National Evangelization Team Ministries of Canada (NET) has been leading teens closer to Christ over the past 12 years by giving retreats and setting up parish-based youth ministry programs. This year, there are seven English-speaking teams made up of  50 to 80 young people.

Since August, volunteers have been translating the program text into French. In French, NET stands for Nouvelle Évangélisation sur le Terrain.

“Many churches have requested French retreats, but the word needs to be spread about us. Most people only know us as an Anglo ministry,” said Lizanne Tourigny, the French NET co-ordinator.

“Unlike most French parishes in Ottawa, my church (Sainte Marie) attracts many young families through their Esprit-Jeunesse program,” said Julie Saumure, 23. “However, this program doesn’t work for everyone. NET could reach out to those (other) people.”

“Having experienced some of NET’s youth Masses at Divine Infant parish and seeing how they reach out and encourage the youth, I’m positive that the bilingual NET team could reach dozens at my parish,” added Hélène Dacquay, 19, also a parishioner at Sainte Marie. “A bilingual NET team could revive the youth in my parish through their warm welcome, inspiring music and true witness of God’s love.”

The new bilingual teams will be sent to Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes, wherever a French NET team is needed.

“We’ve been given permission to go into high schools of the Ontario French Catholic school board,” said Tourigny.

NET Ministries is still looking for six men and six women between 18 and 30 years of age who are interested in evangelizing the French youth of Canada.

(Du Broy, 19, studies journalism at the University of Ottawa.)