St. Francis Youth Group

I pray that the JOY of the Resurrection and the peace of Jesus Christ Our Lord and Savior is with you and your family as we continue this Easter Season!

 Yesterday, April 29th, was the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. A day to pray that both the young and the old of the world would still their hearts in order to hear that special way in which God is calling them. Marriage, Priesthood, Religious sister or brother, or consecrated single...our hearts and lives were made for a purpose...let's listen! God knows us better than we know ourselves!

On this day, Pope Benedict has a special message for all young people.

 The Holy Father asked people to pray "that all young people may be attentive to the inner voice of God, which speaks to their hearts and calls them to abandon everything in order to serve Him". Addressing faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square for the Regina Coeli Benedict XVI affirmed that "the Lord calls always, but often we are not listening.

 "We are distracted by many things, by other more superficial voices", he added. "We are afraid to listen to the voice of the Lord because we believe it can detract from our freedom. The truth is that each of us is the fruit of love; the love of our parents, of course, but also and more profoundly the love of God. ... When we become aware of this our lives change; they become a response to that love which is greater than any other, and thus our freedom is fully realised".

April 29th was also the Feast Day of Saint Catherine of Siena. Here is a quote from her regarding our call from God:

"If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world on fire.
Let the Truth be your delight...proclaim it...but with a certain congeniality"

Be holy!