The Catenian Association is a Catholic social and charitable organisation operating nationwide, with 5,900 members across the country.  It has a longstanding tradition of supporting young people, including hosting an annual public speaking competition for local Catholic schools, where students are invited to speak for four minutes on a topic they are passionate about.

A team of St Mary's Catholic School students took part in the recent regional round of the competition, with one of our students gaining an impressive podium finish. 

The competition was held at St Edmund's College, near Ware, the oldest Catholic school in the country, with students from around Hertfordshire, Essex and North London taking part. St Mary's entered three Sixth Form students: Oliver, Chidiogo and Christabel, with Christabel achieving second place out of a very strong field of 16 entrants.

Christabel spoke with feeling and insight on the challenges young Christians face in a society dominated by secularism and social media.

The school also took along a number of other sixth formers to spectate and provide moral support, and everyone enjoyed an interesting and inspiring day out with so many excellent speakers taking to the lectern in the historic surroundings of the college.

English teacher Mr Ockendon prepared and trained the team of speakers and, along with Careers Co-Ordinator Mrs Knight, accompanied the students on the trip.

Mr Ockendon said: "We were so proud of our students on the day, who all represented St Mary's so positively. The speakers set an inspiring example to us all with their courage and eloquence as well as through their thought-provoking speeches. Christabel's podium finish was very well-deserved against some top-class opposition."