That all changed one day in 2001 when I picked up a bulletin from church which announced Pope John Paul II would be coming to Canada the following year. I went to the planning meeting at my local church and I decided to embark on a faith journey that would culminate in my experience in Toronto. In preparation, I discovered a vibrant group of young Catholics. Together we shared our faith, prayed and attended Mass together, participated in prayer hikes and more. Jesus was surely in our midst.

Fast forward to July 2002. Gathered at Downsview Park, hundreds of thousands of young faith-filled people were professing their love for Christ, including dozens from my home province. I was filled with joy when the pope’s helicopter arrived and people chanted “We Love You, John Paul Two.” Subsequent World Youth Days in Germany and Australia were attended by a whole flock of young people from across Newfoundland and Labrador. As a fruit of our experiences with the pope, youth gatherings in the province have multiplied.

For several years now I have been attending Liguori Circle, a monthly meeting for Catholics aged 18 to 30 held at St. Theresa’s parish here in St. John’s. Led by two Redemptorist priests we discuss topics including the sacraments, doctrines of the church and saints.

In the same time span, Catholic teens have had access to activities such as LifeTeen, which usually has a turnout of around 30 to 40 young people. These groups, attended in great numbers by students from the province’s only Catholic school, St. Bonaventure’s, start with a Mass geared toward teens, followed by a gathering that might involve prayer, skits, Bible study, social outreach, religious discussion and other faith-related topics.

A group of Catholics under 30, some 20 to 30 people at a time, will often attend daily Mass, pray the rosary together, go to Confession, participate in prayer hikes and meet for social events. The group is very supportive and friendships go beyond religious events. Our close-knit community often meets at local restaurants, watches movies together and helps each other where there is a need.

Catholic groups which did not exist in the past are growing substantially every year as young Catholics desire a closer relationship to Christ. I believe we are witnessing a renewal of the faith lives of young people and their enthusiasm is not skin deep. They want to grow closer to Christ and His church. I am very enthusiastic about what the future holds for Catholic youth in Newfoundland and Labrador.

(Lynch, 27, works in marketing and web site maintenance in St. John’s, Nfld.)