There’s something special happening at St. Mary’s Parish in Barrie. Students facing the stress of exams are met with a thoughtful gesture: Exam Survivor Kits. This initiative, led by St Mary’s Pastor Larry Leger, is about showing young people care and encouragement during one of the most challenging times of the school year.

For over 15 years, Father Larry has been distributing these kits in the parishes he’s served, often at Sunday Masses or during LifeTeen nights—Catholic youth ministry for teens. Each kit is lovingly assembled with items meant to bring both practical and spiritual comfort:

• SmartFood popcorn and Smarties 

• A pen and pencil 

• A chocolate chip cookie, baked using a recipe Father Larry learned during his seminary days.

• A prayer card to remind students of their faith and community support.

“The real impact of the kits is on the parish as a whole,” Father Larry shared. “It’s a way for the community to remember to pray for these young people as they face the pressures of exams. It also bridges the connection between the parish, the school, and the students.”

Volunteer Renee Maloney pointed out the inclusion of prayers like the Prayer for Study from the Salesians of St. John Bosco (the patron saint of teachers and students), and a Litany of Saints, specifically those who are patrons of education, learning and youth, to encourage students in their studies and remind them of their faith as a source of strength.

“It’s really on our hearts to love and serve young people where they’re at, and where they are right now is in exams,” Renee explained. “The kits are our way of sending them off with support, snacks, and prayers—something to sustain them physically, mentally, and spiritually.”

The feedback speaks for itself. Students have shown up to Mass and LifeTeen nights during exams, looking forward to these moments of connection and support. And for Father Larry, the hope is to one day ensure that every teen in the parish community receives a kit, whether they attend LifeTeen nights or not.

The Exam Survivor Kits are a beautiful example of faith in action—a community coming together to support its young people. At St. Mary’s Parish, they’re not just giving out kits; they’re sending a powerful message of love, prayer, and encouragement to students facing exams.