{mosimage}TORONTO - World Youth Day will start sooner for newlyweds David and Gillian Kantor than for most people.

{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.

{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. 

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

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.

{mosimage}BRAMPTON, Ont. - Ian McGillivray single-handedly became his high school’s recycling program after he noticed it didn’t have one.

{mosimage}As the archdiocese of Quebec prepares to host the International Eucharistic Congress in June young adults are volunteering their time to help make it happen.

{mosimage}CALGARY - Colette Martinez is the proud mother of baby girl Gemma, named after St. Gemma Galgani of Italy. Yet, the innocence and beauty that Martinez sees in the face of her newborn daughter is something that was abruptly taken away from her as a young girl.

{mosimage}TORONTO - The Office of Catholic Youth has extended early-bird registration for the local World Youth Day event until May 15.

SYDNEY, Australia - As I got up this morning, I realized that not only was I leaving tomorrow but I hadn't started packing. Earlier this week, I happened to tear a fairly big hole in my suitcase which had me debating whether or not to buy a new one. I thought I would be in trouble, but with the help of a luggage strap and duct tape, I should be fine for the flight.