Essay Contest Rules Due out in August

Plans for the 5th annual “Stories of Our St. Louis Sisters” Essay Contest are taking shape. The contest, sponsored by the Incarnate Word Foundation and supported by the Catholic Education Center, is a way to acknowledge the important roles these women religious have played and continue to play in the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

Under contest rules Catholic school students in grades fifth through twelfth are invited to submit an essay describing the work of a woman religious they either know directly or have learned about. The students describe the unique contributions of these women, and how they can incorporate these women’s actions in their daily lives. They describe how they can make their own world a better place following the example of the sisters.

Bridget Flood, IWF executive director, says the contest has three important goals. “We want to express our gratitude to these women religious, we want their stories to be told since we know they are too modest to tell them, and we want their leadership, courage and good works to inspire the younger generation of the Catholic Church. Keeping the sisters’ legacy alive is the greatest gift we can give them.”

Student essays are judged by a panel of retired women religious. Winning essayists and their teachers receive $100 Amazon gift cards. All schools with winning essayists are eligible for a drawing to win a $3,000 grant from the foundation.

Schools will receive specific contest information in mid-August. More information will also be available on this website or by contacting Terry Edelmann at 314.712.4216.