At first, I didn’t believe it when I said “Jesus, I trust in You,” but I desired to trust in Him. All I had left within me was a desire to grow closer to Him. Watching Sunday Mass online made me miss going, something which I had only tolerated in the previous months.

Now don’t run away. I know sharing your greatest struggle is scary but hear me out for a second. Before you say no and run, let’s think about why you share your story. You don’t share it for you, you share to help someone suffering.

Habits use a different part of the brain than making decisions. Therefore, when you begin, it is not a choice, but once it is recognized, you can choose to quit it at that moment. Sometimes what will help is simply asking a friend if you do it all the time.

Even though not everyone truly respects the core message of it being about Christ’s birth, most still hold themselves to a higher standard of being generous and more virtuous than usual. But what about Easter?

COVID is a disease that has led our present-day world into a pandemic. It has changed all of our lives in so many ways that have not really left a positive outlook on what is to come, and now people are losing sight of hope.

Many people bash on the inconvenience of the Covid-19 pandemic, and while I can agree with most of it, I would have to say that there are some good things that this virus caused.

I had to come to an understanding that I couldn’t overcome this alone. I needed Jesus so badly. I came to him with all my struggles. I’d always pray to God to free me. He knew I was weak. I could never have done it without him.

But what about when we put the phone away, we get home from the late night party, or get off that high? Loneliness, despair, isolation... the list goes on.

In which do we have faith: emotions or trust? Are we secure in our lives through the way we feel and interpret interactions, or do we find security through our trust in others?

My parents thought that this would be the best way to receive my faith formation; but in reality, it destroyed it. I was taught textbook religion. Things were forced on me in a way that just drew me further and further away through the years.

So many youth feel like they have no one to talk to about their problems; they feel like no one cares about them. We try to combat that through dynamic and relevant encounters with youth.

Home is a four-letter word that people either regard with fond memories and can’t wait to visit or view as a foreign land of which they were once a part. For me, it’s the latter…

A good takeaway that I learned, which maybe you can use as well, was to take a step back and watch what the people around me were saying, and observe if it was creating bonds or creating divides between them.

No matter if your Dad is at home or not. No matter if you get along with him or not. It is true. You have a Father in Heaven who loves you and wants to know you.

Ok, I’ll admit that nothing does quite motivate me like an inspiring and selfless figure, especially if said figure is from a book, tv show, or a movie. More often than not, superheroes usually take that spot as being an encouragement in my life.

we prayed that God would give us superpowers! I literally remember having a piece of paper with me that had the details of when we wanted the powers, what powers we wanted, and what our other capabilities were.

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, a personal favorite, was a kind, generous, athletic, adventurous, active, handsome guy who loved the outdoors…. was often seen giving all He had away to those with less. He wasn’t a great student but he studied hard, and loved politics, and was a funny extrovert who was always the life of the party. This video on him is under 2 minutes!

"Fairy tales are more than true - not because they tell us dragons exist, but because they tell us dragons can be beaten."

So Shockwave had to find something to focus on to remind himself why he shouldn’t let his anger take control of him. I made it be that he wanted to protect the innocent, his family

Leading by example is best done when you are living a virtuous life. If you lead others by your virtues not only will your virtue become stronger but those around you will be able to grow in their virtue as well.