We often don’t see what happens behind the scenes as seminarians turn into priests.

I struggle to keep up with the fast pace and heavy reading load that comes with studying English and as each year progresses, I am tempted to let my spiritual to-read list stack up in the corner until school calms down.

Eric Luscombe’s first day was a little chaotic.

My family’s prayer lives have grown remarkably since we began praying the rosary together about seven or eight years ago.

The Catholic Register is pleased to introduce our new Youth Speak News team for 2017-2018. These 12 young people were selected from a very qualified number of applicants to The Register’s successful YSN program.

Not many 18-year-olds can say they’ve written for a national newspaper. And fewer still can say they’ve been given the chance to not only report on current events, but to give their opinions on relevant social issues.

Ten years ago, youth minister John MacMullen could never have imagined the power of a frisbee.

For the last year and a half, a friend and I have run a small faith-sharing group for young women. It has turned out to be a far more important experience to my faith than I ever imagined.

When I was hired as a camp counsellor earlier this year I expected the job to come with great rewards and great challenges. I didn’t expect one of the challenges would force me to actually grow in my Christian life.

Last summer, Kyle Peralta felt God’s power moving within him during his time with Franciscan LEAD.

Are you a university or senior high school student 16 or older?

Do you like to write?

Do you want to improve your skills in a mentoring program led by a professional journalist?

Do you want to enrich your faith?

The Catholic Register is pleased to introduce our new Youth Speak News team for 2016-2017. These 12 young people were selected from a very qualified number of applicants to The Register’s successful YSN program.

As I ran down a dirt road in the village of Nandarola, Nicaragua, I could hear the bus approaching behind me, its air horn tauntingly blowing. With four-year-old Miguel on my shoulders, the two of us were racing the bus back to his small house. It was the last day of my visit to this remote community. It was a poignant moment, waving goodbye to the mothers and children — Miguel included — as we left, and one of many fulfilling and joyful experiences I had in Nicaragua.

Like any other Sunday I sat in those wooden benches, eagerly waiting for the priest to take his place at the pulpit and give his homily. Impatiently drumming my fingers against the wooden edge, I looked around the church.

Lent is a season which seems to always start strong in our hearts, and then gradually falls apart throughout our time of suffering alongside Jesus. We are now starting our journey. We already binged on pancakes a few days ago and a good few of us decided to give up either candy, chocolate, television or cellphones. (I’ll pray for you guys, don’t worry.)