Teens reveal what they pray about

When teens pray, they pray "about everything," according to Brittany Crupi.

Over hot-dogs and chocolate-chip cookies, attendees at the High School Youth Conference, held recently at St. Mary's Church in Hudson, agreed that it's good to talk to God.

Although students at the event came in attire as varied as rock-band tees, Yankees caps, pleated skirts and hooded sweatshirts, they all united on the one single prayer intention that was the most important to them.

Family first

"Family," said Jeremy Azcue, 16, of Immaculate Conception Church in Haines Falls.

"I pray for my family and friends," echoed 15-year-old Katie Lenseth of St. Teresa's parish in Windham.

And for Brittany? "Friends and family," said the 14-year-old from at Sacred Heart Church in Cairo.

More intentions

Teens' prayers don't stop there. Jeremy makes a special effort to offer prayers for those who are sick and in trouble, and asks for spiritual and financial assistance to be given to people stricken with poverty. He also prays for the good health of friends at school.

A good chunk of Katie's prayers rise for the safety of her brother, a college student away from home, while Brittany also "sometimes prays that I can be a strong person," she said.

"You can pray if you're trying to fix" a sticky situation, said Jen Gobies, 14, of Sacred Heart Church in Cairo, noting that prayer can be especially useful for teens who are handling difficult issues involving peer pressure, academics, friendships or big decisions. "You can pray to be able to handle everything, because there's a lot to handle today," she said.

And prayer, she added, needs to be backed up by action. "It's okay to pray to God, but you gotta be willing to do something to help," she said.

Friends, too

Katie LeSuer, 14, of Cairo, prays "a lot for kids and teens to find God and their faith -- and how they feel about religion."

Sacred Heart parishioner Diana Perretti, 14, says that her prayers often depend on how her day goes. Recently, for example, a friend's sister had surgery, and she spent time making sure she was included in her intentions.

"Every day, I pray that my friends and family are healthy, and get to enjoy life," she said.

Needs in mind

Amber Law, 16, a parishioner at St. Patrick's Church in Catskill, looks out for people that "need to be prayed for" and focuses her attention on their needs.

Cassandra Long, 15, also of St. Patrick's, says that her friends and family come first, hoping that "they stay healthy, and for my friends, so they won't do bad things like drugs."

She also prays to God for support in her life. "I pray that I can stay a good person, and I try real hard to be the person that I want to be," she asserted.

Seated across the table, Regina Pietroriccia, 15, a St. Patrick's teen, nodded and said: "Yeah, I pray about my future and that I'm making the right choices."

(11/11/04)