Dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary

FEARLESS CATHOLIC WRITING CAMP 2020

Sponsored by Catholic Literary Arts Houston, Tx

Catholic Literary Arts is thankful to its generous benefactors who have made Fearless Catholic Writing Camp possible:

The Scanlan Foundation, The Strake Foundation

Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court St. Gabriel of the Annunciation #2747 at Church of the Annunciation Houston, Texas

Knights of Columbus Council #12748 at All Saints Catholic Church Houston, Texas

Anonymous, Elizabeth Asnes, Ann K. Boland, Rev. E.D. Calhoun, Rev. P. Chovanec, Lesley Clinton, Judy A. Curtis, Rev. Jude Ezuma, Mark & Marcia Ferguson, Linda Forrester-Pitocco, Diana Freyberger, Katherine Garcia-Prats, Mrs. Patricia Gunnels, Janet M. Hafernick, Kathleen Herne, M.D., Holy Family Catholic Parish, Brittney and Joshua Hren, Don Huml, Mr. & Mrs. Greg Illich, Shelley Sekula-Gibbs, M.D., Mr. & Mrs. Dana Gioia, Katherine Krehbiel, Katherine S. McDonald, Paul Mariani, Stephanie Mundy, Frances F. Peterson, Patricia A. Pish, Karen Pomes, Donald R. Quintero, Stefan Siwko, Richard E. Talbot, Joe Warfield, Gregory J. Womack.

Group St. John the Apostle

Karla Sofia A. Bridget C. Ruby C. Charles D. Alexander G. Elisa G. Lillian H. Anna Claire L. Jayden M. Ximena P. Monserrat P. Melanie R. Antoni T.

Karla Sophia A., age 9

Me as a Saint

One hundred years ago, I became a saint. I taught people about God and his love for us. I taught them how to never separate from God. I was the patron saint of reading since I read the Bible to people, and I loved reading. I taught them how to love each other and never be rude. I also told them to give to the poor. I taught people that they shall treat God in the best way. God is their king, and everyone must love him. He does a lot for us, and we must treat him right.

TV with My Mom

Every Friday, I watch TV with my mom. It’s really fun! Sometimes we do it on a different day Because it’s exciting. It’s like a tradition we do. We watch good movies But sometimes we don’t finish them Which is kind of sad. But we finish them around Saturday Because we didn’t get to finish them On the movie night. It’s my favorite tradition of quarantine!

Inspired by Edward Hopper's "Nighthawks"

The setting is at a small restaurant named Phillies. The restaurant is in a small town of Texas. Even though it’s tiny, it’s popular because usually people like to hang out there and talk. It is a coffee place. There are colors like blue, brown, green, tan, and black.

There are a couple, a man, and the employee at the restaurant. They decided to go there that evening. They talked and drank coffee together, and they were so peaceful because no sound was disturbing them, not even the sound of a car because there were no cars passing by.

It looks like the lonely man is praying to God for a good meal, and the employee is serving the couple and that is a good deed.

The employee reminds me of me on my mom’s birthday because I made a surprise breakfast for my mom that day, so she didn’t have to cook on her birthday. I also talked to her just like that couple is. I liked it a lot.

Bridget C., age 8

Gentle Bridget: Saint of Animals

A bunch of deer and foxes lived in an oak forest. Then one day, a group of hunters came to kill them. I called all the animals to my campsite where they would be safe. But some of them were wounded, so I treated their wounds. That is how I became gentle Bridget, the patron saint of animals.

The Girlhood of Mary

I love my mother.

When she prays, she sounds like an angel.

When she hugs me, her arms feel like a blanket.

Her golden hair smells like flowers.

Her blue eyes look like the clear sky.

The Blessed Virgin Mary is as gentle as a lamb.

Sunday Family Dinners

Every Sunday, my family goes to Mimi and Pop’s house for dinner. Mimi cooks really good food and Pop makes good barbeque. Usually my cousins come, but sometimes they can’t come. My favorite meal to have is Mimi’s spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread and cucumber salad. The kids drink root beer and the adults drink wine. The kids wait for dinner in one of the upstairs rooms. The parents cook and talk downstairs. Mimi cooks things like mashed potatoes, turkey, gravy, chicken noodle soup, etc. While the kids wait, we play video games. We can also play highway, where you jump on the sofa chairs, the couch, the mini trampoline, or the coffee table. In our room, there is a TV (can only be used for video games), two sofa chairs, a mini trampoline, a coffee table, and a couch. I like going to Mimi and Pop’s house because I like the food, and I like playing with my cousins.

Ruby C., age 8

Santa’s Wish

The cool winter air, people all around The sweet sound of music playing all around The cookies and sweets, decorating ornaments People’s voices chatting So many people laughing So much red, green and white What a great Christmas night

Recipe to Make the World a Better Place

Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 25-30 minutes

Ingredients: 3 cups of love Juice of kindness 2 tablespoons of hope 3 pounds of listening

In a large black and white bowl, combine the 2 tablespoons of hope and 3 pounds of listening. Place the other ingredients in the bowl and place the bowl in the refrigerator for 1 hour. Remove from the refrigerator and bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes at 350°. Let it sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Charles D., age 9 Story

Once upon a time, there were two people named Bob and Joe. Joe was mean, selfish, dirty, and impatient. Bob was the opposite. One day, two people asked if they could stay at Bob’s house. Bob said, “Of course.” They asked him if he would do their laundry. He said, “Sure.” He washed and folded all the clothes. He went to sleep, and so did the guests. Except, that’s what Bob thought. He woke up in the middle of the night to the washing machine beeping and thought, “Oh, I forgot to fold their clothes, but I don’t want to get out of bed.” He couldn’t go to sleep, so he thought, “I might as well.” He went to the washer, and when he folded the clothes, he found two silver nuggets in their pockets. The following morning, when he woke up, he went to tell his guests that he found two silver nuggets in their pockets when he folded their clothes, but he only found a note saying, “Thank you.” The next day, at Joe’s house, a person showed up at his door and asked, “May I stay a few days?” Joe was about to say, “No.” But then he remembered what he saw in the news last night about Bob finding silver nuggets in a guest’s belongings and said, “Sure.” The guest asked if Joe would do her laundry, and he said, “OK.” He washed her clothes and folded them for her and put them on her bed. When she woke up the next day, she wore a pair of clothes. They went to sleep and, right before Joe got in bed, he put the pair of clothes she wore that day in the washer. Then, in the middle of the night, he woke up to the sound of the washer beeping. He then said to himself, “Meh, she can do her own laundry.” Then he went back to sleep. He woke up the next morning to a note in the guest’s bed saying, “You failed the test.” And a silver bracelet that was made of exactly two silver nuggets was missing. Bob lived happily ever after and, well, Joe got what he deserved.

Making Lemonade

Chopping lemons, Boiling sugar water Making flavorful lemonade Is like writing meaningful words.

Drinking sour & sweet lemonade With family while reading interesting words. Drinking cup after cup, Lemonade vase empty But word bank still full!

Alexander G., age 9

Elephant and Beaver

Once in a little house, there was an elephant. The elephant got so big that the house fell over. He scrambled for safety. “Oh no!” he cried. “How am I going to fix this now?”

Then out of the blue came Beaver the Repair Man. Once Beaver the Repair Man saw the trouble, he used his repair magic to fix the house. Then they lived happily ever after.

Piano Poem

I feel joyful and calm when I’m at the piano. I feel joyful and calm by playing softly. My favorite part of the piano is playing it And trying new songs.

I can only play Jazz because Jazz is the Only type of song I know to play on my piano.

Finding God in the Ordinary

At a restaurant, there are bright lights. You smell whatever drinks smell like.

A drink salesman, a lone person, and a couple. They are asking for a drink and the man is giving it. They are wearing blue caps and blue shirts. The man is wearing a white hat and shirt.

The drink salesman is like God because he is giving drinks to these people. The lone man also reminds me of God by his hands looking like he is praying.

I have sat next to my friends quietly.

Elisa G., age 8

Friends

One day, there was a bird named Sam. Sam was a very blue bird. He loved to sing. One day the crow named Elizabeth said, “Sam, your singing is so bad it hurts my ears!”

Sam was very angry, but Sam didn’t want to be rude, so he simply told her to leave if she didn’t like his singing.

The very next day Elizabeth’s parents move to the same forest where Sam lived. Sam was walking to the market until Elizabeth stopped him. She wanted to say she was sorry because her parents found out that she was being mean to him.

He accepted her apology. They even became best friends!

My Cousin’s House

On holidays my family goes to my cousin’s big house Happy is how I feel when I get there Don’t get to see my cousins much They make delicious food On Thanksgiving we bring the brownies

We make the best brownies!

Finding God in the Ordinary World

The city colors are blue and brown-red and yellow.

There is a girl and she is wearing red. There are two guys wearing black. There is also a guy in white.

God is the person serving drinks. I think that the person in white is God because God’s first miracle was that he turned water into wine.

People can help each other.

Lillian H., age 8

Rain

Pitter, Patter, Pitter, Patter, Rain is as gentle as a fairy. Pitter, Patter, Pitter Patter, I think rain is not scary.

Finding God in the Ordinary World

I think the setting is a cafe. I think the cafe is in New York, New York. I think the cafe smells like coffee.

There is a waiter and a couple and a man.

The waiter is serving the couple and the man. The man looks like he’s praying.

I like to go to the donut shop.

My Fable

Once upon a time, there was a clever fox. He was out one day, hungry, and looking for something to eat. Suddenly, he spotted a mouse in a nearby field. He quickly jumped into the bushes. It was a weekend, so people were out picnicking and enjoying the fine weather. The mouse was looking for something sweet to eat and scampered along the freshly cut grass toward the picnickers. The mouse snuck into a picnic basket and found a piece of bread. He carried it back to his spot in the field, when suddenly he noticed a delicious peach. The fox watched as the mouse dropped the bread and ran toward the peach. The mouse was about to nibble the peach when he noticed a full honey pot. The fox saw the mouse drop the peach and run to the honey pot and jump into it. The honey was very sticky, so the mouse could not climb back out of the pot. Now the patient fox came out of his hiding place and dipped his paw into the pot. He fished out the mouse and enjoyed his meal greatly.

The moral of the story is: The grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

Anna Claire L., age 9

The Miracle of St. Anna

St. Anna is the patron saint of artists. She became patron saint of artists because she was one herself.

One day she did a miracle. She saved someone’s life when people thought it impossible.

There was this elderly man who had the coronavirus. There was no real cure at that time, and this man was old, too. His family believed he would pass away.

But his family had heard of St. Anna, and the “impossible” she had done. So, they called her over and asked for her help.

When St. Anna arrived, she walked over to the old man and said a blessing. (She had to stay six feet away, though.)

Later that same week, the family called St. Anna, and told her joyfully that the old man had been healed!

My Favorite Holiday

My favorite holiday is my Birthday. I wake up and there are a few presents on the edge of my bed! I open those and mess with them, and then I race downstairs. Since my dad is usually up before me, he greets me happily. “Happy Birthday!” he says. I race over and give him a hug, and then race over to my presents. Before I open them, though, my dad stops me! “Wait,” he says, “your mother will want to watch you open them!” “Okay, then, I’ll just wake her up…” I say with a grin. “No need, she’s already up!” my dad shouts after me, as I race into their bedroom.

Finding God in the Ordinary

I see a cafe on the corner of a street with other shops next to it. The inside of the shop is yellow, with a brown bar. The shops are green on the outside. Inside of the shop, there are silver coffee (or other drink) dispensers. There is also a yellow-ish door.

There are four people. One is the bar man, another is a guy who is sitting alone. Then there are two people. One is a girl, who is in a red dress, the other is a man, who is in a suit. He is also sitting next to the woman.

I think the person who is serving the drinks is like God, because he is serving the people. I think I would be most like the woman, who is sitting silently next to her friend/boyfriend/ husband.

Jayden M., age 8 The Fox and the Mouse

Once upon a time, there was a fox. The fox was out looking for something to eat. He saw a mouse in a field and quickly jumped into the bushes. It was a weekend, so people were out picnicking. The mouse was looking for something sweet to eat. The mouse scampered along the freshly cut grass. The mouse did not see the fox in the bushes. The mouse was nibbling a cookie when the fox pounced.

Moral: Always pay attention.

Elephant

I am an elephant. I like to eat grass, twigs, and other plants. I have a family. We stay in a group that’s called a march. When I was little, I had to go behind or under my mom or dad If a predator came. I like being an elephant!

Saint Jayden

I became a saint because I want to help the poor. I would be Saint of the poor to help out the poor. I would give them money, give them food, give them toys, give them joy. I would make a free food factory. That will be one miracle I will perform. Ximena P., age 9 The Saint of Miracles

I became a saint when I went up to heaven. I was canonized by the Pope. I am the Saint of Miracles. I became the Saint of Miracles because I love helping people. One miracle that I did was to share water. There were people who were dying of dehydration because they did not have any water, so I gave them water. They were saved.

A Happy Queen

What makes a Queen happy? But the thing that most makes a Queen happy is when she gets everything When they make a surprise party When she makes a new friend somewhere When she gets a toy that she wanted for a long time When she gets a 100 on her test When people make her look pretty When she gets adored

I Love My Mother

When she prays, her voice sounds like a smooth voice.

When she hugs me, her arms feel like a fresh breeze.

Her brown hair smells just like exquisite perfume.

Her black eyes look like emeralds.

The Blessed Virgin Mary is as gentle as a flower

Monserrat P., age 8

The Horse That Cared

Once upon a time there was a lonely horse. He was scared that he would drop the people that wanted to ride him. He was a shy horse.

One day the horse was very confident and decided to give it a try to see if he could keep the people riding him from falling. He practiced many times. At first, he would drop people, but one day after trying, he finally did it and he was proud of himself.

The moral of the story: Sometimes you have to fail to come out a winner.

A Happy King

The king is happy because he had the best celebration. The king is happy because he has a crown. The king is happy because he had a lot of joy. The king is happy because he has a lot of love and happiness. The king is happy because he has a lot of fear of the Lord. The king is happy because he has a lot of peace.

I Love My Mother

When she prays, her voice sounds like an angel.

When she hugs me, her arms feel like love.

Her brown hair smells like roses.

Her brown eyes look like charity.

Melanie R., age 9

I Feel Happy

I feel so happy playing and talking to my stuffed animals. They are talking to me and playing with me. But no. I’m the one who is doing the movements and the voice when I’m playing. It’s fun.

The Sad and Happy Life

Once upon a time there was a girl named Ximena. She loved playing and loved learning. She loved giving gifts to her teacher. She was 7 years old and in 2 years her parents died in a car accident. She was sad, but she still had her brother. His name is Mike. He’s 20 years old. He has a girlfriend; her name is Sarah. She is very sweet, so Ximena went to ask people if she could borrow their phone to call her brother. Someone let Ximena borrow their phone so she could call her brother to pick her up at the airport when she came to Paris and she was in Saint-Malo. So, in one hour, when she arrived her brother was waiting for her. She saw him and ran up to him and hugged him saying, “I missed you.” So, they went home. Ximena met Sarah and they were talking, and Ximena said to her brother that Sarah had a heart like an angel and Mike was happy that Ximena liked Sarah. So, they all had a happy life. In 11 years, Ximena was 20. She can start her life now with a boyfriend. The end.

But no, I’m the one who is doing the movements and the voice when I’m playing.

It’s fun.

Recipe for a Better World

Start with a big circle pink bowl add a cup of happiness and a dash of kindness stir well and sprinkle with love. Bake at 370° for 5 minutes.

Antoni T., age 8

Saint Antoni of Texas

Once upon a time there was a patron saint doctor. His name was Antoni Torello. He helped sick people get well. He also went all over North America to tell people about God.

Once there was a very, very sick person. Saint Antoni came to see him and healed him in four minutes and twenty seconds.

My Favorite Holiday

My favorite holiday is Christmas, I like to get presents My favorite food are hotdogs, I would like a big dog. I’m like a mouse, I like cheese.

The Girlhood of Mary

I love my mother. When she prays, her voice sounds like something beautiful. When she hugs me, her arms feel gentle and soft. Her black hair smells good. Her green eyes look like emeralds. The Blessed Virgin Mary is as gentle as a lamb

Group St. Francis de Sales

Andres B. Abigail B. Connor C. Patrick D. Marco F. Daniella M. Bruno O. Camila P. Yaretzi R. Rene T. Agustin T. Remy Z.

Andres B., age 10

Austin

The nice Austin air smelled nice when we got there, when we went canoeing. The water felt warm. The sunset was beautiful. The next day the birds were singing outside. I could hear cereal pouring and the water moving. While we were driving back home, I saw the fish jumping out of the water.

How to Build a Better World

Ingredients: 5 pounds of joy 5 cups of generosity and kindness 1 cup of juice love

Directions: Take the 5 pounds of joy and mash it up in a big blue bowl. Add 5 cups of generosity and kindness. Stir well. Then add the juice love. Let it bake for 2 hours. Serve right away. Will feed 10-15 billion.

Turtle How is a turtle, like, slow on land but faster on water, and it is slow because it carries a shell? It has different kinds of colors on its shell, and it is a herbivore.

Abigail B., age 10

The Patron Saint of Artists

I am the patron saint of artists. When I was on Earth, I loved to draw pictures. One day, something amazing happened. I was drawing a picture of light coming out of clouds. This was how I had always imagined God. Just as I was finishing it, I heard a voice coming from the painting. I was very afraid. The voice said, “Do not be afraid. I am here to deliver a message.” It was an angel! The angel continued, “Sell your art. It will be successful.” Art was not very successful or popular at the time. I had never thought of selling my art. It was just a hobby. But I listened to the angel, and I decided to see how much I could get for it. I ended up selling some of my art for up to fifty thousand dollars! God had helped me be able to buy food and I was still able to afford my art supplies. I will forever be thankful to God.

Wilmington Summer

A family vacation The waves were so blue To the Wilmington shores The sun was so bright A way to relax The view was amazing A time without chores I loved the sight

We woke up at three The salt in the ocean To go catch a flight The hard shells and rocks And outside the window, The sand stuck to our feet The clouds were so white The boats were on the docks

We stayed at a house Becca and I Belonging to grandpa’s bro Laughed about crosswords They had a dog named Bodhi We hung out downtown I never wanted to go With the seagulls and birds

I shared a room with my cousin Everyone laughed and joked We played in the waves But then the time came We stayed up ‘til midnight To say goodbye And played many games And leave on the plane

Connor C., age 11

St. Connor

If I were a saint, I would want to be the saint of finding. I want to be this saint because I would help people find everything they ever lost, whether it was a coin or even who they were. The most important miracles that I would perform is that I would turn many people from sin by talking to them. I would help them find God.

Fishing

I was sitting out on the dock, my fishing line sat in the water. My Dad told me that he used to fish with his grandfather as I waited for a bite. While he fished, his grandfather would tell him stories of his time and my father would listen while he waited. As I sit on the dock I realize that I am following a family tradition: one of waiting, one of learning.

Finding God in the Ordinary

The four stay in the light of Phillies while the darkness of the outside watches and waits to consume them like the others. The windows show what they must soon enter, but yet they linger in the light until they can linger no longer. The smell of chocolate helps them forget the darkness and think of happier things. The door, only accessible by the server, lays untouched knowing that the darkness lies there as well. So, the four linger in Phillies waiting for the darkness to dissipate.

The first of the four is a reclusive man who was trapped by the darkness for lingering too long, the one who could be thinking of everything or nothing at all, the one they all fear. The two others who aren’t behind the counter are an energetic couple both wanting to get to know the worker but only because they have been trapped with him. The woman, the more talkative one doesn’t stop the conversation for anything, while the man waits for his order and listens occasionally making a comment. The server is an introverted man but getting to know the woman doesn’t seem very optional at the moment, so he makes their milkshakes and talks to the woman hoping it will make the night pass by, along with the darkness.

The woman is being a God-like person keeping the worker’s mind off the looming darkness outside.

This relates to my own life because if I am up at night and the darkness is closing in on me when I pray it takes my mind off it and puts me in light. Patrick D., age 10 Fable

There was once a rabbit and a hawk. The hawk said to the rabbit, “Just over the cliff is a field of carrots.” The rabbit replied, “Well then, will you please give me the directions to this field?” The hawk said, “Sure.” He gave the rabbit a map. After the rabbit took it, he looked at it and followed. But when he got there, he saw no field. Instead he saw a group of hunters. Then the hunters saw him, and he became the dinner. Moral: If something is too good to be true, the chances are it is not real.

The Girlhood of Mary

I love my mother. When she prays her voice sounds like the whispering wind. When she hugs me, her arms feel like wings embracing me. Her dark short hair smells like soft feathers. Her blue eyes look like a hawk’s. The blessed Virgin Mary is as gentle as a dove.

Metaphors for Thought

An angry thought is like a lion biting you because you want to snap at people. A happy thought is like a bird flying because it lifts your spirits.

St. Patrick

A long time ago he was born in Britain for all I know he was shipped away to Ireland to be a slave where he turned away from his ignorant ways he then taught the whole country we know.

Marco F., age 11 Christmas Games

During Christmas, we play a game that involves pulling out random numbers. You never know what you will receive from under the tree. People can steal the gifts because it might be good but it probably won’t be. It is one of my favorite games to play during Christmas Eve.

There is also another game we play and it is about unwrapping a ball of plastic. There are many items you could receive some could be candies or some could be toys. The concept is trying to roll a dice to six while someone is trying to unravel the plastic.

In the end, everyone will receive a gift, some will be sad, and some will be glad. I look forward to doing this every year. The best part is spending time with my family.

How to Make the World a Better Place

Serves: 1 to 100 Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes

Ingredients ⅓ cup love .5 oz of greed ⅔ cups juice of joy 1 tablespoon sin 7 oz of kindness 2 pounds happiness

Preparation 1.First you get a large red bowl and combine ⅔ cup juice of joy and ⅓ cup of love. 2.Next you boil 5 oz of greed 3 Then finely chop .5 tablespoon of sin. 4. Stir in 2 pounds happiness. 4.Finally sprinkle happiness and whisk well. 5.Cook for 11 minutes Serve as soon as possible Daniella M., age 10 Best Christmas Ever

We wake up on Christmas. We start with a prayer, and then open our presents. We then go to church. ​ ​ After church, we go to our grandparents’ house and eat dinner together. You can smell the buns my dad was baking in the oven. My grandma makes baked chicken and rice. My uncle and aunt will come over and give us presents. Last Christmas, my mom's cousin came over with his family. They came from South Padre Island to see us. Two days later, we all went to Incredible pizza with our friend Marisa. That was the day before our winter vacation in Dallas. They came with us too. Our hotel was like an apartment. We met some of our mom’s friends that lived there, went to Legoland and rode a train. It was the best Christmas ever.

Finding God in the Ordinary

At a restaurant, blue everywhere, you can hear the shaking of the milkshake being made, you can smell the hot coffee. You can see a lady with a red dress and red hair, a man in a suit and hat, a man who is alone, and a guy serving them milkshakes. The guy who is serving them milkshakes is God because he is giving them food just like God will do. I wash the dishes for my family after we eat a meal.

Recipe for Making a Better World

5 cups of sharing and caring 2 tablespoons of joy juice 2 pounds of sweetness 5 cups of kindness 1 tablespoon of greed

Take the 1 tablespoon of greed and chop it up until it is in little pieces. Put it in a green bowl. Stir in the 5 cups of sharing and caring. Add the 2 tablespoons of joy juice and 2 pounds of sweetness. Mix well. Bake for an hour. Let it cool an hour. Sprinkle kindness all over it and share! Bruno O., age 11

The Jaguar and the Lion

Once there lived a jaguar and a lion. The lion was fierce and tough. The jaguar was shy and nervous. The jaguar was named Fred. Fred feared many things. A backpack, roller skates, a backpack with roller skates. The lion's name was Jeff. Jeff had no fears. Jeff and Fred went to the same school. Jeff was the school bully. Fred was picked on a lot. The reason Jeff picked on other people was because he was going through a tough time. What he didn’t know was that Fred was also going through a tough time. His fish had recently gone belly up. One day, Jeff saw Fred in the hallway. Jeff rammed Fred into the locker and Fred started to cry. “Take it like a man!!” Jeff said. “You don’t know what I’m going through!” Fred said. “Like I care!” Jeff said. With that Fred ran all the way home. The next day, Jeff rang the doorbell at Fred’s house. “I’m sorry” he said. “Thanks” said Fred. “Friends?” "Friends!”

The lesson is: Don’t be mean to people because you don’t know what they are going through.

Saint Joseph

Born on March 19 His son was named Jude The father of Jesus Christ He died in Nazareth His dad is Jacob He lived a nice life

Mary was his spouse He was a great saint He was born in Bethlehem He prays for you every day He had no siblings He was amazing!

Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos The cemetery is packed Is like any other event With family and friends Today we will rejoice the dead Some with the thought Heaven is where they were sent That the night will soon end

There is so much to do As Dia de los Muertos On this holiday Starts to wind down There is lots of fun games We take one last look And picnics, yes way! At their graves in the ground

We honor the dead We pack up our chairs With pictures we place And all our sweet treats On our family ofrenda I look back at the grave In a protective case And climb into the backseat Camila P., age 11 Bee Yourself

Bee was a little chubby she wanted to be skinny like mosquitoes she so insecure. She was so sad and seating on a bench all alone. When her friend (that was also a bee) named Emilia told her what is wrong. And Bee didn’t say anything. Then she said, "I just don’t like being chubby." Then her friend Emilia said, "But that’s how us bees are."

Moral: Never hate yourself, do self-love.

Fable

One night the ants in the village were going to sleep. David didn’t feel like sleeping—he was full of energy. So, he went to hunt for food. He didn’t exactly know where the food was, so he got lost. But he saw a shadow of an ant and was a bit scared, so he went to hide. IT WAS HIS MOM!!!!And that was bad because if she knew he wasn’t sleeping he would be in big trouble. David tried to run but he tripped over a rock BOOM his mom came running and carried him back to bed. The next morning, he woke up and his mom was so disappointed at him, so David apologized and they were all happy.

Fairytale

One lovely morning the turtle named John went to visit the spider named Jenny. Jenny is so greedy with the food, so she was eating breakfast. When John came to visit her, she was acting weird and pretended she didn’t have any food. John was sure so hungry and asked Jenny if she had something for him to eat she said no. John just said, "It’s ok." And that he was just going to leave for home. Jenny felt bad and went to John’s home and apologized for not giving him anything to eat. John said, "It’s ok and do you want to eat some lunch? And Jenny said sure. Now Jenny is not greedy with the food.

Untitled

Just because we need to social distance doesn’t mean we can stop loving each other. We are all a team.

Time

Jimmy had a busy day Tick tock Had to walk the dogs Tick tock Had to clear the house Tick tock Oh, wait—he finished! Yaretzi R, age 10 St. Yaretzi

I was born on March 25, 1655. I am the patron saint of children. I was a missionary and saw how children struggled for food and water. I began by making an orphanage in Spain. I taught the children about the Trinity and read them the Bible. I began making more orphanages in other places like Africa and Mexico. I became ill months later. I died on September 7, 1755. I was canonized a saint on June 14, 1756.

I Honor the Day

I honor the day we come together as family-- aunts, uncles and cousins. Some of us from elsewhere but some from here. We got together and talked for hours-- cried with laughter. Then the kids went outside to play a round of hide and seek or two. Then it is time for family dinner. We pray and then eat. After it is time to say goodbye

Girlhood of Mary

I love my mother. When she prays, her voice sounds like angels. When she hugs me, her arms feel like a blanket surrounding me. Her brown hair smells like strawberries. Her green eyes look like diamonds. The Blessed Virgin Mary is as gentle as a dove.

Rene T., age 10

The Wise Owl Once there was an old wise owl and a stupid hen. The hen challenged the owl to go as long as possible without moving. The owl agreed. They stood on the other side of the great lake. The hen slowly started to die, but the owl’s friends brought him food every day. Finally, the hen died.

The moral is he who plans ahead often wins.

New Mexico

New Mexico is large, A day or two or even three you should stay, Have fun every day, Learn about old houses that even lack doors,

A ladder to climb a swinging vine,

A very nice stay.

Learn about houses made from hay and clay, One more day to stay?

Untitled the King of all men the Creator of all things here the Maker of you the Father of all men the bringer of light and dark the Maker of all

King of the heavens the Lord of all things everywhere the creator of you the Creator of all the Lord up high the mighty King the creator of us. Agustin T., age 10

The Cows and the Wolf

There was once a large cow farm. There was a wolf who wanted to eat the calves.

He could not, however, because if he ate so much as one of them, the bulls would surely overwhelm him. So, he pretended to be a nice friendly wolf and invited the calves to come on a walk with him. They did, and I’ll let you guess what happened then.

Moral: Never go off with strangers. (If you are a parent, hammer that into your children’s heads.) Menudo

My grandparents make the best menudo, My parents make it too. With ancho peppers they make it nice as prosciutto, And I love it. Don’t you?

It tastes awesome with the pork, And the hominy as well. It smells as good as fresh baked pie, And the spicy broth tastes swell.

The Girlhood of Mary

I love my mother. When she prays, her voice sounds like a heavy wind. When she hugs me, her arms feel like pythons. Her lovely hair smells like ... I don’t smell my mother’s hair! Her green eyes look like emeralds. The Blessed Virgin Mary is as gentle as lightly falling snow.

Guess Which Saint?

This saint started bad But he had bad He became good after he friends who wanted him to do Heard Saint Benedict evil things with them

In early years After hearing Saint His mother wanted him to Benedict he became a become a Christian great philosopher

Remy Z., age 10 The Foolish Boy

Once upon a time, there lived a rich man with three sons.

When the rich man died, the eldest son got $6,000,000 and he spent it wisely buying a house, getting toys for his kids, and doing good works.

The next son did likewise but with only $5,000,000.

The third son spent his $1,000,000 foolishly. When he had only $100 left, he did not go to his generous brothers. The self-centered boy tried his luck and gambled. He quickly lost all his money and starved to death.

Moral: Spend wisely.

The Thunderstorm

While I was in mid-class, There was a crash and a click, The lights went out in the house And in darkness I was surrounded

My brother rushed to my room I went downstairs to rescue the cat I brought the cat up and put her into my room I called my dog and she came

There was a violent wind outside Lightning had struck the transformer So, darkness reigned in our house, And all houses not on the lee-side

The rainstorm stopped like a little child crying Wearing himself out with sobs farther and farther apart When I finally came out, it was to go to the Torellos' A play-date waiting to be had.

Guess Which Saint?

My saint was very holy He did many good works He was a very good bishop He anointed kings He lived to be 99 The cathedral was not done He baptized Clovis But he had to die He also started on the cathedral

Group St. Lucy

Alejandra A. Nathaniel C. Jimena M. Kyra E. Adele F. Sebastian G. Tyler H. Dominic H. Oscar J. Adam K. Lucia K. John-Paul M. Megan M. Francisco P. Citlali R. Natalie R. Thomas R. Masdon W.

Alejandra A., age 13

The Princess and the Cat

There once was a princess and a cat. The princess lived in a castle, and the cat lived under a bridge. The princess wanted a pet cat, and the cat wanted an owner. One day, the princess asked her father for a pet. He replied, “Yes, only if it does not live on the streets.” The princess agreed. So, she went in a disguise to look for her new pet. She walked near the bridge where the cat lived. The cat started purring in the princess’s presence. So, the princess decided to take the cat home. When she arrived at the palace, her father asked, “Why is that cat so filthy?!” She replied, “I found it on the streets, and I decided to take it whether you like it or not.” So, she took the cat to the bathroom, bathed it, fed it, and gave it water. Then the princess went back to go shopping for some kitten supplies. When she returned, she took the supplies to her room and set up a little area for the cat to hang out. Then they lived happily ever after.

Shoe! What a Wonderful Shoe!

These shoes remind me of a pixelated rainbow. I got these shoes for my 13th birthday. These are very comfy and very nice to walk in. They are still very clean because I got them about a couple of weeks ago!

My Favorite ROBLOX Game

It was a Sunday morning and my friend FaceTimed me. She told me there was a new game on ROBLOX, she said it was called "Adopt Me." When we started playing, we liked it a lot but we lost interest because it wasn't updating anymore. Eventually we started playing again two years later. When we figured out how many updates there had been over those two years, we started gaining interest again. Now you know that my favorite ROBLOX Game is Adopt Me! You can collect pets and adopt kids! I play every day because I like to get the log-in streak and with the log-in streak you can get a prize once in a while. There are different categories of pet, there are Common, Uncommon, Rare, Ultra-rare, Legendary, and Legendary is the best one! I have at least six or seven Legendaries! I am also trying to get my dream pets! (I still have a lot to go…) There are so many different possibilities in that game! I can’t wait to discover more possibilities! The way this keeps me playing is that it always updates every now and then! I feel happy and relaxed when I play this game because I know I don’t have to worry about anything when I play ROBLOX. I am glad God created pets and babies or else this game wouldn’t even exist! My favorite hobby is playing video games, so that explains why I play this game often.

Nathaniel C., age 13

The Story of St. Nathaniel the Wanderer

At the end of the Earth’s Great Nuclear Period, I am being canonized in a new world. I lived and preached through the nuclear period. I became a priest in what is now South Appalachia, but it used to be the city of Texia in the state of Texarkana. Even before that it was known as Houston in the state of Texas. I served at a now non-existent church called the Texia Catholic Church of St. Paul. It was a large church that had many followers. One day, the church was attacked by cultists of the new religion that worshipped Xxaaarhe (pronounced Zar-hee) the all-knowing galactic demon. This evil cult brought me to a mountain camp in New Bhutan. I eventually became a wandering missionary in Eastern Eurasia. I converted many countries that had many unusual religions such as the tribes of Echeer and Xolfanc. When the Great Nuclear Period came, I protected a town by converting it to an underground city that thrived for a long time. My greatest miracle was healing a slum ghetto in Western Eurasia that had horrible radiation poisoning from ununseptium poisoning. I was eventually canonized as patron saint of wanderers, film score composers, orchestral conductors, film directors and editors.

Written in Response to the Painting "Nighthawks"

The dark night on the lonely streets of Philadelphia. No one on the streets, the only light comes from a diner. It is open 24/7. The smell of coffee curls under the warm fluorescent lights. Coffee cups clink as a cup is prepared. The refrigerator where bottled drinks are kept buzzes and purrs.

A married couple sits there. A man in a blue suit and a lady with a red dress and matching hair. They wait for their coffee to be brewed. A man in a blue suit and a fedora hat curls over a newspaper awaiting a fresh cigar. Five cents is a great bargain. The server is rummaging through the cups. His hair is jet white and curled in a strange fashion. His coat matches his hair.

The coffee man serves the people as Jesus serves his apostles. He is a humble servant for these people. He wants only to help. The man’s immaculate white coat and hair shine as he tends to his customers. None could be disappointed.

I feel the man is serving me a sandwich. Only willing to help. I say thank you to the man and he smiles proudly. I sink my teeth into the juicy Philly cheesesteak.

Jimena M., age 13

The Tale of Two Cubs

Once there was a time where there were two cubs and they were good friends. The cubs’ names were Cara and Cam, short for Cameron. They were raised together, but they were not brother and sister even though they always considered themselves a family. Cara grew up with her mother and loving father. Cam grew up with only a stone-hearted dad. Cam grew up knowing everything was bad and killing game for fun is keeping your belly full. Cam grew up eating like a carnivore. Cara grew up living in harmony with the earth and only killed for a good meal, for she grew up knowing that she is a herbivore. Cam and Cara did not care that they had different ways of life, but one day there was a forest fire. Cam and Cara had to go their separate ways and find another new forest to live in. Cam found a forest and keep it hidden and just for himself, and to Cam this was paradise. Cara found a great, big forest and many different kinds of animals. Cara had her paradise and had other bears and animals to share it with. Cam searched all over his paradise, but he did not find food to eat. Cam did not have the strength to go and find someplace else to live in and soon died of starvation. Cara living in harmony had a nice, long life and was happy with her crowded paradise.

Inspired by Edward Hopper's "Nighthawks"

The sweet slight smell of coffee, a slight light peering out a window of a diner named Phillies.

A woman in red, two men in black, and a server with the cleanest of white in Phillies.

The waiter making the store stay long after midnight for the three strangers that walk in the night at Phillies.

The person is nice and kind, I wish there were more people in my world like that, in my life.

Kyra E., age 13

St. Kyra the Healer

I can’t believe I’m a saint! It’s only fitting that I tell the story of what led me up to this day. I grew up in the Mediterranean, specifically Italy. I remember the warm sun, beautiful coastal breeze, and stucco buildings I’d pass by every day. I had a goal to help people and to do so I spent hours studying to become a doctor. My parents were very particular about my education. Though, the more I studied, the more I drifted away from my faith. Then one day after I’d completed my studies and had become a doctor, I was sent abroad to a small town in Texas. The people there were going through a severe pandemic. Unfortunately, no scientist so far had found a cure for it yet. I told myself I had to help those people. I went back to my textbooks for months, yet they yielded no success. Then I remembered my faith. How I’d learned all of those teachings about Catholicism. I prayed to God every night for weeks until one day it clicked. The cure! I had figured out the cure. Because of my prayers to God, the people in that town were saved. Well, all except one. This one little girl. She was in critical condition and her parents were worried sick. There was nothing I could do for her except pray and ask God for the information. I remember God’s message to me clearly. Go to the girl, pray over her, and she will be healed. That's what I did. The next morning ​ her family was overjoyed. Yet again, my faith in God had saved another life. I am proud to be St. Kyra, the Patron Saint of Healing.

A Night at the Diner

In the cool, sleepy night of the city, a diner is awake The building is small, and the walls are beige A single gold door resting against one wall The coffee machine whirrs like a gentle hum against the quiet night The aroma of coffee fills the air

The couple A woman with auburn hair and a red dress A man in a blazer and a hat They chatter at the diner’s brown counters sipping their steaming drinks A lone man slouches flipping the tan, crisp pages of his book The waiter clad in his white uniform cleans up for the night

The waiter gives out drinks like Jesus to his Apostles at the Last Supper His white uniform symbolizing purity and grace The couple provides comfort for each other like God intends us to

Adele F., age 12

The Bunny and the Hawk

Once upon a time there was a great big hawk. He loved to soar above the forest to look for a tasty treat. One day when he was soaring above, he saw a small bunny on the ground. In the hawk’s mind he was thinking about how good the rabbit would taste so he swooped down to eat the rabbit. As the hawk’s claws got closer the bunny said, “Please. O please, don’t hurt me I will do anything...maybe if you spare my life, I will pay you back some day.” The hawk stopped for a minute and said, “Ha ha ha, how could a small creature like you help a big mighty creature like me?” The bunny replied, “I don’t know how but…” before the bunny could continue the hawk said laughing “I will leave you, but I doubt you can pay me back.” As the hawk flew away there were two hunters looking for an animal to kill. As they were looking around the hunters saw the big bird and shot its wing and foot. The bird crashed to the ground with a loud thump, it could barely move. This is when the small bunny got on its quick feet and just before the hunters came the bunny got the hawk to safety. The end.

Moral: Good things come in small packages and kindness is never wasted.

God’s Equation

Galileo once said, “Mathematics is the language in which God has written the universe.”

When I do math, I am focused and calm like a bird spreading out its wings. I like that math is like that. I have always had a love for numbers ever since I was in kindergarten. I feel math is very interesting because unlike other subjects, in math there is no "maybe." There is only right or wrong.

Like how in math there are set properties, and, in the Bible, there are ten commandments.

Another reason I like math is that one equation can be used to solve multiple different questions. In life, one person's gift can be used to help others like how prayer helps us in many different ways in our spiritual lives. To me, math feels like a second language because I have dyslexia, that means I may struggle in reading, but math comes easier. To some people dyslexia th is a disadvantage but I use it to my advantage. In 7 ​ grade, I am going to do a high school credit ​ class in math. So, people can do anything.

Sebastian G., age 12

St. Sebastian: Patron Saint of Fishing ​ ​

I became a saint. I would never think about God. My family was going through difficulties. One day I went fishing for fish to feed my family. But there was an old man that needed help more than my family, so I gave the fish I caught to the old man. Suddenly, that old man turned into a beautiful angel of God. One day my uncle had gotten sick with a very strong disease. We would give him medicine, but nothing worked. My family prayed and prayed, but he barely got better. So, I went to go pray for him to get better, and the next day my uncle got better. That was my first miracle.

The Joys of Fishing

“Ah, fishing, one of the wonderful joys of the world.” When you're fishing, you can feel the fresh air and the salty, refreshing smell of the ocean. I also love that when you're fishing you get to spend time with your family and/or friends. Also, when you're fishing and you catch a fish it feels awesome, it almost feels like if you just won a game or the lottery ticket, well at least for me. Like when I caught my first fish or when my dad was teaching me and my sister how to fish, those were one of the best times of my life. Because, well, when you're fishing you interact with God because God created nature and, well, since you are outside, you are not getting distracted by technology. You spend time with your friends and family. Oh, and when we first went fishing, I was the first one to catch a fish, then my sister, then my mom, and finally my dad. The funny thing is that the second time we went fishing as a family it was in the same order we caught fish–me, my sister, my mom, and then dad. Then that kind of changed the third time. We were planning to go fishing this weekend or maybe the next, and if there is anything that I love more than fishing is being outside playing with my friends and/or family.

Tyler H., age 13

The Frog and the Jaguar

One day there was a tiny red frog. It was just eating flies, but on the tree behind there was a jaguar sitting there stalking him. The jaguar was ready to pounce and wreak havoc on the little frog. Then the red frog was sitting there unaware, the fiendish predator leaped into the air with its spots black as the night of day swallowed the frog in one gulp. Well, you see, it was a poison dart frog, so the jaguar fell in a heap and died right on the spot. The little frog crawled out of the feline’s throat and went on to eat flies and attract more predators. Moral: Don’t underestimate anyone.

Baseball

The noises of baseball are roaring in my ear like an elephant’s trumpet. The sights are hitting my eyes like a ray of sunlight on a sunny day. I love the ball game especially on a sunny day. There is nothing more that I like than a ball game. I like the sounds of the ball game like the cheering of the crowds , the Ding of the cold, ​ ​ metal bat, the sound of orange sand being brushed across by the feet of the former batters, and the Poomf of the feet of the base runners hitting the bases. The taste of the air hitting my warm ​ ​ face soothes me from the worries of the game. The smell of the dew on the warm grass helps me become more confident. I love the touch of the baseball smacking into my leather glove and the tremble of the bat hitting the ball in my hands. I feel competitive looking through the glare of the hot sun, glancing at the field, and watching for a ball to hit and land into my glove. I feel the scorching sun like a hundred lasers on one spot on my neck. Sometimes it is painful when the baseball smacks into your large glove. Sometimes the ball feels like 100 steam engines crashing into your hand. But still, I trust in God even when the pain is ten times worse. I pray to God that I catch the ball when it is coming straight at me, and sometimes I do catch it and sometimes I don’t, but I’m always happy when I’m in the ball game.

Dominic H., age 12 St. John

I was born in London, England, in the year 1800. I was given the name of John, after my grandfather. My family made its living by sweeping chimneys. It did not take long before I joined the family business. When I was six, my father gave me a chimney sweep and told me I started work tomorrow. The job barely paid enough to feed my family, so everybody had to pitch in. My father, older brother, and I swept chimneys, and my mother was a maid. Although the job was dangerous and paid little, I believed in God, and this is what kept me from losing hope. One day when I was 16, I was sweeping a chimney when I saw a homeless man on the side of the street begging. I climbed down from the roof and gave the homeless man my lunch. Little did I know that this homeless man was an angel from above. That night while I was asleep, I awoke to the voice of a woman calling me. I looked around and saw The Virgin Mary and the homeless man who revealed himself to be an angel. The Virgin Mary told me to become a priest and devote my life to helping the homeless. I did as she commanded and became a priest and gave the money I made to the homeless. I became the patron saint of wanderers and the homeless. A few years after I had become a priest, I received an abundant amount of old bread. However, I noticed some of the bread had gotten moldy and rotten. Throughout the month, I handed the bread out to the homeless. Surprisingly, not one of the homeless had gotten sick from the mold or rot. Additionally, over the next month, reports came in that the homeless people who received the bread had been cured of their various ailments. I was a priest for 70 years until I died at the age of 86 from pneumonia.

Finding God

It could be the city of Philadelphia. I see a diner that is open late. The diner is on the corner of an intersection and has a curved shape to it. There are two coffee containers in the background. There is the smell of coffee and maybe tobacco smoke in the air. There is the sound of coffee steaming and being poured and sipped. There are four people in this painting, three men and one woman. One man is a waiter who is old and is tending to the customers. One man is sitting next to a woman, possibly his wife; he might be holding a cigar or cigarette. The other man is sitting by himself, possibly reading a book or newspaper. All three customers are drinking coffee. The woman has ginger hair and is wearing a red dress; the two men are wearing suits and fedoras. The waiter is dressed in white and is possibly cleaning or preparing something. God could be the waiter because he is tending to the customers' orders and complaints and is dressed in all white just like the usual depiction of God. The woman and the man are witnessing God's presence; they are in the light. While the other man is not in the presence of God; he is in the dark, still searching. We could be so close to God without even knowing it. This is why we should always be kind to the people around us. It does not matter how a person appears on the outside because on the inside he or she could be God.

Oscar J., age 13

St. Oscar Jaimes

I woke up from my deep slumber and acquired my hat and headed out to the village. I live in Tequila, a small town in Mexico. I wanted to take this position in the church because I like to help people in any kind of condition, including illness. I’m courageous and not afraid to show my religion. Because of this and my many kind deeds, I was canonized after my death. A miracle that I performed involved healing. It was one early morning when I entered the town of Tequila and was peacefully greeted by the smell of sweet bread. As I passed by the sweet bread, I heard the loudest car accident. I ran to the two small blue cars that had crashed. I pulled the people out from the crushed cars. I gently put my hand on top of their foreheads and said the “Hail Mary.” The people slowly got up and were perfectly fine. They went on to have a normal life. Because I healed so many and worked with the poor, I am known as the patron saint of poverty and illness.

The Chances I Give

I remember my favorite soccer player changed my vision for people. This soccer player is named Lionel. I used to despise him. The reason why he had problems with him is because they are rivals. They are also both of the best players in the world. You will never win the fight on who is the better player. I did my research on him and I realized that he had the dream of every other soccer player.

Lionel grew up in an athletic family and played in a soccer club called Grandoli when he was five, coached by his dad. By the time he was eight you could see a dramatic change in his skill even to the point that his team only lost one game in the next four years. Lionel unfortunately was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency when he was eleven that didn’t let him make it to the pros. When he got diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency, he was not helped to pay for his treatment. I now seem to realize that he is a good person.

I have learned that you can’t change someone's opinions on another person because it's never going to work. When you realize that you can’t judge someone that another person likes, it makes you feel bad inside, almost as if you just killed a peaceful butterfly.

I like to give chances to people because you never know what’s hiding behind that smile. Just because I smile doesn’t mean that I have the greatest life. I've been in the same shoes before and walked the same miles as you have, and I understand. You may not recognize the name Lionel, but his last name is Messi. Later Messi grew up to be one of the most successful people in the world. As of 2019, Messi’s net worth is $400 million dollars. He broke many records and won many awards. Messi is one of the many faces of soccer and will be forever in history. It's amazing seeing people make it successful.

I give people chances. Do you? Adam K., age 12 Saint Adam

As a teenager I felt a calling to travel the world. So, when I became an adult I went to South Asia. (Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, The Maldives and Bhutan). When I got to Bhutan, I found a small town high in the mountains called Ladakhsa. No one in Ladakhsa knew how to read or write or, for that matter, do arithmetic. So, I created a school to teach them those things and Catholicism. Now that entire town and many near it are Catholic. I am the Patron Saint of Bhutan. Here is one of the miracles that God performed, with my intercession. There was a rope bridge that four children were crossing on their way to school. Some yaks had chewed the ropes free, but the bridge didn't fall! And when the children got to the other side, they noticed that the only things holding the ropes were my crucifix and my rosary that had been on display in the local church after my death! No one knows how they got there.

The Girlhood of Mary

I love my mother. When she prays, her voice sounds like a reed flute. When she hugs me, her arms feel gentle yet secure. Her Dark Brown hair smells like Roses. Her Dark Brown eyes look like Oak Wood. The Blessed Virgin Mary is as gentle as a a White-Tailed Deer.

A Tale of Two Neighbors

There once were two neighbors. One of them liked straight lines, order, and logic. The other one liked curved lines, chaos, and illogic. The one who was logical had a precisely 80 feet tall and 300 feet wide house. The one who was illogical didn't have any exact measurement. All they did was argue and argue and argue all day long. One day a neighbor had had enough she went over to their houses and told them to agree to stop arguing they said. “We never agree on anything.” “Nothing?” She said, “If you find anything, we agree upon we will stop arguing.” They said, “All right, so whatever you agree with he disagrees, right?” She said to the logical person. “Correct” he said now she turned to the chaotic person and said, “And with whatever you disagree he agrees right.” “Yep,” he said, “Then you agree to disagree.” When they realized that this was true, they agreed to never argue again. Lucia K., age 12 The Flower and the Weed

There once was a beautiful forest where the ground was covered in crisp, green grass and flowers of every color. But the most beautiful flower of all was a dahlia. She had petals the color of a sunset with shades of deep red and brilliant pink. She was gorgeous, but she was vain, and her heart was wicked. One day, a dandelion began to grow. The dahlia was curious as to what this new life was, for she bothered very little with other species of plants. But when the dandelion bloomed and unveiled its bright yellow petals, the dahlia knew exactly what it was. “Help! Help!” the dahlia cried, “There is a weed!” But the dahlia was not hurt. The dandelion looked at the dahlia kindly and calmly, “Why do you speak like this? Are not all creatures created equal?” The dahlia scoffed, “What a silly thing to think! How could a weed like you be beautiful and sweet smelling as I am?” She then turned away and rearranged her many petals. So went the next few weeks. All of the other flowers were scared of the dahlia, so the dandelion was the only one who would ever talk to her. The dahlia found that she enjoyed talking to the dandelion, though she was very cruel to her. One day the dandelion started the conversation. “Dear friend,” she said, “I will not be here for very long. I must spread out over the forest.” The dahlia was perplexed and did not know what to say. After searching for the right words, she turned to face the dandelion saying, “Good riddance!” And that was all. Over the next few days, the dahlia watched as the dandelion’s beautiful petals transformed into white wisps and then floated off. The dahlia was alone in a forest full of flowers. She regretted all of the mean things she had said to the dandelion. “I had a chance for a friend, but I was stubborn and now she is gone,” she wept. Alone she sat, pitying herself for the rest of her days.

Finding God in the Ordinary World

Bright lights come from a small diner. Emerald green paint, dark like the night sky. Late at night. Coffee for two.

Just went to the movies. Had a great time. Bright red dress. Dark suit. The waiter has a crisp white suit. The three seem happy. They’re smiling. Someone sits alone in the dark. He seems troubled. He’s slouching down.

The waiter is like God. The couple is interacting with God, they are happy. The man in the corner is not happy. He is away from God.

When I am with God, I am happy. I feel loved. If you are away from God, it is hard to be truly happy. God wants us to be happy. God wants us to be with him.

John-Paul M., age 13

The Mice and the Mushroom

One day two mice went looking for mushrooms. They walked past a white mushroom which had a little fringe around its middle. The old mouse warned the young mouse to not eat it, but he did not listen. So, when the young mouse went to look for food in the forest, he found blueberries, which he fattened on. Then he found some nuts, which he gobbled down. Then he found the white mushroom, but he did not heed the old mouse’s warning until it was too late. He ate and his eyes were opened, and he saw his mistake and he was poisoned. The moral of this store is to . . . Listen to the voice of wisdom.

Unicycling

It was my birthday and I was opening the last Amazon box. It was very heavy and big. But when I opened it I thought I was handed the moon and I didn't know what to do with it, for inside was a unicycle. The main body was blue and so was the rim of the tire, the seat was black and blue. The pedals were black and so was the tread. I gallantly tried to ride. I thought, “I look like a fish trying to swim in the air.’’ I was right, but when tried again I FAILED, again and again and again. It took almost a year to learn to ride but I kept saying I can do all things through God who strengthens me. But when you do get the hang of it you feel that your head is in the clouds, and some of my friends can ride too , but it is still cool knowing that I am the only one that can ride in my neighborhood, but not for long! My younger brother got one for his birthday, Now, more on how it feels when you are riding. At first you feel as if your head is amalgam pandas, then you go forward, and you feel like you are going to fall but then you lean in the author's direction, then comes the painful part: you fall. But It feels good when you get thumbs up from people that watch you and remember you can do all things through God who strengthens you. Now go and open a big and heavy box and get up on that unicycle. Megan M., Age 13 Saint Megan My name is Megan and I grew up in Houston, Texas, which is the present day the capital of Texas. I decided to become a nun with the Sisters of Saint Cecilia. While I was there, I spent hours in the chapel praying to Our Lord and the Blessed Mother. One day they came in a dream and told me that the head of our order is getting several others sick. They told me to go pray near her for her health. So, I rushed to Mother Angelena (the head of our order) and prayed over her. She woke up once and started coughing really bad and then fell back asleep. When Mother Angelena woke up in the morning, she saw me praying next to her. She asked me why I was there so early. I told her I was praying for her not to get really sick. Mother Angelena told me she felt fine, that it was, like, a miracle. Then she asked me how I knew she was sick. I told her about the image of Mary and Jesus that I had in a dream. Mother Angelena told me to travel around the world and preach the word of God and heal the sick. And so I did, and many miracles happened. Whenever I prayed over a sick person, they always got better. At the age of 99, I traveled back to my old order. The nuns gave me a warm welcome. When I went to bed that night, I knew it was my time to leave the earth, so I called in five nuns who were my dear friends and told them goodbye and that I would be with our Lord very soon. They were sad but happy that I had lived a long life. I later died in my sleep. I was later named a Saint and was canonized as the patron saint of the sick and dying.

The Life of a Dancer [Excerpt]

I’ve been dancing [ballet] since I was three and have loved it. When I was seven years old some of my friends from school who were also in my dance class decided to quit dance. I was very sad and started thinking about quitting but my Mom told me that she could tell I loved dance and I would make new friends. I agreed with my Mom and stayed in dance. Now when I look back, I am so happy that I didn’t quit. I don’t know where I would be without dance. My Mom was right, I made new friends who loved dance just like me.

When I was eleven, I was invited to join a dance team through my studio for ballet dancers who really wanted to get better and better. When I went to the audition, I saw a lot of girls there. I started getting worried that I might not get in. The teachers gave us our numbers and wished us good luck.

When I walked in the room, I noticed some of the girls were being very serious by staring down other dancers and making them worry. I breathed in and told myself not to worry and that the teachers knew I’m a good dancer. My friends and I went to the barre and lined up next to each other. Right before the music started, we all looked at each other and gave each other a smile. We waited; arms poised in position. The music started and we began to dance with detail and a smile.

Francisco P., age 12

Video Games

One of my favorite things to do is play video games. I like video games because they are a very fun thing to do. For example, talking to your friends or playing with them. You could also team up with them to do a certain task. Or you could do story mode which tells you about the character's origin. You could also avoid conflict by playing a video game. These are all things you could do on a video game. I think video games could bring you closer to God by teaching you stuff God would like you to do.

Recipe to Make the World a Better Place

To make the world a better place you need to add a piece of humans, then a bit of ocean, then add land. Try to put the humans in last. Stir the land and ocean.

Greedy Wolf

Max the wolf was a greedy wolf. He wanted everything for himself food, presents, pencils, etc. He acted like everything was his. He also did not like people getting his stuff. Until one day other wolves started treating him like they got treated. He changed his ways of being, realizing his mistakes.

Moral: Treat others the way you would like to be treated. Citlali R., age 12

Fable of Clare

In a land far, far away there was a mother who was selfish of her daughter’s beauty. Her daughter’s name was Clare. She was as pretty as a flower with her red rosy cheeks. She also had a kind heart and cared for others. One day the mother wanted to get rid of Clare, so she took her deep into the woods and told her that she would go get some wood while Clare waited. So, she told Clare to stay until she returned. Clare obeyed and waited for her mother to get back. But she never did. Clare started to get worried and went out to look for her, but she got lost and ended up at a castle she had never seen. She knocked on the door. Someone answered. The royal family let her stay with them. She eventually fell in love with the prince and got married. Clare had not forgotten her mother. One day Clare went to go look for her mother. She went to where they had been living. She knocked on the door. Her mother answered. Her mother was old and sick. She asked Clare to forgive her for everything that she had done. Her daughter had such a kind heart that she took her mother to live with her and her husband in their castle.

Swimming

Diving into the cold chlorine water, starting my first lap, hearing the water splashing as I start to paddle. I've been living in the pool since I can remember. Burning legs, hurting shoulders. Hard work from start to finish. At meets people cheer; it's hard to hear with the noise of splashing water in my ear. My friends help me through the hard and easy practices. My coach pushes me every day to be a better swimmer, and I try to be a better teammate even if we lose or win. The annoying thoughts that go through my head when I am about to start my race. The mini-heart attack I get when they say, "Stand, please." But the moment I drop time I know all the hard work has paid off— hurting muscles, early morning practices— were all worth it. It's not about how much more I can take of the swimming, but how much more I can give. I am passionate about the sport. It's the only sport I know how to do well. When I am in the water I feel like all my problems have gone away, and it's just me and the water. I know God wants me to do good and do something better and I want to give back for what He has done for us. Swimming is my burning passion and my escape.

Natalie R., age 12 My Life as A Saint

I was looking up at the stars, and that's when I got my first vision. I saw an angel standing upon a mountain and pointing to a poor village in a remote location of Nepal. I raised enough money to travel to Nepal and went hiking on the mountain that she was on. As I looked down at the small village, I became filled with the Holy Spirit. I marched down the mountain and examined all the villagers' houses. Many were still trying to be built back due to the devastating earthquake 18 years earlier. I went over to one of the houses and picked up a brick and cement and started building. I miraculously built 40 houses in one day. I became known as the “Swift Builder of God” because I built houses for the poor for 8 years. I fed the poor and gave money to the poor. Every day after we finished building, I would invite them to one of the neighboring farms and teach them about God. I became a nun. I became highly respected and converted most of Nepal to Christianity. When I turned 25, I had another vision from God. I was looking up at the stars just like I did the last time I had my vision. The same angel was on top of the same mountain and was pointing up at the sky. I looked up and saw Mars. I said goodbye to my village and all of Nepal and went to college for 10 years. Even then I still preached about God. When I heard that NASA was starting a colony on Mars, I signed up. The head of NASA called me and asked me why I wanted to do this. And I said, “Because an angel told me.” I was enrolled and became the first astronaut missionary to go to Mars. I helped found the first ever colony on Mars called “Doubo,” and I converted all the colonists on Mars into Christians. I converted many other colonies over the years. I spent 20 years on Mars as a missionary. I read on the news that there was an alien species that they had just found. We could communicate easily. Then I had my third vision. The same angel was on a creature and was pointing at the planet where the aliens lived. I then asked NASA if I could go as a missionary to the new alien planet, but they rejected me. I kept on asking for 5 years until they said yes. I became the first ever missionary to convert an alien to Christianity. I spent the rest of my life preaching about God and converting aliens and people alike. I became the patron saint of aliens, space, Mars, and Nepal.

Finding God in the Ordinary

In the midst of the night Giving loving looks to each other every now and In the alley of Philadelphia then Silence engages the city. The waiter stumbles in and out, fogged with The alley cats wake and the stores close tiredness Leaving only the bar to shine light. The night haze settles in The waiter reflects Jesus and his heart is full and And quiet breeze whisks by. true. While shadows crawl across the walls Though his eyes are nearly closed he still serves. Leaving only the moon to watch God gives him a gentle touch to keep him wide and awake. On the corner of the bar the silent man sits and The couple are in love and are soon to be joined listens. by God. Gray smokey air curls around him. The man alone waits for his call from God While the couple talks in hushed tones and And listens to the whispers of the wind. drinks the dark coffee

Thomas R., age 12

Soccer

What I love about soccer is that when you are a defender, you run, and it exercises your legs. And what you have to do is try to take the ball away from the other team member. What I like about the goalie's position is that when the other team throws the ball to the goal, the goalie needs to have fast reflexes and his eyes got to be fast to see where the ball is going. Your arms got to be strong because you got to catch the ball, or you need to throw the ball, or you need to pass it to your teammate.

One night, I had a dream that I was a soccer player and they were cheering for our team and when we made every single goal, they cheered louder and louder. When we shot that last goal, and when I held that cup, I was glad.

That is my dream, to be a soccer player and show kids that things do come true if you work hard.

Masdon W., age 12

The Two Griffins and the Snake

There once were two griffins that lived in a forest. They were respected as kings in the forest. One griffin was kind, but the other was arrogant and wanted all to bend to his will. One day there was a snake who was old. When the arrogant griffin said, "Kneel," he couldn’t, so the griffin ate the snake. This snake had a young son. He was so mad he bit and killed the arrogant griffin. The kind griffin was sad because of the death of his brother but knew he had been a terrible king and wasn’t fit to even be king. So, the kind griffin told the young snake he was sorry and offered him the throne. The snake accepted, and he was a great king who helped all the creatures in the forest. Moral: Kindness is Priceless

The Mouse and The Rat ​

There once were two mice looking for mates. One didn't care about personality and the other one did. Then the mouse who cared about personality found a mate and the other mouse also found a mate who was beautiful except when he was all alone with her he realized she was a rat. The Mouse despised rats so he made fun of her and threw things at her. This rat was kind though and since she was kind she made friends with a lot of predators. Since the mouse was mean, he had only one friend, who didn’t even stick up for him because he was being bullied by the mouse. So, the rat’s friends now picked on the mouse for being mean to their friend, and now the mouse was an outcast and the mouse became meaner.

The moral of the story is you can’t kill hate with hate, you can only kill hate with love.

Golf [Excerpt]

It seemed I started to love [Golf] the more I practiced it. Like how you get invested in a book and wait on the edge of your seat for the next time you can read the book. I soon became better at the game and loved positive comments from my coach.

My love for golf was growing more and more as I got better, and also because I could visit my Grandma after tournaments. However, my hatred for golf would resurface sometimes because while I visited my Grandma I would get migraines from walking miles around the golf tournament in the hot sun.

When I joined the golf team, it was fun to play a sport I love with other people who enjoy the sport as well, and my love for the sport was growing more and more. I think I love golf so much because I've made friends and had a lot of amazing things happen to me like how I had common interests with members of the family I wasn’t very close to earlier. A year ago, I thought golf was a terrible, boring, and frustrating sport, but I’m glad I tried it. I’m glad my love for the sport did not die out since there were a lot of obstacles along the way while I was getting better at the sport. If I had never tried the sport, I would have never learned how much I love the sport and I would have never met some of my friends. This essay shows you should never be afraid to try new things.

Group St. Clare of Assisi

Gabriel A. Sara B. Victor C. Ivanna M. Katelynn D. Roman E. Susie H. John Paul H. Lisa K. Frazier L. Maegan M. Mary Elizabeth M. Luis P. Sara R. Luz R. Nicholas V. Stephane Z.

Gabriel A., age 14 Hard Times

February 12, 2008. The day. I had a lot of sorrow in my heart and a lot of agony on the inside. I was heartbroken after what had happened to my family and me. In a blink of an eye, my mom had become a single parent. It was difficult not being able to bond with my dad during most of childhood; I had to lie about where my dad was to many of my friends. While my dad served time, I had to realize that you can't take people for granted and people can't always be there for you. “The Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive” Colossians 3:13. I had to learn how to forgive and learn that people very close to you might not always be who they seem to be. One of my most traumatic experiences was one that taught me a lot. I also learned that many people could change after their past mistakes, now my dad is a very influential person and someone who I look up to despite past mistakes. He is very deep in the Catholic faith and someone who loves helping the community. He is compassionate, kind, and a hard worker. Now that my dad is a changed man, I realized how anyone can change if they have the right mindset and with the help of God’s grace. People have to learn to leave their mistakes and bad past experiences for them to become a better person, just like having to scrape off the rust and old paint of a car in order to make it new and shiny. I need to learn how to become a better person by understanding that God is always by my side and be able to see God's hand at work even through hardship and situations I can't comprehend.

Christmas

The joy of the season reaches the luminous sky, The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, We all come together and how happy we are, To see each other after so much time, The faces of my cousins as they open their gifts, The excitement of not knowing what you will receive, Like waiting for a flower to bloom to see its true colors, But best of all the sense of belonging, The melody of the music lightens our heart, I sit on the table, the expectation is high, The smell of the flavors starts coming alive, The colorful dishes looked so appetizing, The tamales wrapped in colorful covers, The pastry all sort of vivid, flowery colors and mouthwatering flavors, Then, like everything in life, it comes to an end, The hard part is goodbye, you don’t know the next time you can see them.

Sara B., age 15

The One Ride That Changed Everything [Excerpt]

I was struggling a lot in English ,mostly on essay writing, because I was never really taught how to write correctly, but after this one memorable trip in the car my entire mindset on life was changed. Continuing my story: the protective "older brother" [my friend] was extremely concerned for me because he thought that I was losing touch with my grades. As the conversation continued, I started talking about my mother who kept pushing me and how she always said that she got all As and got into college. Soon she began criticizing me for getting below an A, this made me feel like I was a failure, someone who just let everyone down. When we got home we were both still invested in the conversation so we just sat in the car as we heard the wind in the trees and my dog barking, excited that I am home after a long day. At this point he looked at me and told me that it doesn't matter what anyone else says or thinks, it only matters what I think about myself because in the end God and I are the only ones that will always be there for me. With this being the conclusion of our conversation, I got out of the car and after watching him go home I walked upstairs into my room still thinking about what my friend had said to me. As this occurred, I thought that he was right. In the end I would be the only one that would always be there for myself, and I cannot continue dwelling on the fact that people will continue to think whatever they want about me but it's how I deal with what people say that truly matters. An example that I can deal with what people say is by focusing on the positive things in life instead of focusing on the negative that other people say about you.

Work

When there is a part of your family that has all had the same job at one point or another it is hard to be confident in your decision to be different if you want to grow up to be someone else in another line of work. Others are used to herding cattle and plowing fields, but when I go for a job I want to patch and heal others.

Victor C., age 16 Next-Gen Yum

Food is a big part of my culture So many different kinds of food Tacos, enchiladas, empanadas, and more We have a lot of food

Tacos filled with different kinds of mouthwatering meat Enchiladas smothered in tomato sauce and cold, shredded cheese Tamales, filled with simple meaty flavors and a hint of spiciness Quesadillas, tortas, sopes, and more

I’ve started learning to make my own food So that one day I’ll know what to do when I’m on my own “Be prepared for anything” as they say And I’d want to be prepared to feed myself

Add salt here Mix this batter in the bowl Roll the flour, mold it into shape I hope I can keep our tradition and culture alive

The Time I Was Thrown into a Bank [Excerpt]

We had to volunteer at the Houston Food Bank in downtown, which was the first time I’ve been there. There weren’t a lot of us in the Confirmation class, so we were stuffed like cheap goods bought on black Friday into some vans and the teachers’ cars. When we got there, the place was a lot bigger than I thought it was and it was very confusing to get around. The entire building on the outside felt like a bread factory, but the inside felt like a cubicle office. If I could put the feeling into words, then it would probably be “bring your child to work day.” After mindlessly walking around, we ended up in a large area with tables. The bright, white lights coupled with the shiny metal tables made me feel like I went straight to the sun with dollar store sunglasses. When we settled in they explained to us that our task was to sanitize and sort donated items. The place was so clean that it smelled of GermX, and even at the end of the day I smelled of it too. Now I knew that a) this is a food bank, a big bank for food, which meant that b) people rely on food banks like this one when they can’t afford their own. But a few weeks later we were given the numbers: all the food we packed was given to hundreds of families around Houston. It was sort of a wakeup call for me. It made me realize that even though we didn’t do a lot, in the end, our work had helped out hundreds of families in need. This helped me learn that any action I would do to help will impact someone’s life, even if it’s just packing brisket sandwich meals into plastic bags.

Ivanna M., age 16

Finding Understanding [Excerpt]

Music has always been a huge part of my life and it has helped me deal with the hardships that being a teenager brings. Losing best friends, the guy you’ve been crushing on not even knowing you exist, or just feeling like you’re not understood. I’ve been going through my first ever heartbreak and it’s a tough one. It’s something that no one around me (my parents or my friends) have gone through. I felt alone as if no one understood. Feeling as if no one could hear me scream for help. So I searched for comfort in music but I no longer felt at peace with the songs. I no longer sunk into this trancelike state where I escaped reality. If anything, it felt like reality hit harder. This is about the time I realized that I should put my experience down on paper. I’ve attempted writing songs before but I always compare myself with the artists I listen to, so I would always give up mid-song. I would send these half-written songs to my friends and they would tell me that I should keep going but I always got discouraged. This time felt different. I felt as if no one could make me lose myself in a song better than me. I felt as if I will never fully understand myself listening to music unless I make it myself. It took me 3 hours for the lyrics and another 3 for the melody. I spent the entire day cooped up in a room with a window overlooking the everyday lives of my neighbors, scattered and crushed paper on the floor, a piano that hasn’t been tuned in years, and the mystery that the notes on my phone were ready to unlock. I finished the song and it felt different than any other song I’ve written. It was as if a little ten year old me was back and decided to go after her dream. I’ll admit I did not like the song after listening to it multiple times, but it was something I created. It was something that I was determined to do and that made it all the more special to me. This song transported me back to the night where everything in my life changed. Where I felt like everything I knew or believed was all a lie and that I will never be the same. This song made my experience feel like a distant and faint memory. One that you remember when you have kids and they end up going through the same thing. It didn’t seem like a hurricane to me anymore but just a small storm. Putting my emotions into words has always been a challenge for me. So being able to express how I felt through music helped me understand how my emotions can control my actions. This helped me grow as a person because now I realize that my emotions get the best of me and that sometimes it’s not the end of the world even when it feels like it. I decided to tackle my dream and got in contact with a friend and was able to record my song. I’m still in the production process but being able to do something that I have only dreamt about meant the world to me. I’ve been given so many opportunities to chase my dream, but I let every single one slip through my fingers, thinking to myself that there will always be other opportunities. This time I felt like God called me and told me that I have nothing to lose and why not use the gift that He gave me. Now I see every terrible experience in my life as a blessing. Not only can I use that to fuel my creativity, but to grow as the person God wanted me to be.

Katelynn D., age 14 Life Changes [Excerpt]

The first of the major changes is that I have an organ disorder and a heart problem. Starting off the heart problem, as you may or may not know we are all born with a hole in our hearts that closes. My heart, however, has not closed that hole and has caused a strain to my heart. That causes enough problems in itself, but now I have a disorder too, here it is: Dextrocardia Situs Inversus Totalis—my organ disorder that causes the appearance of the organs to be backwards. This disorder causes a medical EKG or electrocardiogram to impact negatively, like having a heart attack even though I’m sitting there talking to you. These new additions to my life have put a strain on money with having to buy medical bracelets/necklaces that can help keep me alive. The bracelet I have is a soft, sleek silicone piece that connects to the metal plate that has the disorder engraved in the back of the plate. The front has shiny glossy black engraved letters that give the EMTs my mom’s and my information. The front also has a very beautiful, sleek, smooth red medical symbol. This first realization had started about a half a year to a full year before the second realization came to be. A few months ago, my cousin, Aidyn, who lived with her aunt, my Auntie Karla, who lived a few blocks down the main street of our neighborhood from my house, moved in with us unexpectedly after an argument that had split their relationship in two. Having Aidyn living with us has definitely caused me to discover emotions, situations, and arguments I wished I would have never come by. Now I have not only learned the difference in hierarchy order, emotional distress, loneliness. This feeling of loneliness is like a thunderous roller coaster of emotion because they [siblings] are both younger than me and they love to play with Aidyn and completely leave me in their dust. But I learned to get over it and pass the time by reading Harry Potter. So far I have read three of the books and only since Aidyn arrived at my house early March. I have definitely had lots of fun and tons of new emotions, but this is not the last moment or moments that will happen in my household during the summer through the next year.

Humans

Humans can be socially active yet lonely in their hearts They can be knowledgeable yet adaptable and helpful Most are uniting but some frustrating and annoying Some are strange and crazy some are amiable and loving Most are wise and the others are worthless All humans though are unique and different Their attributes similar to a dolphin Both are extremely intelligent Humans are special God’s very own creation Special as always Roman E., age 18

Hope Arrives

My Hope arrives when my dad departs, a cop to toil for the common good. My mom returns from other parts, To bring us back some decent food.

Sometimes she brings some beef and rice, to make taco plates that are quite nice, and other times she gets to-go, hope they didn’t forget a condiment, oh no!

My Hope arrives when Sunday departs, when the drab week ahead me looms. The equations and essays vex. Me and my Hope take it day by day.

When all else fails and all seems lost, when order becomes warped and out of rhyme. I remember yet I’m still alive. So I can keep holding onto Hope from time to time.

Eating What Jesus Ate

I remember very fondly of my time in the Holy Land, seeing where most of salvation history played out. But one experience that definitely stood out was eating the local food. From the dry sweetness of the dates, to the fresh lamb, vegetables and unleavened bread, I had realized that these local foods were eaten by the old prophets and kings alike, that would include the One

Prophet and King: Christ Himself. It reminds me that even Christ once enjoyed these in a human manner. That he intentionally bonded with matter, that it and us, become fully sanctified.

Susie H., age 14

Tamales

Bright orange walls Covered with pictures and paintings. The smell of roasted peppers Fills the air. On the beige tile counter Sits corn husk and pork, Ready to be used.

My grandmother stands next to me Spreading masa with the precision of Seventy years of experience. Her fingers pale and wrinkled With time.

On Being a Minority [Excerpt] When I was six, I remember my mom was watching the news, and they were talking about “illegal aliens”. I asked her if there were aliens in America, I asked her if aliens were real. She told me that the people on the news were talking about people who came to America from other countries. “Why are they calling them aliens?” I asked her “That's not nice mom, they’re humans not aliens.” Why couldn’t they be called immigrants? They are humans. Not aliens. People come to this country for a better life, not to be dehumanized. Third grade history class. We all sat in a circle on the rug. My teacher taught us about slavery. She told us how people from Africa were brought on boats to America. How they were sold as workers, except they weren't “workers” because workers were paid, not beaten. These people were not workers, they were slaves. For years they were forced to work with no pay, no breaks or days off, and were hardly fed. Even after they were freed, they were seen as less than human, not treated equally or even being allowed to sit in the same restaurant as the “Americans”. Why is it that even though they were forced to be here, black people were, and still are oppressed? In seventh grade, an Indigenous woman came to our class. She showed us Native songs, clothes, dances, and ceremonies. Students were called up to try on accessories made of rabbit skin and bang a drum, as she burned sage to purify the room. She told us about her tribe and the reservation where they lived. It all seemed so amazing, an entire people living in this beautiful region, just doing their own thing. Someone asked her about the history of Native Americans, from her perspective, as we had only learned it as it was written in the textbooks. That day, we were told about the 3000 people who died after they were forced out of their own homes. Forced to walk over 5000 miles in the dead of winter. But what impacted me most, was a picture of a mother feeding her baby, and she was shot. She lay dead on the ground, but her child didn't know that.

John Paul H., age 15

The First Time I Went to Church

When I first went to church as a baby, I didn’t remember much so I am just going to write about the first time I remembered. I walked in with my parents, looking up at them. My dad in a nice polo shirt, and my mom in a black dress.

There were people scattered everywhere upon the pebble floor. As I started looking upwards, I noticed the giant wooden cross with Jesus on it. I didn’t know who he was, but little did I know I was about to find out. This first vision of church would be the one I would see for the rest of my life.

Of course, there are many times that I don’t feel like going to church. Usually, it is because I don’t want to wake up or I am too lazy. But when I get there, I feel a different feeling. I feel blessed, I feel touched by the Lord. The church is the place where I feel safe and peaceful.

Going to church has felt different lately. We don’t have to wake up early or get all dressed up. We sit in our living room and attend church virtually. Even this way though I feel closer to Jesus.

So, there is not just one thing or one event that has brought me closer to Jesus. It is the times I am at church like my very first time and like last Sunday in my living room that I feel closest to Jesus.

The Old Man and Me

Where are you going old man? Looks like your heading home I didn’t think that was your original plan Yeah I guess you just want to be alone You and I will have to hook up another day So we can go out and play. As my grandpa, I know you’re getting older So, I’d still like to lean on your shoulder Let’s make these good times last Because I know we can still have a blast

Lisa K., age 15 Education Reform [Excerpt]

A few months ago, I was struggling with my chemistry homework when I came to the sudden realization that I would have loved this subject when I was ten. At that age I liked reading long scientific books, and I was able to understand them. Furthermore, I would not have resented the subject for taking up so much of my time because back then I wasn’t busy with other things, and there really wasn’t anything I would rather be doing than learning Science. This got me thinking about how different my life would be if I had been pushed academically when I was younger. I theorized that myself, and most people I know, could have finished all their high school work by the age of 13. This would leave our teenage years free for college, work, and for fun and helpful activities. I think that by your teens you should be spending more time on networking and gaining a marketable skill than on sitting in a classroom. In your teenage years you should be independent enough to be dropped off at, or organize, service projects, which help your community and look great on resumes. In addition, you can build your resume by working and if you are working you also get to save up for when you have to support yourself. There are better things to do with your teenage years than high school, and there is plenty of time to do high school classes before you are a teen. Some people might think that kids need eight years of academic foundations before they can start high school, but this is incorrect. Once you can read and write, there is no reason not to jump right into high school English 1. This class is mostly about grammar and how to write essays. Neither of which need much introduction.

Laughing Fox

Most people view foxes as creatures of mystery, But that is not what they are. When a fox trusts a person, they are even more expressive than dogs.

Yes, they are wild, and yes, they should be free, And when they are they avoid us, and thus wrap themselves in mystery.

But in their wild homes they play and run together, They take care of each other, They laugh together.

Some foxes cannot survive in the wild on their own, So people must care for them and through this we can learn, That foxes too will live, laugh, and love those who treat them kindly in return.

Remember that foxes are never pets, Remember that they should be wild, But remember that they are good animals who love to laugh together.

Frazier L., age 16

Basketball

Basketball is something that goes into my mind deeply because it helps any emotion that I am in It helps me to show that progression is something that you can do if you put all your effort to it

In basketball the only attention I need is to put the ball in the hoop

A Basketball Moment

The power in a ball that gives… the hard emotions that go away just from the energy of playing basketball gives… The way exercising your body gives you… “Peace”.

A moment that led me to personal growth was when I could be alone in a basketball court where the only sounds I can hear is a basketball bouncing and only smell sweat, my own sweat showing the progress of me trying to get better. By seeing and smelling the sweat, it shows you that you are doing something right. I can feel the need to make sure the ball goes into the net and put my focus on one thing, and it was to make the ball go to the net. It helped to realize how it’s okay to relax and be by myself and to get better.

When I relax and practice playing basketball and feel the ball that has sweat on it and I'm making sure I can follow the ball while practicing, it helps me to release any type of emotion and helps me relax. It helped me and showed me how I could always progress in life if I put in the time.

As I got better at basketball, I could get better at more things in life. I could realize that progress is real and when I needed help in basketball and someone helped, I realized to help others too. From talking to teammates, then talking to other people, I could progress more than just in basketball and be a better person from the experience of basketball and being able to be alone to be able to talk to others and seeing that progression is a real thing.

Maegan M., age 14

Chariots with Silver Wings

Before my eyes chariots with silver wings appear Below my feet the earth turns blue and up and up I veer Beside the spot where I had been I see my friend still stands I only hope he knows that all of this is in God’s plan Before my eyes chariots with silver wings appear

Friend or Foe-You Tell Me [Excerpt]

Who knows one of the greatest anomalies of the human race? Our greatest enigma? That, teeth bared and maws wide open, drives your heart up your throat and into your mouth. That claws and scrambles, tosses and turns--within the very heart of your stomach. That unexpectedly attacks that jumbled knot of uneasy nerves at random, causing you to assume a state of hyperactive vigilance and panic. We all take part in this suffering at least once in our lives, and it can either be your most hallowed blessing--or your deadliest curse. Do you have a word in your head yet? Yes, no? Well, for those of you that have guessed it, congratulations. And for those of you that haven’t, I do not know whether to call you extremely lucky--or gruesomely unfortunate.

Still thinking about our mysterious little nuisance? Well then, allow me to put you out of your misery, my friend. The word you are currently looking for is anxiety: a sense of nervousness or unease--commonly known as the butterflies in your stomach. Anxiety, when it is healthy, is actually good. It is the voice inside your head that tells you to watch out for pedestrians when you drive, the voice that warns you not to engage strangers, the voice that scolds you when you think about buying something unnecessary or expensive. Now, I would like for you to tell me what can trigger you to become anxious. Public speaking? Trying something for the first time? Doing something that could potentially get you in trouble or embarrass you? How about standing up to that one kid that won’t leave you alone. What about talking to that special someone? If any of you can relate to any of these situations, I'm here to tell you that this is completely normal.

Mary Elizabeth M., age 14

Dreams of an Adventurer

I’m sitting and thinking, dreaming of the day when I can Tack my itching wings to see the places far away.

My being is made of the stuff that longs for the wild but gentle mountain side To sit on their rolling roots, the green grass a carpet under me. To lay back and see the blue sky reaching down and meeting the snow-covered mountain tops.

I would love to spend the winter days in a snug swiss cottage, the Christmas tree standing clad in candles by the home fire. To see a little village, gleaming in the snow! As tired but happy I hike up to meet its homely glow. Now to English ground my mind wanders.

How I would enjoy walking through the misty streets of London Town! To be headed to an old dusty library filled with forgotten manuscripts all there for me to read would be one of the greatest of joys! And to head back to the place where I stay, a small apartment where I have large window views, my head filled with all I have read. My imagination runs to my historic home!

Oh Scotland! My homeland, of winding roads, and green hedges and highland fields, just to hear the blessed sound of bagpipes echoing through the early morning plains. The blood of my country men, spilled for the heart swelling cause on this rich earth, that has supported my ancestors in their harvest yields. Flight of mind takes me to the land of grape vines.

To see the angelic light streaming through the windows of great Notre Dame. Alas for the Fiery wrath that consumed you, oh beauteous house of God! That day of ruin I said a prayer of petition to God, asking that one day I will be able to see you, if not but your ashy remains.

Oh, simple mind of mine, how you delight and torment me! Giving me images of faraway yet whispering to me that my dream is as far as they.

I’m sitting and thinking, dreaming of the day when When I can take my itching wings to see the places far away!

Luis P., age 16 Success [Excerpt]

A moment in life when I changed my perspective and changed it to personal growth was not too long ago. It was on a school day, there were baseball tryouts afterschool and I was working so hard to make it to the team. Unexpectedly, I didn't make it on the team. And so I am now working out every day and I honestly think it has impacted me big because I did work hard but I was not putting as much dedication, I was having a lot of laziness and no hope, basically you can say I was not dreaming big. But ever since that event that caused a huge impact in my life, I started working out three days a week and I'm still in the level of eating healthy but then eating unhealthy because unhealthy food can be very delicious too. Even though I am still skinny for other people's perspectives, I am proud that my body has evolved ever since I started working out, I actually look way more athletic and I have this new mindset that whatever happens. I know to not give up and to not listen to other people's judgements against me because I know I can play college and then in the majors if I just put my hope on God.

This change has definitely put me way closer to God. I remember I used to hate talking about God and I did not like anything to do about it. I did have respect when I got to the church though, and I am not ashamed to say that I was like that because I changed and now I want more to do with God because it actually is quite interesting and it just gives me good vibes . I approach life differently now by praying and working more to get closer to the top of the cliff.

The Desert Camel Tall Big legs Desert like Big

I am like a Camel Long from head to toe Born in the desert Breathing in the hot air of the earth Powerful legs that hold from day to night

Living in a beautiful empty desert with colorful sunsets Traveling alone or with one partner Our thoughts are quite similar Strangely comparable but yet understandable.

Long bushy eyebrows and long eyelashes, The hump on their back and the small one in my nose Smarter than a horse but slower than one We are able to survive hard conditions, keep our chin up , And the toes in the ground. Sara R., age 17

Trust He Did Give

The sound of chirping siskin brings up the morning sun Its bright rays pass through the forest trees Smell of morning mist brought up by the earthy breeze.

Two young Irish men march their way to receive their feast. Next to arrive Clouds above appear in dark complexion.

As they stride through their path the view above covered in gray, the feeling of tears takes up their attention They stare their eyes on the roaring sky above and as they do, more than tears they do feel Run, Run Run, they express. As his heart thumps and pounds.

Far but not impossible they try to reach the end of this trail The men see light Together they guide each other through the darkness

At last the two young men reach the path of light Without a fear now they share a smile Knowing that his trust could help guide each other through his darkest times.

Our Need for Him

Before this incident of always being inside our homes I used to always wonder, what would happen if one day they would just close all churches, how would we feel and how would we react? And then the pandemic happened, and I wasn't sure how long it would take and our family began using technology “to go to mass”. But as the weeks turned into months, I started to become inpatient. I began noticing that it was not at all the same as physically attending and receiving the blood and body of Christ. I started to really understand how important the Eucharist is later during our time at home. Because I couldn't physically receive the Eucharist, I began to feel really distant from God. I felt that by not attending church or surrounding myself with other people to teach so I could learn about God I was starting to wrap around the worldly things of this world. At first, I started using my phone a lot which caused me to always have my face to my screen and away from my time from God. And because I started to surround myself with worldly things I became like an unrecognizable person. Because I felt distant, I began to recognize my need for Him. Luz R., age 15

The Lemonade Fall

On a sunny day I decide to sell lemonade I put a poster outside that I made. To persuade the clients to come on in. I start going round and round around the block With my big green bike.

In my big green bike, I start screaming and shouting Freshly squeezed Lemonade! Lemonade! As I was going round and round the block I decide to head back to my house. As I was heading, I stumbled on a rock With my big green bike.

In the sky I was because of that rock As is I hit the ground BAM! My body said. My mom running for the first aid As blood was running down my elbows l as I was on my way to sell lemonade.

As I stood I heard giggles coming from the neighbors I also laughed replaying my fall in my head. The memory engraved in my brain Learning people laugh with you or at you. If somebody laughs at you it hurts more than a fall.

My Experience as an Altar Server

Being on a stage or an altar is very nerve wracking. When I'm at the altar I feel like all eyes are on me and when I get nervous my head goes blank and I start touching my hands a lot. Before I was an altar server I wouldn't have had the confidence to present a project or speak up in front of someone. I used to get really scared and I felt like my heart was pounding out of my chest. I still have those days where I just get really nervous and feel like I am going to mess up; something I do to relieve my nerves is keeping my mind focused and not thinking negatively.

The first time I ever served I didn't even know what I was doing. I wasn't able to go to the training that I was supposed to go to. The Sunday before the Mass that we were going to serve the altar server coordinator told us to view the servers that were serving during that Mass. The following Sunday me and my two siblings were going to serve. We didn't even know until that day as you can imagine I wanted to run out of the Church, but I wanted to overcome that fear, so I stayed. Nicholas V., age 14 Vacation

I walk on the hot golden beach in the afternoon Holding the hands of my great aunt and great uncle Waves roll in and out and make our bare feet tingle

Then the fiery sun warms us all over again We find shells all around us Some are white like a shining shard of china Others are pink as a pearl in an oyster

I raise my little head up to see long shining white hair and glittering glasses I turn the other way to see a smiling face with old teeth and a head of thinning hair

The three of us walk between the burning coarse road and the cool wavy ocean Between the bright blue sky and the summer snow Our feet digging into the sand Moving with the sand grains Moving, moving, moving on…

Separated from the Body and Blood

I never in all my years attending Mass and receiving the Eucharist thought that a pandemic of all things would keep me from going to mass and receiving this important sacrament. It was a little sad at first to miss out on receiving the precious gift of Jesus’ living body and blood and having that close of a union with him. But when I think hard about it, I remember that Jesus gave his body and blood to his apostles so that they would be reminded that he would always be with them even though he should pass on from this world and return to God his father. Recall that the whole point of prayer is to leave behind the troubles of this world and be alone with God himself so that we may ask Him to help us make our world better. In that silence and stillness, God is truly with us and in us He finds a home.

Since we cannot physically receive the Eucharist due to the pandemic, we are asked to pray a prayer that says to Jesus we are still with him in spirit even though we cannot be there physically. And isn’t that the idea of receiving the gift of the Eucharist in the first place? So that Jesus is with us and in us in spirit? If we can achieve that same kind of union with him in prayer, then there is no reason to despair and think we are not still in union with Christ. That said though, this does not negate the importance of the Sacrament of the Eucharist, and I hope that sooner than later, we will be able to go to Mass again and receive it.

Stephane Z., age 14 Geography

Geography is a very fun way to learn about the world around you. I enjoy memorizing the capitals of the many countries. Some capitals are easy and some are hard, but all capitals in the end are worth the time. Europe was probably the easiest. My dad was surprised when I came up with an obscure country inside South Africa one day . Learning the capitals of countries around the world helps my memorization. Geography helps me think of all the other countries out there. Traveling the world would be fun because seeing the cultural heritage of many different countries is fascinating. European countries such as Austria, Germany, and France would be quite illuminating. The Eiffel tower in Paris and the city of Vienna would be cool to visit. My mother and father’s families live in Canada. I enjoy biking and walking the paths in downtown Ottawa along the Rideau River.

The Midwest region of the United States near the great lakes is very pretty. Virginia and the Carolinas are pretty to drive through with the varying topography. Florida would be fun as well, and I have been told Miami is quite pretty. I think I would enjoy going to northern Africa to see if I could dig up some rare dinosaur bones in Morocco. Australia and the Pacific Islands would be fun to visit. The Sydney Opera house would be beautiful. The Great Barrier reef would be a grand adventure on which to embark. South America and Asia would be fun, but these areas are a bit on the wild side because you will get to see new animals, which would be exotic. (I am not too sure about the insects.) It would also be attractive to go to the Middle East and maybe embark on pilgrimage to Jerusalem or see the mountains in Jordan or the cedars in Lebanon.

Geography makes me think of the beautiful countries God made around me and the peoples and creatures that inhabit them.

Summer in Canada

Every year around late June, early August we go to Canada. Our first stop is about one hour and a half out of Toronto to a small town called Port Dover. There on my Mom’s side live my Grandparents, Great Grandparents, and most of my cousins.

Canada is very beautiful, the many forests make you feel the wildlife. After a week there we usually went to Ottawa where my Grandmother, Aunts, and some cousins live. Just across a bridge on the Quebec side lives my sister Hannah and her family. Usually, we stay for about two weeks then drive home.