• Life & its Seasons

Youth

Youth in the Catholich Church

Youth

Jesus invites you, and all young people, to experience life to the fullest. Youth is a time of self-discovery and for spreading your wings. Yes, you will undergo big changes and face important challenges, but it’s also a time of awesome possibilities. Why not open up; come, meet Jesus and discover incredible happiness.

A wonderful adventure!

 

“To be young is already in itself a special and specific treasure for every young man and young woman. This treasure consists, among other things, in the fact that yours is an age of many important discoveries. Each one of you discovers him or herself, his or her personality, the meaning for him or for her of existence, the reality of good and evil. You also discover the whole world around you - the human world and the world of nature. Now, among these many discoveries there must not be lacking one that is of fundamental importance for every human being: the personal discovery of Jesus Christ. Discovering Christ, always again and always more fully, is the most wonderful adventure of our life.” (Saint John Paul II, 1989)

 

Who is Jesus Christ?

 

 

Who am I?

We are all sons and daughters of God; created out of love and to love.

 

“We are all sons and daughters. And this always brings us back to the fact that we did not give ourselves life but that we received it.” (Pope Francis, Amoris Laetitia, 2017)

 

For whom am I ?

Our source defines who we are called to be. In and through his Son, Jesus, God is inviting you to an abundant life.

 

“You can keep asking, “Who am I?” for the rest of your lives.  But the real question is: “For whom am I?” For whom, for what person, am I”, here and now? [...] it is a question that has to be asked, but first you have to ask why: why you do something, something for your entire life, something that makes you think, makes you feel, makes you work.” (Pope Francis, 2017)

 

Learn more:

Would you like to learn more about Catholicism?
Are you interested in deepening your relationship with Christ?
Want to meet other young people like you?

You are made for love

 

"For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18, 20)

 

"A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so also you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another." (John 13: 34-35)

 

From the very beginning, we were not meant to be alone. We are social creatures. Community is essential for our lives and for the development of our potential.

Family

 

“The future of the world and of the Church, therefore, passes through the family." (John Paul II, 1986)

 

Family is the cradle of life and love, the foundation of society. It is here, our first community, where we first discover who we are.

Friends

 

“A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter: he that has found one has found a treasure.” (Sirach 6:14)



Friends are family that we choose for ourselves. Friends share similar values, interests and experience unique milestones together.

Love & Relationships

Youth is a time of heartbreaks and of great loves.
As we explore our vocation (mission) to love, we may find ourselves drawn to a particular path.

Discover yours:

Vocations
Celibacy
Marriage

 

"Nothing is more practical than finding God, than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, whom you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything." (Fr. Pedro Arrupe, S.j.)


Sincere gift of self

Community is essential to our survival and our self-discovery. Loving others, our neighbours, is not only a way to live out our calling to love but a way for us to encounter God.

Whether at home, at school, at work or at church, our primary vocation (mission or purpose) is to love God and to love his people.

 

“Man cannot fully find himself except through a sincere gift of himself.” (Saint John Paul II, Gaudium et spes)

 

 

"The Church needs you, your enthusiasm, your creativity and the joy that is so characteristic of you." (Pope Francis, 2013)

 

In you and through you is the potential to change the world! Through your words and your actions, you can be instruments of faith, hope and love!

You are the future

 

"You are the men and women of tomorrow. The future is in your hearts and in your hands. God has entrusted you with the task, at once difficult and uplifting, of working with him in the building of the civilization of love." (Saint John Paul II, Toronto 2002)

 

You are the present

Simply being a Christian on Sundays is not enough. You are called to be saints in the everyday, ordinary circumstances of your life! God wants you to not only dream about improving tomorrow but to make a difference today.

 

“Everyday life is the true setting for your lives as Christians. Your ordinary contact with God takes place where your fellow men, your yearnings, your work and your affections are. There you have your daily encounter with Christ. It is in the midst of the most material things of the earth that we must sanctify ourselves, serving God and all mankind [...] God is calling you to serve Him in and from the ordinary, material and secular activities of human life. He waits for us every day, in the laboratory, in the operating theatre, in the army barracks, in the university chair, in the factory, in the workshop, in the fields, in the home and in all the immense panorama of work. Understand this well: there is something holy, something divine, hidden in the most ordinary situations, and it is up to each one of you to discover it." (Saint Josemaria Escriva, conversations, 113-114)

 

There is something for everyone!

Our city is rich in multicultural, multilingual Catholic communities from all corners of the world. Each adds their own flavour to our beautiful local Church. There are many ways to get involved!

Youth Ministry

What is youth ministry?

In a nutshell, youth ministry places young people at the forefront of the life and mission of the Church so that through Jesus Christ and the Gospel, they may be empowered to discover, realize and share their full potential to actively enrich their communities.

Developping & Strengthing Youth & Young Adult Ministry

We provide support, vision and training to parishes, communities, groups and movements. This support takes the form of coordination, consultation, advice, listening, training, local teams and opportunities for networking and sharing of resources.

 

Discover:

Find my parish/church

Youth Ministry (Mission Jeunesse): Experiences, events, and formation

 

Resources:

Volunteering

Resources and community organizations

Jobs

What is World Youth Day?

World Youth Day (WYD) is a worldwide encounter with the Pope that is typically celebrated every three years in a different country. It is open to all young adults who want to take part with their peers in a festive encounter that is focused on Jesus Christ.

This event is an opportunity to experience the universality of the Catholic Church and a unique way to deepen your faith and grow closer to Christ alongside thousands of young people from all over the world.

Why make a personal pilgrimage?

A pilgrimage is an amazing opportunity for people to take time out of their ordinary lives to focus on what’s most important - their faith, their lives, and the community around them.

At various moments throughout the pilgrimage, WYD pilgrims will have time to pray (alone or in a group), to be renewed, to learn and to reflect together with keynote speakers, catechists and artists of every kind.

The World Youth Day pilgrimage is also a unique chance to connect with as well as form lifelong friendships with youth from around the world.

Participating in WYD is truly an experience that can change your life. Come, we’re waiting for you.

Panama 2019

The Archdiocese of Montreal is organizing a pilgrimage to Panama for World Youth Day 2019 for young adults (18 to 35 years old).
Join us for this memorable experience!

Everything you need to know about the 2019 WYD in Panama