Caroline Pignat has prepared a wonderful reflection on God's love for all people, inviting young people to take a closer look at the riches of our faith tradition. She includes words of wisdom from Sacred Scripture, saints, and gems from magisterial teaching. Caroline accompanies young people as they ponder their relationship with God, encouraging them to know how much God loves them and showing them how they were created to love, know, and serve God. This text is an excellent resource for anyone involved in youth ministry. * Josephine Lombardi, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Systematic and Pastoral Theology, Director of Lay Spiritual Formation, St. Augustine's Seminary *
I am pleased to endorse Caroline Pignat's spiritual guide, All I Am. This accessible book for young people is grounded in Scripture, the lives and teachings of the saints, and the foundational truths of our faith about God's goodness and his unconditional love for his creations--me and you! All I Am is a wonderful affirmation of the love God has for us and how we can respond in practical ways to the daily effects of his care. It is also an inspiring gift to give to any young person, not only to affirm their identity in God but also to help them discover their purpose as modern missionaries sent to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ in word and action. * Marcel Damphousse, Archbishop of Ottawa-Cornwall *
All I Am presents a wonderful journey for young readers seeking to understand life's big questions. Through daily reflections, Caroline shows that it is possible and even essential to have a relationship with God. * Ted Hurley, Coordinator of English Pastoral Services with the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall *
Caroline Pignat takes the daily trials and tribulations of life and helps the reader realize that God is there for us, so we are never alone. Through prayers, reflections, and Scripture, we see that God wants us to be a messenger for his love. All I Am is a must read for teens trying to figure out who they are and where they fit into this world, providing both inspiration and hope for anyone working through the messiness of faith during their developmental years. * Tom D'Amico, Director of Education, Ottawa Catholic School Board *
In this thought-provoking book of spiritual reflections and prayers, Caroline Pignat invites young readers to think of God as their GPS, acknowledging the challenges of 'adulting' as our youth struggle to find meaning and courage in a world full of uncertainty and angst. With fresh ideas to inspire young people to connect with God through wisdom stories, Scripture, inspirational faith leaders, and saints throughout the ages, she urges teens to develop new images for God that resonate with their lives today. With God as their 'personal trainer,' coaching them through spiritual 'reps' to avoid the pitfalls of click bait, friendship drama, and the shame they carry and the forgiveness they find challenging, Caroline reminds her readers that Jesus walks into the middle of their mess and promises to stay. * Maureen Dufour, Chaplain, Ottawa Catholic School Board *
Caroline Pignat's mastery as a writer, expertise as an educator, and rich relationship with God have converged in this superb tool for teens. Insightful and practical, All I Am invites readers to encounter a close and loving God who shows them the beloved gift of themselves and their lives. This resource helps meet a great need for our teens and our times! * Dr. Carol Kuzmochka, Co-director and Lead Researcher, Centre for Religious Education and Catechesis, and part-time professor, Saint Paul University, Ottawa *
More and more, teens are being tested and pushed to choose their battles, pick a side, stand up for what they believe. But how can anyone choose if they don't yet know what they believe about religion, politics, or social structures? To do that in any meaningful way, we first need to know what we believe about ourselves--who we are and what we want to be. All I Am helps readers do just that. By pairing contemplation and prayer with contemporary settings and situations that allow teens to reflect on their world, readers see themselves as God's kids, like him in the ways that really matter--loved, confident, blessed, and gifted. * Carol Bryden, series consultant for Growing in Faith, Growing in Christ *