These various dimensions are crystalized in the annual Friars Writing Contest.

This long-standing tradition in the Archdiocese of Toronto is part of the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations organizes and promotes this event in the Catholic high schools in partnership the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement and The Catholic Register. Students are encouraged to explore a focus question that expresses the theme of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Many schools incorporate this initiative into their religion curriculum.

Advertisement

From this year’s theme, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling” (Ephesians 4:4), students were invited to reflect and describe how you are growing in knowledge of Christ and how it inspires and shapes their thoughts, relationships and outreach. 

From the many fine submissions received, three remarkable essays surfaced as finalists. They were not only well written but also creative in employing evocative images and symbols that explore the gift and task of Christian unity willed by Jesus for the Church. Above all, they give personal testimony to the students’ living and growing faith.  

The first place essay was submitted by Robert Rodriguez of Cardinal Ledger Catholic Secondary School in Brampton, Ont. Second went to Emily Rocillo of St. Brother André Catholic High School in Markham, while Daniela Meglio of Aurora’s St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic High School took third. Rodriguez’s essay is published this week, with Rocillo and Meglio’s to follow.

It is edifying to read how our Catholic faith received through the ages is being passed on and flourishing among our youth by parents, friends, pastors and educators.

An awards ceremony to honour the accomplishment of these students is planned for Feb. 22 at the conclusion of the 11 a.m. Mass at St. Mary’s Church in Brampton.

(Melo is director of the Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations.)

Planks of one bridge

By Robert Rodriguez 

I watched a child at Mass press his forehead to the pew and whisper the same prayer three times — each whisper smaller than the last, as if faith itself were learning to breathe. In that small, ordinary act I heard Paul’s summons in Ephesians 4:13 not as distant doctrine but as a summons to communal becoming: gifts given “for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.” 

The Christian life, I have come to see, is less a solo pilgrimage and more a bridge built plank by plank, where each gift and each person is essential to the crossing.

My knowledge of Christ deepens through three simple, sacramental rhythms: prayer, Scripture and the Eucharist. Prayer taught me dependence; Scripture taught me truth; the Eucharist taught me presence. That trinity of practice does not merely instruct my mind, it re-sculpts it. In Scripture I find Christ’s logic: mercy that chooses the lost, truth that pierces hypocrisy and patience that bears wounds without counting debt. In prayer I learn to empty myself of certainty and cling to Him who is certain. In the Eucharist His body becomes my nourishment and my map, feeding a life that must be poured out. Knowledge of Christ, then, is not information to hoard but formation to be lived; it shapes desires, re-orders priorities and consecrates ordinary choices.

This interior formation reshapes my thoughts. Where ambition once measured my worth, I now return to a question Jesus taught me by His life: Does this choice build up the Body? In the classroom, leadership and friendship I try to let that question be the compass. Relationships change when Christ’s knowledge becomes operative: I listen to anger as a cry for belonging; I see stubbornness as fear seeking welcome. Gentleness becomes a discipline, humility a deliberate practice. In conflict I strive to mirror Christ’s patience — bearing the friction as a forge, not a blade.

Outreach, for me, has become the outward architecture of this inward knowledge. Small acts — tutoring a struggling classmate, organizing a meal for others, standing beside someone who is shamed — are not peripheral; they are structural. Paul’s image of gifts “for building up” means that patience, teaching, hospitality and courage are bricks in the same wall. Catholic faith gives this work sacramental dignity: service is worship,and the Church’s many charisms (spiritual gifts) cohere into a unity that reveals Christ’s full stature. Maturity, therefore, is not uniformity but communion: many members growing into one measure, each gift preserving difference while contributing to wholeness. It is a choir of many distinct voices, singing one song in perfect harmony — it is planks of every shape and grain, fastened together to bear us across one bridge.

To stand out in a world of slogans and quick fixes, the Church calls us to deeper things: steady discipline, patient mercy, courageous truth-telling. Knowledge of Christ summons us from private consolation into public compassion. It refines intellects that can defend truth with charity and forms hearts that can forgive without forgetting. The journey toward the “measure of the full stature of Christ” is long and often hidden — marked by repeated failures, humble recommitments and quiet consolations — but it is a pilgrimage of hope. Each humble gift used for others bends the arc of isolated lives toward unity; each act of service, each forgiven offense, lays another plank across the divide.

If the Body of Christ is to reach its full stature, then my small faith must become communal faith; my private knowledge, shared knowledge; my lone plank, part of a bridge. In that hopeful work — teaching, listening, serving — I find the truest measure of growth.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you who stooped to wash feet and rose to fill Heaven, kindle in us a knowledge that transforms. Make our minds sound in truth, our hearts patient in love and our hands quick to serve. Unite our gifts into one Body; teach us to reach the lost not as projects but as friends. Bend our will to your mercy until we, together, attain the full stature of your glory. Amen.

Advertisement

(Rodriguez attends Cardinal Léger Secondary School in Brampton, Ont.)

‘Little Christs’: the Christian call to imitate Jesus

By Emily Rocillo

In St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he beckons us to “come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.” He emphasizes the power of an understanding of Christ being greater than any advanced education. My own efforts to explore the Mystery of Christ have pushed me to grow in my relationship with the traditions and fellowship found in the Mass, in maturity of thought inspired by Sacred Scripture and in purposeful outreach through the companionship of fellow Catholics.

A profound way that knowledge of Christ has transformed my relationships is through the celebration of the Mass. Not too long ago I was a passive Catholic, missing out entirely on the value of sacramental tradition as well as congregational fellowship. When frustration with my spiritual stagnation drove me to deeper searching, my eyes were opened to the wisdom and guidance to be experienced in the pinnacle of our faith: the Mass. The profound truth of Christ’s True Presence transformed my relationship with sacred tradition, uniting me closer with my fellow parishioners through shared love of the liturgy.

When excessive preoccupation with the world’s expectations of me stirs up inner turbulence, I weather these storms by allowing my conscience to be grounded instead in God’s reassurances and commandments in Sacred Scripture. Studying the Bible of my own volition has played a significant part in my mental maturity; now, before losing my inner peace to life’s incessant demands, I consider first how Christ is inviting me in that moment to imitate Himself. Knowledge of Christ’s exemplary life in the Gospels has been for me a lighthouse beacon, correcting my direction with its light.

So much of the wisdom that Jesus has imparted to me has been delivered through other Catholics. It was while volunteering at my parish’s youth group program that I was unexpectedly met with incredibly warm welcomes and encouragement. What was initially a need for volunteer hours soon became a sincere sense of purpose. In guiding these kids towards deeper knowledge of Christ, I was in return inspired by the faith and selflessness of the program’s leaders. Through these individuals, Christ planted in me a desire to reach out and bring others into the Church community.

In a world that mistakes maturity for mere expression of one’s cognitive development, St. Paul’s writings on maturity coming from knowledge of Christ can seem counter-intuitive. However, it has repeatedly proven true in my personal life. Finding Christ in the Mass, in Bible study and in interactions with inspiring Catholics, I have gained new maturity in relationships, thoughts and actions. With renewed purpose in Christ, I now pray:

Christ Jesus, Shepherd of the lost, make us to be like You;
A good Samaritan to all with actions good and true.
Teach us, Lord, to reach out our hands to the lonely and hurt
The way You did so selflessly when You did walk this Earth.

(Rocillo is a student at St. Brother Andre Catholic High School in Markham, Ont.)

God is always near, listening, guiding me

By Daniela Meglio 

Growing in knowledge of Christ means learning how His presence fits into my own life in a real and personal way. 

There is a common misconception that being close to God requires perfection, that it means covering up who you are, never making mistakes and never falling short. For me, growing in my knowledge of Christ means recognizing where He already shines through my life and identifying where I can better align my actions with the plan He has for me. It is about becoming more aware of His guidance and allowing myself to grow, rather than feeling pressure to already be complete. This understanding connects me deeply to the words of Ephesians 4:13, which emphasize maturity in faith and the importance of becoming fully who Christ calls us to be.

Over the past few years, my connection to God and His plan for me has grown significantly. After losing both my grandma and my nonno, I struggled deeply with grief and was unable to accept that they were truly gone. On difficult nights, I would imagine them sitting with me or holding my hand, and those moments brought me comfort. Eventually, these thoughts led me toward God. I began imagining Jesus and God present with me as well, and for the first time, I no longer felt alone. As a very visual learner, this became a major stepping stone in my relationship with prayer. Imagining Jesus beside me helped me understand the closeness of God and the impact of my prayers. Through this, I learned that God is not distant, but always near, listening and guiding me.

I feel closest to Jesus when I do good for others. Nothing strengthens my connection to my faith more than beginning my day with positive affirmations and intentionally sharing kindness. I feel Jesus holding my heart when I help an elderly man cross the street, when I smile at a baby, or when I sit with patients during my hospital co-op placement. To me, the quote from Ephesians reminds me to recognize the gifts I have been given and to use them every day. It encourages me to be myself and to share the talents God has placed in my life. I express this by sharing my love for beauty, such as braiding my patients’ hair at the hospital, or by offering small pieces of my own experiences to bring comfort and light into the lives of others. In doing so, I strive to share Christ’s light.

I continue to grow in my knowledge of Jesus through my Confirmation and Communion classes, weekly Mass and daily religion classes at school. Learning about Christ has changed the way I make decisions because it brings me peace knowing that I am never alone. Priests often remind us during Mass that Jesus is always with us, and I truly feel that presence. I feel more confident in my choices because I trust that Christ guides my thoughts, words and actions, always pointing me in the right direction. Although I have struggled in my faith, especially as someone interested in science and evidence-based thinking, I have learned to look beyond what has already been written and trust in what God has yet to write for me. 

Being forced to attend church alone became one of the most important moments in my faith journey. What first felt isolating slowly revealed a new perspective; I was never truly alone. I came to understand that God was sitting beside me the entire time, that my seat had been saved long before I arrived and that He had been patiently waiting for me.

My faith influences how I treat those around me because I believe love is something I can offer endlessly. I make it a habit to write down words and quotes from Sunday Mass and share them with others. Knowing how deeply I believe in God, I understand how important it is to uplift those around me and remind them that God is present in their lives as well. Through Christ, I have learned patience and unconditional love. A moment that truly reflects this was when I worked with a four-year-old child with autism who was acting aggressively out of frustration. Instead of removing the child or reacting negatively, I chose to hug and comfort them. This choice reflected how Jesus has always comforted me, allowing me to feel my emotions fully without judgment. Christ has taught me that love has no limits and that respect does not require conditions.

I strive to serve others by being flexible and understanding in their lives. Small acts, such as switching breaks with a coworker, may inconvenience me, but they can greatly impact someone else’s day. As a Christian, helping others is essential because we are called to live out our shared values and support one another in order to honour God’s vision. Jesus’ example inspires me to show up for others even when it is difficult, just as He showed up for me during my grief. As I continue my journey as a disciple, I hope to grow in kindness, service and faith. I aspire to become a loving, passionate and joyful person with God always by my side.

Prayer

Advertisement

Jesus, thank You for walking beside me in every moment of my life, especially when I feel lost or unsure. Help me continue to grow in faith and courage, trusting that You are guiding my steps even when I cannot see the path ahead. Teach me to love as You love, to serve without hesitation, and to reach out to those in need with compassion and humility. Give me the strength to show up for others as You have always shown up for me. Help us become true friends and disciples, spreading Your light through our words, actions and hearts. Amen.

(Meglio is a student at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic High School.)