2010 Respect Life essay contest
The Archdiocese of San Francisco’s annual Respect Life Essay Contest has gone green! With ecology and all things “green” constantly in the news, we felt it was time to ask our students to look at the environment through the lens of Catholic teaching.
This year’s theme was based on Genesis 1:26-28: “God made man and woman the center of His creative work and gave them responsibility for caring for creation.”
When God created the universe, he created man and woman as its crowning jewel. He set them at the pinnacle of creation and gave them a unique role as the world’s stewards. By endowing them with His image and by placing them in authority over all other earthly creatures, God gave men and women superiority and priority over the rest of creation.
Environmental groups have long argued that population growth causes a host of environmental problems. Promotion of birth control, abortion and sterilization are seen as efficient and cost-effective means of reversing the degradation of the earth’s resources, the pollution of water and air, and even global warming. People are considered a threat to the environment instead of stewards of creation.
In his World Day of Peace messages, Pope Benedict XVI responded to this way of thinking by advocating a model of development based on the centrality of the human person, on the responsible use of resources and on a realization of our need for a changed lifestyle. He stressed that our duties towards the environment flow from our duties towards the person.
While environmental stewardship seeks to harmonize the needs of all creatures, we can never treat man as anything but the apex of creation. Our Catholic school students in grades 1 through 12 used great originality in expressing their views on today’s environmental problems and in offering solutions.
The contest challenged students in grades 1 through 8 to write an original essay of no longer than one page. Students in grades 1 and 2 could submit drawings along with their essays. High school students could write up to two pages.
The essays were judged on the student’s ability to articulate his or her understanding of the issues, the message of the Catholic Church in relation to those issues and his or her own personal commitment to implementing the Church’s message.
Forty schools, including home schools and parish religious education programs, participated in this year’s contest, the same number as last year. A total of 505 essays were submitted, up from 490 in 2009. Each school, religious education class or youth group chose the three best essays in each grade.
The winners were honored at a liturgy and awards ceremony June 6 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, with Archbishop George Niederauer celebrating.
The grand prize and first prize winners received savings bonds ranging from $50 to $300.
By Vicki Evans
Vicki Evans is Respect Life Coordinator for the archdiocesan Office of Public Policy and Social Concerns.
2010 Respect Life essay contest winners
Grades 1 and 2
Grand prize Caitlin Fitzgerald, St. Monica
First Prize San Francisco Sean Gleavy, Holy Name of Jesus
First Prize San Mateo Matthew Caldwell, St. Matthew
First Prize Marin County Taylor Martin, St. Isabella
Honorable Mention: Alexander Ross, Megan Furth Catholic Academy; Marian Ford, Home schooling family; Ethan Ignatius, Holy Name of Jesus; Charlie Sjogren-Black, St. Philip the Apostle; Christina Lei, St. Mary Chinese Day School; Jules Mulwa, St. Thomas the Apostle; Caroline Callagy, St. Gregory; Antonio Balestrino, St. Gregory; Anthony Padilla, St. Dunstan; Parker Daley, St. Matthew; Brandon Jones, St. Timothy; Mia Jariya, St. Veronica; Kelly Richter, St. Hilary; Kate Brubaker, Our Lady of Loretto; Isabella Rendic, St. Isabella; Prudence Kelly-Andrews, St. Anselm; Grey Snyder, San Domenico.
Grades 3 and 4
Grand prize Jnelle Aganan, Holy Angels
First Prize San Francisco Carina Leung, St. Monica
First Prize San Mateo Kevin Callagy, St. Gregory
First Prize Marin County Peyton Beck, St. Isabella
Honorable Mention: Fiona Crook, Star of the Sea; Leanna Tarongoy, Our Lady of the Visitacion; Alexandra Lewis, St. Philip the Apostle; Jacqueline Yu, St. Mary Chinese Day School; Izabella Doricko, St. Cecilia; Evan Cosentino, St. Dunstan; Mary Kate Gaffney, St. Charles; Paul Bruni, St. Catherine of Siena; Jennifer Irene Sharpe, Our Lady of Mercy; Brenda Escobar, All Souls; Victoria Ramirez, St. Matthew; William Litzenberger, Our Lady of Loretto; Brandon Radu, St. Hilary; C.C. Clark, St. Hilary; Kathleen Winnick, San Domenico; Gianna Sullivan, Our Lady of Loretto.
Grades 5 and 6
Grand prize Amanda Vallecorse, St. Veronica
First Prize San Francisco Kiki Murdock, Star of the Sea
First Prize San Mateo Connor Paulbitski, St. Robert
First Prize Marin County Sarah Calabrese, Our Lady of Lorreto
Honorable Mention: Joseph Lofton, Megan Furth Academy; Sophia Warden, St. Philip the Apostle; Jeremiah Espino, School of the Epiphany; Matthew Ordona, St. Peter and Paul; Gabriela Ramos, Corpus Christi; Gabrielle Mercado, Holy Angels; Andrea Escobar, All Souls; Matthew McPartlan, Immaculate Heart of Mary; Peyton Young, Immaculate Heart of Mary; Emma Casey, St. Charles; Ben Hunter, St. Isabella; Scott Gavney, St. Isabella; Christa Collman, Our Lady of Loretto; Genevieve Finn, St. Anselm; Kathleen Gray, St. Anselm.
Grades 7 and 8
Grand prize Meagan Abbey, St. Isabella
First Prize San Francisco Mikayla Hambrick, Megan Furth Academy
First Prize San Mateo Stefan Salem, St. Dunstan
First Prize Marin County Elise Todaro, St. Raphael
Honorable Mention: Erin Ford, Home schooling family; Aileen Winkler, Star of the Sea; Caya Carpenter, St. Peter and Paul; Ethan Carzon, School of the Epiphany; Kim Velarde, St. Anne; Luis Valle, St. Finn Barr; Elliot Wong, St. Mary’s Chinese Day School; Erika Klaudette Olazo, Corpus Christi; Evan Quirk, Our Lady of the Pillar CCD; Corena Gregorio, All Souls; Andrea Lim, St. Dunstan; Anthony Graham, St. Veronica; Kevin Reynolds, St. Veronica; Lauren Bissell, St. Timothy; Jenna McCormick, St. Matthew; John McGhee, Good Shepherd; Tavia Vitkauskas, Our Lady of Loretto; Molly McInerney, St. Anselm; Jacqueline Dobbas, St. Isabella; Byron Barrientos St. Raphael.
Grades 9-12
Grand prize Katie Modesitt, Notre Dame High School
First Prize SF Colleen Ford, Home schooling family
First Prize San Mateo Elizabeth Hurley, Notre Dame High School
Honorable Mention: Caitlin Ford, Home schooling family; Theresa Chase, Immaculate Conception Academy; Laura Westbrook, Notre Dame High School.
From July 16, 2010 issue of Catholic San Francisco.
