A Message on the Occasion of World Youth Day 2002: Savour Your Faith! Light Up the World!

Tuesday, February 12 2002

(Ottawa – CCCB)… The Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF) has dedicated its annual message this year to young people to mark World Youth Day 2002 in Canada. Inspired by the WYD 2002 theme, taken from the Gospel according to St. Matthew, COLF invites all young people to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world: “To be salt of the earth is to believe that with God, no mission is impossible, that through your life God is saving our world. To be the light of the world means holding high the flame of our loving God’s promises, believing that you can light up the world.”

The message “Savour Your Faith! Light Up the World!” was created in collaboration with youth for youth. “We wanted to underline how precious they are in the eyes of God and how essential they are to the Church and to the world,” said Diane Dupras and Jennifer Leddy, co-directors of COLF.

COLF hopes this reflection will help all youth and those who accompany them in their faith as well as those still young at heart and in spirit: “As Church, brothers and sisters, may we together become the salt of the earth and light of the world!”

Copies of the message, available in English and French, can be obtained from the COLF secretariat by telephoning (613) 241-9461, extension 230, or by email at ocvfcolf@cccb.ca. A donation to cover the printing costs would be appreciated.

The Catholic Organization for Life and Family is a joint project of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Knights of Columbus.  It promotes respect for human life and dignity and the essential role of the family. World Youth Day 2002 will bring together in Toronto, from July 23-28, hundreds of thousands of young people from more than 150 countries. Its goal is to give young people a chance to meet and celebrate their common faith in Jesus Christ.