Youth News: Teens Plan Youth News For 2004-2005

Published: October 21, 2004

ATLANTA—Over a lunch of New York-style pizza and through the blessing of St. Francis de Sales, patron saint of journalists, the 2004-2005 Georgia Bulletin Youth Board began its new year.

On Sept. 25, several members of the Youth Board came together to plan upcoming issues of Youth News, the special monthly supplement of The Georgia Bulletin targeted at high school teenagers.

There are over 20 members of varying ages on the board this year and many have returned for a second year.

Megan Sennett, 17, a junior at Chattahoochee High School and a parishioner of St. Brigid Church in Alpharetta, has authored her “Media With a Message” column for the past year and is back for a second term. She enjoys combining her passion for writing and for her faith “in order to contribute to something important that reaches a wide audience.”

“It is also very fun to write about current movies, TV shows, CDs and books that are appropriate for all ages,” she said, adding that she hopes to make a difference through her writing. “This year, I hope to inform Catholics of the relative merits and morals of various forms of popular media in my column. I wish to appeal to the Catholic teenagers that are attempting to lead a good and honest life in our increasingly immoral world.”

Other teens, like Melissa Bennett, a 16-year-old junior at Etowah High School and a member of St. Catherine’s Church in Kennesaw, said she hopes to gain knowledge through her work at The Georgia Bulletin.

“By being a member of the Youth Board, I hope to learn more about my religion,” she said. “I also hope to make a difference by teaching other teens more about our religion on a teen level.”

Mary Beth Gizinski, a sophomore at Blessed Trinity High School in Roswell and a member of St. Catherine of Siena Church, is a new board member. She hopes that writing will help her in her faith journey and also help her peers.

“In this year I want to become closer to Christ. By writing articles that make me ask deeper questions of myself than I might want to, I am finding who I truly am,” she said. “I hope to challenge people to think more by joining the Youth Board. If one of our articles was to help only one person change for the better then I think we have done what we were called to do.”

The Youth Board will meet quarterly to help plan the issues of Youth News. At the first meeting, members were given medals bearing the image of St. Francis de Sales, and were encouraged to incorporate prayer into their writing.

Michelle Hehir, a senior who attends St. Matthew’s Church in Winder, said she joined the Youth Board to become involved with other young Catholics.

“I’m very excited to have a voice for people our age,” she said. “By being involved in the Youth Board, I would like to grow deeper in my faith.”

Stephen Lenahan, a senior at Our Lady of Mercy High School in Fairburn, said he is “excited to be back” on the Youth Board for a second year and hopes to one day become a professional journalist.

Robyn Keuler, also a senior at Our Lady of Mercy who is returning to the board for her second year, said that writing is a passion she doesn’t always get to share.

“Writing for Youth News gives me the opportunity to voice my opinion to many people, most of whom I will probably never meet. I came back because the group is a fun bunch of people and I love hearing their stories and ideas,” she said. “It also allows me to show my creative side, a side of me that most of the people who know me are not familiar with.”

The Youth Board is open to all high school teenagers with a passion for their faith and for writing. As it continues to grow Youth News relies on the ideas and energy of its young readers.

For information e-mail youthnews@georgiabulletin.org.