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In June, left his nine-year posting as archbishop of Halifax to move to the nation鱿鱼视频app capital. He said one of the biggest differences between the two archdioceses is the population of Catholics; Ottawa has a much larger and more linguistically diverse Catholic base.

鈥淚鈥檓 interacting with a lot of different types of parishes and youth groups,鈥� said Prendergast. 鈥淚 find there鱿鱼视频app a lot of energy here, as there is in Halifax.鈥�

Another difference Prendergast cites is the Catholic school system, which is not government-funded in Nova Scotia.

鈥淲e have a treasure here in Ontario in the Catholic schools,鈥� he said, adding that he believes it gives youth a better-informed background in regards to their faith.

Prendergast looks forward to becoming more involved with the youth of Ottawa.

鈥淪o far I鈥檝e been quite impressed with the young people here and their involvement in the church. From what I hear, the young people are very much a part of the life of the diocese.鈥�

The archbishop sits on the board of Catholic Christian Outreach and is president of the National Evangelization Team. He also organized Steubenville Atlantic in 2007 at St. Francis Xavier University after attending a Steubenville East conference in the United States.

Although he said the response for Steubenville Atlantic was positive, he will wait before pursuing similar action in Ottawa.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to say because something was good for Halifax, it鱿鱼视频app going to be good for Ottawa. I don鈥檛 want to force people to accept something I鈥檝e had positive experiences with in the past,鈥� he said.

His main goal for the Catholic youth of Ottawa is to encourage a greater sense of vocation.

鈥淓ach person has a call from God to serve in some way. I think today we really have to emphasize the call to marriage. I think we have to recognize the beauty of Christian marriage.鈥�

Prendergast considers youth ministry to be one of the central aspects of his job.

鈥淭he church has given a preferential option for the young because young people were feeling distanced from the church,鈥� said Prendergast. 鈥淚 think we鈥檝e bent over backwards to make them feel welcome. I think we鈥檝e recognized the importance of youth ministry. I think the church is always trying to provide what the young people need.鈥�

Prendergast said he is interested in focusing on youth not as the future of the church, but as the present of the church. He believes they have much to give and to receive from the church community.

Society has changed the role of the church in the lives of young people, he said. He sees young people who feel mocked or shunned for being religious because society promotes religion only in a private way.

鈥淚f we have a religion that鱿鱼视频app only personal and not social, it鱿鱼视频app a stunted religious practise,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ur freedom is not to be free of religion, it鱿鱼视频app the freedom to practise religion. It鱿鱼视频app something that enriches society.

鈥淚 think even with our limitations and challenges, the church has a great future.鈥�

(Baker, 18, is a journalism student at Carleton University in Ottawa.)