Youth Speak News

When I was young, I did not clearly understand why every May, Vietnamese girls would dress in the traditional Vietnamese áo dài, hold bouquets of flowers and dance in front of the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary before Masses in May. 

Being a young Catholic often means straddling a line between being part of the secular world and embracing who you fundamentally are in the Divine Plan. 

After graduating high school, most people think they only have two options: college or university. But what about neither? 

Growing up, there wasn’t the option to not go to church. In our household, if you don’t go to church, you don’t get to celebrate Christmas or Easter, which are two pretty big holidays for a young kid.

As a young adult, Emma Lim had a lot of questions about her faith. But she didn’t have anyone to talk to. Now working as a psychotherapist, she confronts these questions with her clients every day. 

There was one important lesson my friends Matthew Remedios and Monika Cyfko learned while volunteering at our parish’s summer camp — youth need this kind of bonding and faith experience all year round.

On April 2, Pope Francis released his apostolic exhortation in response to the Synod on Young People last October. The YSN team carefully combed through the document and here are some of their reactions. 

The other day I was hypnotized in my Instagram Stories when I saw that a friend posted a meme. If you’re not in the generation familiar with memes, they’re generally a photo that’s been edited with words to add humour.

Michael Bocale doesn’t know if he’s going to walk the red carpet or meet any celebrities, but he’s excited nonetheless. 

Young people rediscovering sacred music, learning the beauty of the pipe organ and young women veiling for Mass.