On October 20, during a Mass celebrated at Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal at the invitation of the youth group Renouveau Québec, Archbishop Christian Lépine of Montreal shared a message of faith and hope with those gathered. In his homily, he encouraged young people and adults alike to keep their eyes fixed on Jesus, persevere in prayer, and place their trust in God, even in the midst of life's challenges.

Renouveau du Québec: Young People United in Prayer

Founded by Cyril Azzi, Renouveau du Québec is a prayer movement that brings together a growing number of young adults with a shared mission: to pray for the renewal of faith in Quebec. Since the spring of 2026, participants have gathered weekly at Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal to pray the Rosary as part of a 1,000-day prayer initiative.

Having reached the milestone of their first 100 days in September, the movement continues to grow, strengthened by faith, perseverance, and a shared desire to deepen their spiritual lives together. This initiative reflects the commitment of young people who wish to spread hope and contribute to the spiritual renewal of Quebec.

Keeping Our Eyes Fixed on Jesus, Even in the Storm

Drawing on the Gospel account of Saint Peter walking on water toward Jesus, Archbishop Lépine recalled that Peter was able to move forward despite the storm as long as he kept his eyes fixed on the Lord. However, when fear took hold of him and he turned his attention to the waves, he began to sink.

Through this Gospel passage, Archbishop Lépine encouraged young people not to let worries and life's difficulties overwhelm them. He reminded them of Jesus’ words, “Do not be afraid,” inviting them to trust in God in their personal lives and never lose sight of His presence.

Discovering God’s Love and Learning to Love

In his homily, Archbishop Lépine also spoke of Jesus as the Messiah, Christ the King, but also as the Suffering Servant who came to save humanity through His suffering and the gift of His life. He reminded those gathered that Christ’s throne is the Cross, the ultimate sign of His immense love for each of us.

This love, he explained, calls us in turn to love God and our neighbours, to forgive, and to live a life rooted in prayer. Yet it is through God's grace that we can truly learn to love as Christ loves.

Archbishop Lépine emphasized that we are created to love, but that we need God’s help to fully live out this calling.

Prayer: A Source of Strength on Our Journey of Faith

Emphasizing the importance of spiritual life, Archbishop Lépine stressed that everything begins with prayer. To pray is to recognize our need for God, open our hearts to Him, and welcome His love and salvation.

He encouraged young people to make prayer a daily habit, reminding them that it gives us the strength to love, forgive, and persevere in faith.

He also gave thanks to God for His work in the hearts of young people and for this gathering held under the protection of Saint Joseph, where prayer, particularly the Rosary, played an important role.

Archbishop Lépine invited participants to remain faithful to this beautiful spiritual practice, to read the Bible, pray with faith, turn to the Virgin Mary, and seek the intercession of Saint Joseph.

Growing in Hope

In closing, Archbishop Lépine encouraged young people to nurture hope and remember that God is always at work, even when His presence and action are not immediately visible.

Through this celebration, the young people of Renouveau Québec were encouraged to continue their journey of faith with confidence, placing prayer at the heart of their lives and keeping their eyes fixed on Jesus, whatever storms they may face.