Youth Speak News

The ways of promoting Christian unity have been controversial among several church communities. Although many believe that Christian unity is evident, in reality we are all separated into categories within our faith. The only way to truly promote Christian unity is through opening our ears and loosening our tongues. We must listen to one another, pray and help those in need in order to come together as one family in Christ.    

Do reserved people seem stuck-up to you? When some people avoid conversations, it’s easy to assume they are pretentious. However, that’s not always the case. Your peers may unjustifiably perceive you as arrogant without you knowing it.

OTTAWA - NET is turning into a bilingual ministry with a travelling bilingual team starting in September.

Editor’s Note: this is a runner up in the Friars’ Student Writing Awards sponsored by Franciscan Friars of the Atonement and The Catholic Register. Catherine Kirkpatrick, 14, is a Grade 9 student at St. Aloysius Gonzaga High School in Mississauga. The contest is held in conjunction with the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The Register  will publish all six winning essays.

Sometimes we find that we get so caught up with schoolwork, our hectic schedule and our heart’s desires that we often forget about, and close our hearts to, the suffering people are enduring all around us. So how can we, as Catholics, open our ears to the needs of others and loosen our tongues in order to promote Christian unity not only today, but for generations to come?

I hated catechism class as a child because I had to miss Saturday morning cartoons. But more than that I hated when catechism class ended because it meant I would have to wait. 

TORONTO - The Three Musketeers, Swiss Guards, medieval knights — members of the Heralds of the Gospel have heard it all. When they wear their scapular in public they can’t go anywhere without attracting attention. 

TORONTO - The rapping friar from the Bronx returns to Toronto to perform at the You Are the Light of the World Rally on Feb. 28 at the Ricoh Coliseum.

I could feel the undertow of the Pacific Ocean pull me further into the waters as I attempted to yell out to my friends for help and tried to catch a glimpse of someone on shore. I couldn’t help but ponder whether these moments would be my last. With barely time to say a prayer, I was being toppled over by huge waves which moved my body in every direction. Minutes later, as if by the hand of God, a wave pushed me close enough  to shore so that I could grasp hold of the ground again. A near-death experience was not how I expected my Peruvian mission trip to end.

Editor's Note: this is the second place winner of the Friars' Student Writing Award sponsored by Franciscan Friars of the Atonement and The Catholic Register. Gregory Drozdzal, 16, is a Grade 11 student at St. Michael's Choir School in Toronto. The contest is held in conjunction with the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Over the coming weeks, we will publish all six winning essays.

At Mass, I often listen to people as they say the Our Father and the Apostles' Creed, wondering whether they ever stop to think about what those words mean. It's funny how you can recite prayers without paying attention to the important words you say. Sometimes when saying repetitive prayers like the rosary, I find myself just going through the motions, either because I'm worried about school or just not focusing, so I stop myself and consciously reflect.