We hear from Matt
from Hertfordshire, aged 14

Likes?
Football, TV, computers, music

Dislikes?
Ballet and marmite

Listening to?
U2, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Muse

What helps your faith?
Discussing my faith with people my age

Top tips for Yfaith boys:
Just be yourself, and don’t worry what people think of you.

Remember, there are millions of other young Catholics and Christians your age, who face the same situations as you.

And our random fact about Matthew:
I had 4 ancestors in WWI and WWII

Wow, that’s some family history! Thanks for sharing Matt :-)

Aged 14+? Want to see your interview here? Download your application.

'You are my son whom I love; with you l am well pleased.'
(Gospel of Mark, chapter 1, verse 11)

Get Involved...

I was an altar server from the tender age of seven up until the age 18 and so I know what I’m talking about when I say that, for a young lad, it's a great way of getting involved with the mass and the church community.

One of the many advantages is that it helps get you actively involved in the mass because sometimes sitting in the congregation, not doing much, can be a bit boring.

But having a job to do, keeps you sharp and attentive. It also gives you a sense of purpose and belonging. When I look back on my years of serving, I don't remember being bored in mass and, I also found myself listening to scripture more.

As a regular server, people start to recognise you, and they identify you as a role model for other people your age. One of the great things that came from my time as a server was that people in my parish saw me as someone who gave of myself in aid of the Church and community. And so, when an opportunity came for me to go abroad on a pilgrimage with the catholic youth service and my diocese (if you ever get the chance to do this, I’d recommend it!), people in the parish were more than happy to support me in any way they could. So, it's definitely a two-way street.

It's really important, especially with something as big in our lives as faith, that you give a lot of yourself. At least you can give it a good go! It’s like most things in life; you get out what you put in. So, I highly recommend, getting involved with your parish community (and altar serving is a good way) as it makes the whole experience of going to mass and being part of a church community more enjoyable and rewarding.

By Brenden Thompson
(Find out more about Brenden)