Winners

High School Papal Essay Contest Winners Move Hearts, April 9, 2008

"I cried as I read the essays," confessed Sister Donna Marie "They are powerful expressions of faith and love on behalf of our young people." "The finalists’ essays are so moving and potent," exclaimed Mark Salisbury, "Choosing a winner was extremely difficult." Such were the judges’ comments in the nationwide Words of Welcome high school essay contest organized in preparation for Pope Benedict’s visit to the United States.

Contestants wrote a 500-word essay and then a one-paragraph personal welcome to the Holy Father . A panel of eleven judges chose six regional winners from a field of over 2767 contestants representing 116 high schools in 37 states. From the six regional finalists, they named Michael Wahl the national winner from Bishop Hendricken High School in Warwick, Rhode Island. Michael wrote on Tradition and Progress and impressed the judges with his depth of understanding of the Pope’s writings. Michael greets the Pope as follows:

"With hearts full of joy and gratitude to God, we welcome you to the United States of America. Your presence is a source of great hope for a part of the Church that seeks to renew itself in service to God and His people. Having you in our midst is a great privilege that we hope will inspire the Church in America to again return to her roots, embracing tradition and progress in a healthy balance. We pray that your visit will set our hearts ablaze with faith, that we may bear great fruit and grow closer to God. May your time with us bring abundant blessings to your pontificate, our nation and the Church."

Colleen Ahern of the Highlands School in Irving, Texas won the South Central Regional Prize for her essay and greeting on The Church: Community, Reality & Pursuit. Colleen addresses the Pope with a big Texan welcome, "Although I will be half-way across the country when you arrive, I know that your blessing will extend over the entire nation, just as the Church you lead extends across space and time."

Other winners include the following: Mary Donavan of Archbishop Spalding High School in Severn, Maryland won the Mid-Atlantic Region for Be Not Afraid. Emily Kroner of Sacred Heart-Griffin High School in Springfield, Illinois won the North Central Region for The Positive Influence of Catholicism. Paige dePolo of Bishop Manogue Catholic High School in Reno, Nevada won the West Region for The Catholic Influence on the United States. And Clarissa Ashley Price of Mount de Sales Academy in Macon, Georgia won the Southeast Region for Embracing Catholicism, Embracing the Immigrant.

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