Youth Speak News

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - Nicole Fernandez expected a huge emphasis on faith and to meet friends as one of 125 young people to attend the 12th annual Lasting Treasure’s weekend retreat at Philip Pocock Secondary School in Mississauga in early February. What she didn’t expect, like many others, was the confidence to be a future leader and insight into how to surrender herself to God.

I still remember my first English class in high school. I was in Grade 9 and it was period two. The teacher walked in, smiled and got right down to business. The first item on her agenda was plagiarism.

TORONTO - With a thick Philadelphia accent, Rocco Palmo talks a mile-a-minute rattling off quick facts about Vatican hierarchy or a quip about the latest hot-button Catholic issue. This is a guy who spends his day keeping up with the goings-on of the Catholic Church.

I have always looked forward to Ash Wednesday. Ever since I could remember, there was something about receiving an unusual mark on my forehead that got me excited. Maybe when I was a bit younger I didn’t understand everything about Lent or why we were receiving ashes on our heads, but there was that special mystery to it that I remember enjoying as a child.

WINNIPEG, Man.  - At an early age Ian Garcia started doing drugs, drinking, partying and hanging out with the wrong crowd. Eventually his family disowned him.

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - Nicole Fernandez expected a huge emphasis on faith and to meet friends as one of 125 young people to attend the 12th annual Lasting Treasure’s weekend retreat at Philip Pocock Secondary School in Mississauga in early February. What she didn’t expect, like many others, was the confidence to be a future leader and insight into how to surrender herself to God.

I still remember my first English class in high school. I was in Grade 9 and it was period two. The teacher walked in, smiled and got right down to business. The first item on her agenda was plagiarism.

Editor’s Note: this is a runner up in the Friars’ Student Writing Awards sponsored by Franciscan Friars of the Atonement and The Catholic Register. Miriam Punnoose, 17, is a Grade 12 student at All Saints Catholic Secondary School in Whitby, Ont.  The contest is held in conjunction with the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This is the last of six winning essays The Register  will publish.


Our world today has definitely not turned out to be the way God planned. He wanted us to live in peace and harmony with one another, to be faithful to our religion and to be loyal to His teachings. Yet today, one appears to be only faithful to himself/herself and concentrates on his/her needs.

MOOSE JAW, Sask. - Grade 9 students at Vanier Collegiate in Moose Jaw took part in the Catholic high school’s annual four-day retreat from the end of January to the beginning of February.

I wear red on Fridays. It’s not because red is one of two colours associated with Christmas, my favourite holiday. It’s not because red represents the Holy Spirit and as a charismatic Catholic the Spirit is a major part of my spirituality.