MIRACLE MOMENT®
“Faith goes up the stairs that love has built and looks out the window which hope has opened.”~ Charles Spurgeon
A MESSAGE from Founder/Director, CYNTHIA BRIAN
With corruption, chaos, global wars, political instability, repressive policies, and rising autocratic governments, people have the right to be frightened and frustrated.
Yet, amid darkness, the light appears.
On Thursday, May 8th, 2025, from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, white smoke billowed, indicating that the papal conclave had elected a new pope. In a historic and hopeful moment, an American was elected the 267th head of the Catholic Church. Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, spent much of his career as a missionary in South America. He will lead the 1.4 billion Catholics and be a pontiff on the global stage, advocating for peace, openness, change, and inclusion. His first remarks, which he spoke in Italian, were “We have to seek together to be a missionary church. A church that builds bridges and dialogue.” He called on people to “show our charity to others “and be in dialogue with love.”
The world needs to build bridges of peace and inclusion in a dialogue of love. We have the power to do this together. For the 25 years that Be the Star You Are!® has been serving others, I have been a proponent of supporting youth leaders. I believe that it is the young people of today who will be the change the world needs to build these bridges. We have volunteers from every continent except Antarctica (we probably need to work on that) who provide virtual services to BTSYA that also help them excel and succeed in their personal endeavors. Through collaboration, we create connection…a world youth connection.
Let’s climb those stairs to open the window with faith, hope, and love. Together we can challenge the madness and sadness, building bridges of peace and inclusion..
Congratulations and blessings to our new American Pope Leo XIV. With his humility, gentleness, and warmth, he will honor his Augustinian community, the U.S.A., and be an example of unity for the billions of people around the world, regardless of religious belief.
Habemus Papum!
With gratitude,
Cynthia Brian
Founder and Executive Director
Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3
PO Box 376
Moraga, California 94556
https://www.BetheStarYouAre.org
DONATE: https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504
TEENS BUILDING BRIDGES
From India with Love
by Tia Agarwal
My name is Tia. I live in South New Delhi. I am in the 12th grade -the last year of schooling, when Indian students must take the board exam, the scores of which are an important parameter in college admissions. I have learned a lot in more than a decade of schooling, but I aspire to truly foster my essence in college. Beyond that, my ultimate objective in life is to do something meaningful that intellectually and creatively stimulates me. In my 20s, I want to travel to every corner of the world; eat bizarre local food, thrift unique trinkets and souvenirs, learn more languages so I can make small talk with the locals, and daydream while taking strolls in beautiful walkable cities. And finally, I would like to spend my old age in a ginormous library with a million books and infinite time to devour them – time that gets lost in the chaos of one’s youth.
Tia volunteers with BTSYA as a content provider and book reviewer. She volunteers with the Early Family Math program in India, translating English into French. She is an avid reader, believing that literacy is the key to success.
How Teens Can Make a Difference
by Cate Taylor
Teenagers play a huge role in ensuring peace and inclusion within their communities. In order to do this, they can start by listening to others’ ideas and perspectives, while understanding that everyone comes from a different background. Social media also plays a role in breaking down barriers of stereotypes by raising awareness.
In addition, teens can set an example for others around them by challenging unfair behavior. Making clubs or joining groups is a great way for teens to take control of this matter.
In the end, by respecting others and practicing kindness, teens can change their community to an environment where everyone feels loved, valued, accepted, and cared for.
All in all, teens have the ability to bring long-lasting peace to their communities!
Hi! My name is Cate Taylor, and I am 16 years old! I love to meet new people and get the opportunity to support my community. I used to be a tutor to little kids, and I also used to be a volleyball coach. I am so excited to work with Be The Star You Are!
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GRADUATES
Many of our Be the Star You Are!® volunteers are graduating in 2025 from middle school, high school, and university. To every person who will be wearing their cap and gown, we congratulate you and salute you. May your future be bright and filled with joyful living and learning.
Shout-outs to three special stars:
Graduating from High School: Ella Kalpakjian, who chaired our successful shoe drive, spearheaded our 25th Anniversary ribbon-cutting and parade, and Sean Kwok, photographer and videographer. Both attended the 50th Anniversary Time Capsule event, and both have been accepted into their preferred universities! BRAVO!
Graduating from middle school: Milan Bains who, as our youngest radio reporter, has broadcast his segment on Express Yourself!™ Teen Radio for three years.
A MESSAGE OF KINDNESS FROM POPE LEO
Contributed by Karen Kitchel, Be the Star You Are!® Kindness Coordinator
” Brothers, sisters…
I speak to you, especially to those who no longer believe, no longer hope, no longer pray, because they think God has left.
To those who are fed up with scandals, with misused power, with the silence of a Church that sometimes seems more like a palace than a home.
I, too, was angry with God.
I, too, saw good people die, children suffer, grandparents cry without medicine.
And yes… there were days when I prayed and only felt an echo.
But then I discovered something:
God doesn’t shout. God whispers.
And sometimes He whispers from the mud, from pain, from a grandmother who feeds you without having anything.
I don’t come to offer you perfect faith.
I come to tell you that faith is a walk with stones, puddles, and unexpected hugs.
I’m not asking you to believe in everything.
I’m asking you not to close the door. Give a chance to the God who waits for you without judgment.
I’m just a priest who saw God in the smile of a woman who lost her son… and yet she cooked for others.
That changed me.
So if you’re broken, if you don’t believe, if you’re tired of the lies…
come anyway. With your anger, your doubt, your dirty backpack.
No one here will ask you for a VIP card.
Because this Church, as long as I breathe, will be a home for the homeless, and a rest for the weary.
God doesn’t need soldiers.
He needs brothers.
And you, yes, you…
are one of them.”
THE AUTHORS GUILD SPEAKS UP FOR ALL OF US
With all the government cuts, the Authors Guild stands up for every artist, author, actor, and all of us. Check out these links:
Authors Guild on Literary Expression: https://authorsguild.org/news/trumps-interference-in-artistic-and-literary-expression-is-anti-american-and-anti-democratic/
Arts Funding Canceled: https://authorsguild.org/news/ag-condemns-nea-grant-terminations-and-devastating-impacts/
Authors Guild Stands up for Local Public Broadcasting: https://authorsguild.org/app/uploads/2025/05/Letter-to-Congress-CPB-Rescission-4.28.25.pdf
OUR RADIO BROADCASTS INSPIRE AND COMMUNICATE
Every week under the auspices of Be the Star You Are!® charity and produced by StarStyle® Productions, LLC, listeners are encouraged and inspired on our two international radio broadcasts, StarStyle®-Be the Star You Are!® and Express Yourself!™ Teen Radio. StarStyle® is a lifestyle program bringing information and innovative ideas that will help with daily living while Express Yourself!™ is hosted by teens, for teens, with discussions about everything and anything that interests youth today. Both programs are unedited, uncensored, and unapologetically authentic.
Listen to all Express Yourself!™ Teen shows at https://sites.libsyn.com/560220
Listen to StarStyle®-Be the STAR You Are!® shows: https://sites.libsyn.com/556617
BOOKS from BE THE STAR YOU ARE!®
Check out our book packages as well as our online store where you may purchase first edition books, get them autographed, and receive extra goodies. All monies benefit Be the Star You Are!® outreach programs. Reading is succeeding! Enjoy!
SUPPORT WOMEN, FAMILY, AND YOUTH THROUGH MERCH
Find well-made clothing and hats with the Be the Star You Are!® logo at https://www.bonfire.com/store/be-the-star-you-are-merch/. Numerous colors and styles are appropriate for all ages. A percentage of the proceeds benefits Be the Star You Are!®.
We invite you to volunteer, get involved, or make a donation. Make a DONATION through PAYPAL GIVING FUND and PAYPAL with 100% going to BTSYA with NO FEES: https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504
As John Maxwell wrote, “People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
Care, share, and build bridges of peace and inclusion.
Thanks for reading StarStyle® Empowerment!
StarStyle® Empowerment is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. https://cynthiabrian.substack.com/p/building-bridges-of-peace-and-inclusion?
