane takes advantage of the exotic locations found in Africa, South America and New York, treating the viewer to an array of eye-popping landscapes. The most striking settings are the chilly streets of New York, where the Azize brothers sleep in cardboard boxes to experience the ravages of homelessness.

Furthermore, Kinnane seamlessly integrates commentary from famous figures such as Rabbi Simon Jacobsen and civil rights activist Alveda King into the film, giving it an enjoyably intellectual vibe.

I tend to look back at my childhood summer breaks as a time of genuine relaxation and renewal. When I was an elementary school student, I always looked forward to summer because it meant I would have more time to ride around on my bicycle, soar down our bumpy road with my cousin’s hand-me-down rollerblades, swim and take walks with my siblings or friends or sit outside in the sun to read a book. Because of that joyful time off, I always seemed to have more energy for doing my school work throughout the fall and winter.

Over the years, I’ve come to realize that appreciating and enjoying God’s beauty in nature and in the summer weather can be a great prayer of thanksgiving — if we recognize it as such.

While May was the month of our blessed Mother Mary, there are still many reasons to keep her in mind at the start of this new month and for the rest of our lives.

I grew up in a strong Catholic family, and my mother always emphasized the importance of our Mother in heaven. But I had never taken the time to develop that relationship with Mary any further than was necessary.

For the past week or so, I’ve been living in an alternate reality — one common to many but foreign to me. I find myself writing now in a different room, a different house, a different city, a different province.

To expand my understanding of the world’s many cultures, I decided to start at home and learn French.  I have chosen to spend my summer in the small town of Chicoutimi, Que., in a French immersion program, where English is completely off limits. I am to speak (and write) only in French for the five weeks that I am here, while meeting new people, visiting new places and residing with a new family.

Recently, I heard a powerful message at school from a pro-life speaker named Nicole. She said that if a private pro-life stance was all it took to abolish abortion, then it could be achieved. Unfortunately, this is not enough, and so we are all called to be publicly pro-life.

I felt that in many ways I am already publicly pro-life. I defend the unborn when debates break out in class. I proudly attended a pro-life symposium held at another high school. However, Nicole’s message instilled in me a desire to raise more awareness of the gruesome reality of abortion.

About a month ago, my little sister Anna found out that she got the leading role in the musical Annie. Her initial reaction? At first, Anna said nothing, then she screamed (with joy), and then she ran to every bedroom in the house — it was seven o’clock in the morning — and told everybody what happened.

Her reaction was really quite commonplace for a 10-year-old — natural, actually. But as ordinary as it may have seemed, Anna hit on a life-truth that day. I think Shakespeare alluded to it when he penned the famous line, “All the world’s a stage...”

Last month, I got the greatest gift I never knew I needed: a break from my worries. As I went on my Grade 12 retreat, the reality set in that it would be my last high school-sponsored retreat before I head off to university. But it also ended up being one of the best.

When we arrived at Shadow Lake Outdoor Education Centre in Stouffville, Ont., we were met with a great view of the lake, a great sparkling blue gem surrounded by a thick, lush forest full of evergreen trees. The day consisted of fun activities that helped strengthen our spiritual relationships with Christ. It was relaxing and made me feel at ease, a place where we felt we could push busy thoughts out of mind.

Dear youth: God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit exist. They are real, so is Mother Mary, and I have experienced their intercession in my life more times than I can count. The Bible is a living text, directly inspired by God, and I have been a witness to its truth. Wait, you don’t need me to tell you these things. You read publications like this one because you already know all this — because you are a believer.

As believers though, are we complete in our relationships with God simply because we know He exists? I can’t speak for the lot of us. However, based on experience, there are a few epiphanies I can share regarding what it is we — as youth — lack in our relationships with Him.