Father Melvin Doucette
Palmer Road North, R.R. 2,
Tignish, Prince Edward Island C0B 2B0 Canada
Thursday, 09 May 2002
LET US PRAY FOR OUR YOUTH
Dear Paul, Rita and Friends,
Greetings on this beautiful sunny day. The grass is turning greener every day and the buds are growing on the trees. Nature is waking up and soon the leaves and the flowers will be out. I was at the prayer meeting last evening and a good group came. We thanked the Lord for sending us His Holy Spirit on Sunday, as many were touched when they were prayed with on the 5th week of the seminar.
In prayer this morning, Jesus spoke to me saying:
"Melvin, my brother and friend, I love you. When I was on earth, I gave special attention to the young. I told the Apostles, 'Let the children come to me.' It is when they are young that they should come to know me, their friend. Children have no problem to believe and to pray. Instead of being told fairy tales and stories about Santa Claus and the Easter bunny, which have no truth in them, they should be told the true stories of Christmas and Easter. Parents especially should be very careful about these made up stories, so, as not to destroy the faith of their children later on. There is a great need of a youth association where they can meet together once a week to pray and to share together. At those gatherings they should learn something new that is meaningful for them. There should be music and the singing of hymns. There should always be a reading from the Bible and an explanation with questions. I will be present there in their midst. In this way they will grow in their love for me and they will receive graces to live in my presence every day. Without such groups, many of the youth will fall away having been swallowed up by the ways of the world. Pray daily for our youth. I bless you all."
It is very important for our youth to have Jesus in their lives. There are so many attractions for them in today's world and not all of these are good. They need to have a guide, a friend, and that person is Jesus. Youth need to be together and share among themselves. Jesus calls us to begin youth groups in our parishes. They should be centered around Jesus and the Bible, especially the Gospels should play an important part in those group meetings. Let us pray that the Lord will move many to begin these groups in the name of Jesus. I will work today to prepare my talks for the weekend retreat in Connecticut. May the Lord bless us with His peace and joy.
Father Melvin
TEL: (902) 882-2004
E-MAIL: melvin.doucette@pei.sympatico.ca