Finding My Faith

Hi there, people say you don’t truly understand things unless you investigate and find out for yourself. That is how I found my Catholic faith.
I’m Jon Lord, and I have just started my second year of studying journalism at the University of Central Lancashire.
I was brought up into a Catholic background but only in the last couple of years has my faith truly meant something to me.
The experiences of prayer, forgiveness and bonding with other young people have all helped in changing me from a passive spectator in faith to someone overjoyed by God’s love and mercy for us all.
To know that you are part of God’s plan, a child before Him, fills me with delight and freedom.
It’s not easy being a young Catholic though. Most of my friends are non-Christian and it’s often difficult to talk to them about my faith. But my ‘suffering’ is nothing in comparison to the many Catholics all over the world who are persecuted and oppressed for their beliefs. That is what drives me on to share my faith and God’s good news. It’s a great challenge to share our faith with those who do not have the same beliefs. But it’s an opportunity to bear witness to our Lord and show His love through our actions.
English Martyrs church, in Poulton-le-Fylde, has really helped me belong to a community of faith; a feeling of unity that is so important.
I really treasure my faith now and find it an honour and privilege to serve God.

Thank God for what he has done for us

Being a young Catholic means the world to me, without my faith I think I would feel a bit lost, because it has brought so much to me.
God has placed me in such a loving and understanding family, also God has given me the chance to meet so many amazing friends, they’re my life; you mean so much to me, without you people in my life I would not be where I am today, the support you give me is much appreciated.
A whole part of life is growing up, so many challenges and opportunities have popped up for me, it’s been a bit up and down but my faith has been a big part, along side my family and friends pushing me along.
My mum always says “its your Sunday duties to thank God for what he has done for us, listen to your heart” this little saying keeps popping in my head when my mates used to say
“what is the point in it? just come out, ignore it, it’s nothing!”
Well it’s not nothing to me it’s a big part of me and with out it I would not be who and where I am today.
Going to Lourdes is a major link in my life, being with the youth section of Lancaster diocese looking after our youth and our VIP’s in Lourdes it’s so rewarding to help out, having the opportunity to go . It’s amazing, its such a laugh to meet with old friends and to have the opportunity to make new ones, to join in with the social life but also find peace to take time out of my life! Lourdes has helped me experience youth work which has directed me more to do work here at Castlerigg Manor our diocesan youth centre. I have been given the opportunity to stay another year and I love it, having such a laugh allowing young people, to learn in an informal environment about faith and everyday life and through this, it is helping me to find out who I am, I have found more confidence in my self and I know for a fact we are all apart of God’s family and he is always going to be there for us, you and me!