Ottawa to host next Youth Summit

QUEBEC CITY - The Youth Summit, a rally started in Quebec City in 2005 to prepare for the International Eucharistic Congress last year, will take place for the first time in Ottawa next year.

Cardinal Marc Ouellet was to make the announcement during the conclusion of this year’s rally May 18.

Catholic youth in Quebec had requested that the Youth Summit continue as an event to not only draw youth to the Eucharist but empower them in the various aspects of evangelization such as social justice outreach, faith outreach and prayer.

“Ottawa is a good choice because besides being the nation’s capital, it is a bilingual diocese,” Ottawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, S.J., told The Catholic Register.

“Also, here we have the headquarters of Catholic Christian Outreach and N.E.T. Ministries and recently Famille Marie-Jeunesse has volunteered to help organize activities here.”

Young missionaries with CCO, N.E.T. and FMJ played an active role in Quebec’s previous Youth Summits.

Prendergast was present in Quebec City for this year’s events with a group of Ottawa youth to receive the Ark of the New Covenant.

“We will use it in the neighbouring dioceses to stir interest,” he said.

The Ottawa Youth Summit will be held in May 2010.