What is the contest?
The reviewers have now selected the winners of 2024 winners for our vocation essay competition. The winners of the $1,000 tuition assistance grants to a Columbus Diocese Catholic High School will be named on this page after they and their parents have been told of their achievements.
The contest will be offered again during Fall 2024. The questions will be similar to the questions for 2023. They were:
IThe Columbus Serra Club is asking each and every Catholic eighth grade boy in the Columbus diocese to devote some careful thought about becoming a priest. We are challenging eighth grade boys to write an essay of five hundred words or less answering a question about whether God might be calling them to the priesthood. Writers of the ten best essays will be awarded a $1,000 tuition assistance grant to a diocesan Catholic high school.
What were the toics for the essays?
With five hundred words or less, write an essay on one of the following three topics.
1. I think that God might be calling me to be a priest because…
2. I do not think that God is calling me to be a priest because . . .
3. A priest who has played an important role in my life is _______ because he… God might be calling me to follow him into the priesthood because .. .
May assistance be sought in writing the essay?
This is not a take-home test. Feel free to discuss your thoughts with your family, friends and your pastor. The evaluators are interested in your thoughts and your own words about yourself in relation to the priesthood and God. They are not interested in reading generalities about the priesthood such as an AI app produces. Most importantly consult the highest intelligence. Pray that the Holy Spirit guide you in probing your heart and mind to hear His call.
How are the essays to be submitted?
Submit your essay as an email attachment in Word to kielkopf.1@osu.edu by . Include contact information about your parish, phone #, email address and mailing address.
When will results be announced?
Decisions will be sent to entrants in early February 2024.
What happens to the essays after they are submitted?
Submitted essays are the property of the Columbus Serra Club. The Club will try to publish some essays or, excerpts from essays, in the Catholic Times or other promotional literature for the competition.
For further information, , Email: kielkopf.1@osu.edu or text 614-558-0806.
End of Information & Instruction page for Columbus Serra Club’s Priestly Vocation Essay competion.
Charles F. Kielkopf, Professor Philosophy (emeritus) the Ohio State University donates this page on his Blog Site to the Serra Club of Columbus.