We asked students to reflect on this essay prompt: “Jesus teaches us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us. How can we, as followers of Jesus, stand up for peace and against the growing violence in our country?”

We received submissions in two divisions (grades 6-8 and grades 9-12) from students currently enrolled in a Catholic school or Catholic religious education program. Following are the winning essays.

Maryknoll Father Leo Shea (left) presents the Bishop Francis X. Ford Award to Evelyn Keown, first-place winner of Division I of the 2023 Maryknoll Student Essay Contest. With Evelyn are Principal Jennifer Insua and Father Tom LaBo. (Courtesy of Leo Shea/U.S.)

Division I (Grades 6-8)

First Place Winner: Evelyn Keown, Gr. 8
A Life of Peace

Corrie Ten Boom once said, “You never so touch the ocean of God’s love as when you forgive your enemies.” Ten Boom was a Christian woman placed in a concentration camp for hiding Jews in her home. She spent the rest of her life speaking on the courage to forgive, just like when she chose to show peace to a Nazi guard responsible for her sister’s death. In today’s world, wars, cruelty and discrimination have become part of people’s everyday lives. However, we can be like Corrie Ten Boom and act with love in our hearts as God would want. As our society becomes more violent, we can follow the example of Jesus by showing grace to our neighbors, practicing the Catholic Social Teaching on solidarity, and being an example of peace.

By showing grace to the people around us, we can bring peace to our world. As I have grown older I have had the opportunity to meet many new people and through these people, I have learned that everyone is fighting their own internal battle. Mental illness has taken over many people’s minds and hearts. While a person may look normal, inside they can be fighting a struggle that we could never begin to understand. Romans 5:20 says, “Where sins abound grace abounded much more.” God has repeatedly shown us his mercy through the forgiveness of our sins. We can learn from his example by empathizing with those who need it. I have worked to be a friend and shoulder to lean on which has helped me show grace to all of God’s creation.

Continually, the Catholic Social Teaching on solidarity has become a vital principle to living a life with Jesus at the center. Through the development of social media, I faced many incidents of cyberbullying. As humans, we are quick to judge what we see, but we must remember that everyone was made in God’s image. The Catholic Social Teaching on solidarity calls us to see everyone as our brothers and sisters. I try to work in my life to recognize all people as part of God’s family and welcome everyone no matter their race or social class. Working as one united community can bring our world the love it deserves and through solidarity, we give hope to those who have none.

As our world grows apart, we can be good examples of peace through our words and deeds. In my life, I have begun working as an assistant to help little children learn to dance. Through this experience, I have realized how much of a role model I am for them. They look up to me not only as a teacher but also as a friend. I want to show those little girls how to act with grace and love in all aspects of their lives to make our world a brighter place. Even though I am working on a small scale to spread joy to others, this can lead to a ripple effect of kindness. As a disciple, I show other people the Jesus in my heart by the attitude I emit to the world. Through my words and deeds, I work towards being an example of how to model the love God gives me, therefore, spreading peace to our community.

Many inspirational people have changed our outlook on life through their work to make our world a more peaceful place, however, everyone can work toward this goal by what they say and do daily. Jesus calls us to love our enemies and to do this we can show mercy to all of God’s creation, practice seeing everyone as equal, and be a model of the Catholic faith. Even though I am just one person working toward peace, I know this amounts to thousands in the eyes of our Heavenly Father, so it will always pay off.

Division II (Grades 9-12)

First Place Winner: Olivia Mikkelsen, Gr.12
Peace the Saint Francis Way

This evening I went to Mass with my family to celebrate All Saints Day. During the offertory, one of my favorite hymns, based on “The Prayer of Saint Francis,” started playing. As I sat in the pew, meditating on the words, “Make me a channel of your peace, where there is hatred let me bring your love,” I felt the deeper meaning of the song in the world we currently live in. The lyrics of this song encapsulate how I desire to live my life, and how I believe young Catholics need to live in this day and age. With all of the violence in our country, not just physical, but in our words and our actions toward others, there is no better time for the young Christian community to step up and fight for peace in a world full of darkness and despair.

It often feels like every direction we turn these days, we are surrounded by violence, making it challenging to bring peace into the world. Just because it is challenging doesn’t mean it is impossible, though. With God’s guidance, as the hymn says, we as Christians can bring “light in the darkness, hope in despair, and joy in the sadness.” I believe that our actions speak louder than our words. My journey as a young Catholic disciple began in middle school when I started attending youth discipleship camps. These camps lit a fire and desire in me to follow the only person who can bring peace to our lives.

As a young Catholic disciple, living out my faith has not come without challenges. However, I have found that in our small community, there is a great need for role models in a world full of bad influences and scary situations. For several years I have been following God’s call to be this person for the young people in my community. When I was in 8th grade, my sister and I were asked to teach a catechism class for the first graders. My immediate response was yes. I wanted to be an example for these children, just like the incredible people who had taught me about Jesus. Without their guidance, I don’t know where my path would have led. I’m so thankful that Jesus gave me supportive parents, guiding missionaries and amazing priests along the way who have formed me into the leader I am today.

Over a year ago, my friend, sister, and I established a youth group for the young people in our community. This group was formed to be a place of peace in youths’ busy lives filled with tough relationships, family problems, bullying and education struggles. Young individuals encounter numerous difficulties on a daily basis, and they don’t all have access to a place of peace to help them through the challenges. Our youth group also provides a platform to discuss the violence happening in the world from issues with war, sex trafficking, and mass shootings, to all of the other atrocities surrounding us.

I believe that if we as Christians are able to promote peace in our communities through various programs, the younger generation will take inspiration from these actions and continue to bring peace to their communities in the future. I believe that no one is too far gone to be transformed by the power of God through the people around them. Our small acts of kindness and words of encouragement can quite literally change a life, and when those actions continue, entire communities, cities, states and even nations can be transformed, and turn from their violent ways. My hope is to leave a lasting impression on my community, and that the generations after me will continue to lead our youth group as a place where all youth are welcome to come and enjoy peaceful interactions with other each other and our Lord.

As I move on to the next step in my journey, I am committed to live out the words of Saint Francis and be a “channel of peace” for everybody I encounter along the way.

Second Place Winners