Marian Essay Contest
The annual Marian Essay Contest was established through The Catholic Foundation’s Father Frank X. Zammit Endowment Fund to provide students with the opportunity to deepen their devotion to the Blessed Mother and better understand their own role as disciples and stewards of God’s grace. This year, close to 400 faith-filled entries were submitted from middle school students expressing their thoughts on how Mary, as our loving Heavenly Mother, intercedes for us and gently leads us to Jesus. The Marian Essay Contest is open to 5th-8th grade students enrolled in a diocesan Catholic School, Parish Faith Formation or Youth Ministry Program. The author of the winning essay receives a $1,000 scholarship award which can be used for Catholic school tuition, domestic mission trips, San Pedro retreats and/or to donate to the diocesan parish, school or ministry of their choice! An award is also be given to the top 7/8th grade essay and 5/6th grade essay as chosen from the remaining entries.
Contest entries combined Catholic scripture, history, reflection and personal testimony. This year’s 1st place winner, Annabelle W., is an 6th grade student at St. James Cathedral School in Orlando.
Annabelle reflected on the theme: Mary, Our Heavenly Mother – Mary is our loving Heavenly Mother who intercedes for us and gently leads us to Jesus. In your essay, reflect on how Mary cares for you personally. Describe a time when you felt her comfort, guidance, or protection and share how you can turn to Mary more intentionally in your daily life to deepen your relationship with Jesus.
“Mary, our heavenly mother, has a heart full of love, compassion, and care. I look up to her as a second mom, and she listens to what I have to say. I thought talking to Mary had to be a formal conversation, like talking to the queen, but I was wrong. Talking to Mary is like talking to a friend. Mary has everlasting love for me as she does for Jesus.”
This year’s submissions were simply outstanding and after review the following top place entries were selected along with fourteen Honorable Mentions:
Overall 1st Place: Annabelle W., St. James Cathedral School
Click Here to read Annabelle’s essay.
Top 7th/8th Grade Entry: John Paul C., Good Shepherd Catholic School
Top 5th/6th Grade Entry: Josie G., St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School
Honorable Mentions:
- Eleanor A., St. Mary Catholic School
- Anna A., St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School
- Victoria D., St. Peter Catholic School
- Samantha G., St. James Cathedral School
- Amelia P., St. Margaret Mary Catholic School
- Lucas R., Good Shepherd Catholic School
- Luciana R., Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School, Melbourne
- Michael R., Ascension Catholic School
- Sophie S., Annunciation Catholic School
- Graeson S., St. Mary Catholic School
Marian Essay Contest entries go through 3 stages of reviewing:
- Finalist: The top entries from each reviewing group were then ranked by the Secretariat of Education and the President & CEO of The Catholic Foundation.
- Preliminary: Did the entry meet the basic requirements and was it relatively free of major errors.
- Review Committee: Entries were then scored by two of our review committee members.
The Catholic Foundation engaged a diverse group of panelists representing many perspectives of our faith family, including clergy, religious, and Catholic lay leaders to serve on the Marian Essay Contest Review Committee:
- Sr. Maria Teresa Acosta, SCTJM – Executive Assistant to Bishop Noonan
- Elizabeth Cook – Dean of Campus Ministry and Religion Teacher, Trinity Catholic High School
- Lynda Dennis – Secretary/Treasurer of Women’s Philanthropic Giving Circle and Ex-Officio Board Member, The Catholic Foundation
- Sr. Rosemary Finnegan, O.P. – Director of Adult Faith Formation, St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church and Spiritual Advisor of Women’s Philanthropic Giving Circle, The Catholic Foundation
- Diana Garcia – Development Manager, Catholic Charities of Central Florida and Member of Women’s Philanthropic Giving Circle, The Catholic Foundation
- Sr. Gianna Grace, SCTJM – Associate Director of Vocations, Diocese of Orlando
- Bryan Gent – Director of Campus Ministry and Theology Teacher, Melbourne Central Catholic High School
- Fr. Ken Gill – Pastor, Basilica of St. Paul and Board Member, The Catholic Foundation
- JP Kuhlman – Director of Mission Effectiveness, Bishop Moore Catholic High School
- Dana Johnston – English/Media Teacher, Melbourne Central Catholic High School
- Lana Kaczmarek – Digital Communications Manager, Diocese of Orlando
- Alyson Kendust – Member of Planned Giving Advisory Council, The Catholic Foundation
- Clara Melo de Paula – Marketing and Digital Engagement Manager, The Catholic Foundation
- Siobhan O’Malley – Member of Women’s Philanthropic Giving Circle and Planned Giving Advisory Council, The Catholic Foundation
- Kelly Ordonez – Vice Chair of Women’s Philanthropic Giving Circle, The Catholic Foundation
- Marco Robles – Data Control Specialist, Diocese of Orlando
- Sally Studlo – Member of Women’s Philanthropic Giving Circle
- Lori Tolland – Board Member/Chair of Women’s Philanthropic Giving Circle, The Catholic Foundation
More information
The Marian Contest is administered through the Father Frank X. Zammit Endowment Fund at The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida in conjunction with the Secretariat of Education and Secretariat of Laity, Family and Life.
If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Oliveras at (407) 246-7177 or loliveras@cfocf.org