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.

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.

{mosimage}TORONTO - Youth members of the International Catholic lay movement Focolare will host a variety show to raise money for Zilma School in Haiti.

{mosimage}TORONTO - Lucy Anacleto was abused by her parents as a child. To escape the abuse, her two older sisters left home, leaving the then seven-year-old alone with her parents.

{mosimage}TORONTO - Samantha Persaud and Janani Jeyaraman accepted the Discover Diversity Award Aug. 28 at the University of Toronto Multifaith Centre on behalf of Blessed Mother Teresa Secondary School.

{mosimage}DARIEN LAKE, N.Y. - Kingdom Bound is a full-time, year-long Protestant ministry with a strong Catholic presence that puts on concerts in Ontario and upstate New York as well as the annual summer festival here at Six Flags amusement park. This summer’s festival ran from Aug. 5 to 8.

{mosimage} TORONTO - Intrigued by a candlelit basement chapel filled with Gregorian chant and burning incense, 11 teens gathered at St. Francis de Sales Church in Newark, Ohio, for what would become the first Dead Theologians Society meeting.

{mosimage}TORONTO - A new booklet has been published to reach out to youth and teach them about the various vocations within the Catholic Church. It’s Your Call features stories from people living out their vocations who wish to enlighten people on what they love so much about their calling.

TORONTO - More than 100 children, teens and young adults gather for a prayer meeting every Friday at St. Basil the Great High School in North York. Members drive in from as far away as Waterloo and Hamilton on a weekly basis.