Faith & Reason Essay Contest

In commemoration of the 50^th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, Benedict XVI has declared that the period from October 11, 2012 to the Feast of Christ the King in November, 2013 will be celebrated as a Year of Faith. During this year, Catholics around the world will be giving special attention to the Council documents, to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and to the Word of God. In addition to asking us to study these essential documents of the Faith, the Holy Father has also reiterated his teaching about the importance of meditating upon the history of the Church:

One thing that will be of decisive importance in this Year is retracing the history of our faith, marked as it is by the unfathomable mystery of the interweaving of holiness and sin. While the former highlights the great contribution that men and women have made to the growth and development of the community through the witness of their lives, the latter must provoke in each person a sincere and continuing work of conversion in order to experience the mercy of the Father which is held out to everyone.

We all have saints from whom we take particular encouragement and inspiration. I know how much continual encouragement that I receive from meditating upon the life of St. Gregory the Great, the patient labors of the Irish monks, and the heroic missions of the Jesuits and Franciscans in North America. You too, I am sure, have your own favorite figures and episodes in the history of the Church.

In light of Benedict XVI’s observation about the need to “retrace the history of the faith,” I am pleased to announce the 2013 Faith & Reason Scholarship Essay Contest.

Applicants are invited to submit an essay of 2 to 3 pages on a person or episode in the history of the Church from which they have learned an important lesson.

Submission Information

Essay submissions must be mailed or emailed by January 25, 2013.  Essays that are emailed are due by 11:59 PM on Friday, January 25, 2013. Awards will be made by February 8, 2013. Essays should be two to three pages typed, double-spaced with 12-point Times New Roman font and 1-inch margins on all sides. Applications must include a coversheet listing the applicant’s name, address, telephone number, e-mail, high school graduation date, and age. Completed applications should be sent to the Admissions Office, 6 Manchester Street, Merrimack, New Hampshire 03054, or via e-mail at admissions@ThomasMoreCollege.edu.

The Faith & Reason Essay Contest is open to all incoming freshmen at Thomas More College.

Awards

First place prize of $30,000 over four years.
Two second place prizes of $20,000 each.
Three third place prizes of $10,000 each.