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Last Updated: Friday - 09/24/2010
Week of May 20, 2002
In Camrose, new friends discuss their faith
By RENATO GANDIA
WCR Staff Writer
Camrose
In between prayer meetings, Life in the Spirit Seminar and other spiritual preparations for the coming World Youth Day in Toronto, the 28 young people of St. Francis Xavier Parish are busy raising funds to pay for their trip.
They've had a bake sale, garage sale, spaghetti dinner, raffles - done just about anything they can to generate money.
Raising money is just the icing on the cake. It's the spiritual preparations that have really impacted their lives.
"Through our spiritual preparations I have grown spiritually," said Beckie Kuefler. "This is the first time that I have had Catholic friends with whom I can talk about my questions and I can talk about my faith and spirituality."
"I think by the time we go to the WYD, we'll be really prepared and ready to see and meet the pope. We're making wonderful friendships with each other and with the people in our Church."
"This is the first time that I have had Catholic friends with whom I can talk about my questions and I can talk about my faith and spirituality."- Beckie Kuefler |
Tess Deleeuw agreed, saying, "There's a lot of adrenaline."
For this 19-year-old the preparation for her pilgrimage is like going through a spiritual cleansing. "The experience of having people around you and just supporting you with what you believe helps you grow a lot. You learn a lot about yourself."
Knowing everyone is preparing to go for the same reason of experiencing Christ makes her think when she gets there she will feel the energy - be overwhelmed.
"It's gonna be a blast."
Meeting others is also appealing to 17-year-old Charles Ames. "I think it will be an awesome opportunity just to get a sense of what the attitude of youth is not just in Alberta, not just in Canada, but everywhere in the world. It will be interesting to meet people from everywhere that are interested in spiritual realities of life."
Delegate Lucian Schulte wants to see the pope. But he also thinks the catechetical events will teach him a lot about his faith.
"My expectation is that I will meet a lot of young people who want to go there to feel and to be with Christ."
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