Last night in 2013 host city Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the winning design in the official logo contest was revealed - the fruit of a young man's faith and prayer.

Gustavo Huguenin, a 25 year-old graphic designer from Cantagalo just outside Rio, said it was an "attitude of faith" that led him to enter the competition, and "by the grace of God" that his logo was chosen.

The image will now be used all over the world in preparation for next year's gathering with the Holy Father, and feature prominently at the event itself.  It reflects the theme "Go, make disciples of all nations" (Matt. 28:19).

Read Gustavo's inspiring story here and see below for a close up and explanation of his design.

This Saturday, 28th January, is the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas.

St. Thomas is patron saint of students and a powerful intercessor.

Across the Archdiocese at this time, many young people are preparing for and sitting prelim exams. They need your prayers, and those of St. Thomas! Please pray for them through his intercession in the coming days, and remember them especially on Saturday, his feast day.

St. Thomas Aquinas, pray for us!

Photo credit: Praying Hands by Flickr user joethorn, shared under Creative Commons licence.

Young people from the Archdiocese of Glasgow pilgrimage group relaxing at World Youth Day 2011

The Youth Pastoral Team invites you to consider especially how you do this for the young people in your family and parish.  All of us need encouragement, need to be welcomed anew by others into the spaces which are our homes and parishes: young people are no different.  All of us need to be challenged, need opportunities to grow in our Faith and share it with others: young people are no different.  All of us are called to serve God and one another, discover our vocation and live it out with fidelity to the Gospel: young people are no different.  When others, especially young people, are missing, we all lose out.

If today your light is dimmed, your cloths torn, your bonds of communion incomplete or strained, take the opportunity that Advent offers to prepare a way not only for the Lord, but for the young people in your family and parish.  Prepare a way – to be surprised, enlivened, challenged, enriched, by the giftedness of young people around you.  Ask yourself, and ask them, “how can I make you welcome?”  Sometimes all it takes is a smile, an invitation, or a word of encouragement, for young people to be more present with us.

The Youth Pastoral Team is currently engaged in a period of consultation with the whole Archdiocese as to how we do this best, in order to plan effectively for the future of pastoral care of young people through diocesan initiatives.  We ourselves have received much encouragement from parishes, schools, and young people alike as we travel around, hearing of their efforts to be more welcoming and open to each other.  It is our task to collate these responses and reflect on our specific mission in service to the Archdiocese.

We ask that as you contribute to this discussion you also take the opportunity during Advent to reflect on the welcome you offer as an individual and as a parish.  Call out again to prepare a way in the wilderness!  Laying cloths of prayer and openness to one another we can offer the Lord a warm cradle in which to lay His head this Christmas.

[This article also appears in the Archdiocesan booklet "Journey through Advent", available from your parish!]

[Photo credit: Paul McSherry]

Four young adults from the 2011 World Youth Day pilgrimage group represented the Archdiocese of Glasgow at this year's National Youth Event organised by Catholic Youth Service Scotland, which took place at the start of November.

One participant, Martin Ramage, reports back about his experience:

Having never been to the National Youth Event, I approached it with a sense of excitement and anticipation. Despite my initial scepticism about making the journey to the remote location of Gartmore in Stirlingshire, on arrival I found Gartmore House, the 18th Century country mansion-cum-conference centre, to be the perfect setting for a short break centred on peaceful prayer and reflection.

The theme for this year’s event was ‘Finding Life’s Purpose’, and after sitting down to a sumptuous three course dinner, we listened to the first of a series of speakers at the event, Father Alex Davie, who reflected on his (often colourful) path to the priesthood. This was followed by a general knowledge quiz which turned out to be a fun and relaxed way of socialising. The evening ended with Eucharistic Adoration and Night Prayer in one of the most comfortable and hospitable rooms in the conference centre.

At daybreak the next morning, we were able to appreciate the breathtaking scenery of the grounds, before heading downstairs for breakfast and Morning Prayer. We then listened to the biographic presentations of a vocations panel comprised of six Catholics from different walks of life, after which Cardinal O’Brien, the Episcopal President of CYSS, addressed the gathering, challenging us to further ponder in our hearts God’s vocation for us. Lunch was preceded by a time for reflection, both individual and group, and a group activity on what it means to be a Catholic in the 21st Century. After lunch, the final Mass was concelebrated by Cardinal O’Brien and several priests with the assistance of some deacons.

In conclusion, I would describe the National Youth Event as memorable and spiritually-nourishing, the highlight being meeting other young Catholics from around the country. My only regret is that it ended so soon!

Find out more about Catholic Youth Service Scotland at www.cyss.org.uk.

Archbishop Conti is meeting with all WYD 2011 pilgrims this Friday, 14th October, at 7.30pm at the Youth Pastoral Centre.  If you were there, in the Archdiocesan group or another, you're very welcome to this special event.  Let's come together and share our experiences of being in Madrid with the Holy Father!

On this day last year Pope Benedict led 80,000 people - among them many young people - in silent adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in Hyde Park, London. It was one of the most powerful moments of the Papal Visit and one which the Pope has said touched him deeply.

All this week on Facebook, in addition to recalling the Holy Father's time in the UK in 2010, we've been marking Vocations Awareness Week. Each of us has a vocation, a call from God. Some would say it's "the dream God has written on your heart".

www.priestsforscotland.org.uk exists to help you hear and respond to that call, with tools to aid your discernment. Lay apostolate, marriage, Religious life, or priesthood, Priests for Scotland (despite the name!) is the place to find out more.

Ask those who know you best: "What could I be called to?" Visit the Blessed Sacrament in the coming week and listen for the voice of the One who created you, who has written that dream. After all, as Pope Benedict told us, "our hearts are made for love!"