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2009 Essay Contest Winners
John-Michael Schneider
We can all remember a time in our lives when we have felt a sense of hopelessness. In my own life, living with a very sick sister left me with this feeling more often than I would have liked. Unable to do anything to stop the progression of the disease, I watched my sister slowly lose her ability to walk, talk, see, hear and swallow. One night still remains clear in my mind. After coming home from visiting my sister in the hospital, I went straight to bed, exhausted, though unable to sleep. As, I lay awake, I stared at the crucifix on my bedroom wall and began to cry softly: “Where are you God?” Looking back at this time in my life, I am thankful for the gift of religious education, as it allows me to deal with my fears, helps me find meaning and most importantly, helps me realize that no matter what challenges I am faced with in life whether they are big or small. God will always remain with me.
As a musician, and as someone who is devoted to serving God through music, I am often reminded of the famous text from Psalm23: “…I will fear no evil: for thou art with me…” It is a recognition that God gives us the strength to overcome, even in the face of everyday anxiety (in my case, singing in front of a large audience). An important lesson I learn everyday attending a Catholic school, is that God is not simply a defender who will come to our aid when we ask. Rather, we develop a personal relationship with God, and this relationship itself is what helps us to face our fears. We cultivate this relationship in a number of ways; through prayer, through thought, and through acts of kindness. For a long time I did not understand this dynamic, and thought of God as a faraway being, somewhat detached from personal experience. When I was confused, my religious education helped me form an understanding of God that has become an intricate part of my paradigm. I came to realize that because we are all made in the image of God, that there exists within all of His creation a ‘spark of the divine’. Equipped with this idea, I was ready to continue to cultivate my relationship with God with a greater understanding, and through this relationship I have been able to deal with my fears.
Religious education has also changed who I am in that it exists as a part of a ‘community of faith’ that is built around religious life. One of the most liberating experiences is being able to discuss God and defend my ideas, knowing that I will undoubtedly face constructive criticism, but will always be treated with respect. This faith community also provides me with the opportunity to sing to the glory of God every Sunday, which on top of being important to, cultivating my relationship with God is also very important to my development as a musician. Furthermore, religious education has broadened my knowledge and perspective on a wide variety of social issues that are the center of debate. While in all honesty, I still not know where I stand on many social issues, analyzing such issues at school, at church and at home, has allowed me to approach the discussion with a wider range of ideas, and this too, is remarkably liberating. Through the faith community, of which religious education is an intricate part, I have found meaning in life.
Several years ago, my sister died while in the hospital. The doctors had told us her chances of survival were low, but still, no amount of warning could have lessened the impact of her death. Once again, feeling lost and hopeless, I turned to God. I read a Bible passage written in a card one of my teachers had given me a few days later: “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 15:13) I knew that God was my friend, and I could feel the spark of the divine flicker within me. I knew that there was still meaning in life. As I lay awake that night, I stared once again at the crucifix on my bedroom wall, and began to cry softly: “I know you’re there.”
Christopher Long
No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl; instead he puts it on the lamp stand, where it gives light for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise you Father in heaven. Matthew 5:15-16
My Catholic education is defined by Christ’s Sermon on the Mount. Throughout my education I have been challenged by my teachers to shine my light – to use my God-given strengths to empower the world around me. Christ’s message of the shining light is the roadmap that has guided me as a Catholic leader throughout high school and will continue to inspire me to do good works in Jesus’ name in university and beyond. My teachers, parents and community have recognized my talents – my strengths in public speaking and writing – and have continually challenged me to use these talents as a Catholic leader with a virtuous spirit. My commitments to social justice and compassionate action are embodiments of my lifelong relationship with Christ – and I believe without a doubt in my mind that this faith-integrated action is a direct result of my Catholic education.
Last April, I had the privilege of traveling to an impoverished Honduran orphanage with twelve of my peers and educators. Throughout my high school experience my teachers have shown me the light of God by showing compassion for others – through large social justice actions such as donating food or clothing to the local youth shelter or by simply appreciating the gifts of my peers around me, I have been taught to understand the world by recognizing Christ’s eternal presence in it. The profundity of this lesson was shown to me during my time in Honduras.
I will never forget the Nuevo Paraiso hospital. Nuevo Paraiso is a small village in Honduras and its community hospital was relatively new and a blessing for the suffering community. Most of the building was in one slender hallway with cabinets – full of potentially lifesaving medicine – and rooms on either side. At the far end of the hallway shone a brilliant light from a window behind a beautifully crafted, awe-inspiring Crucifix and a small altar. I wondered reverently about the people who had knelt upon that altar and prayed for their loved ones. I realized that the Crucifix – was the light at the end of the hallway – it was hope. It was hope for the community and hope for the future. It was Christ’s love that made the hospital possible and Christ’s presence that provided all these people with hope.
I had the unique opportunity to talk to my chaplain about my experience in the hospital. And in doing so I was given the chance to discuss faith with her and my peers – I could talk openly about my faith in God with others. Christ was with us in Honduras; we each had the opportunity to see Him and with our group we could share our experience and come to know God through each other. This shared faith is integral to our Catholic education, as we have been given the rare opportunity to discuss faith in God within an educational context. We walk as a community toward God. We are together in Christ because of our Catholic education.
When we returned to Canada, we had the opportunity to share our experience in Honduras at home and in our community. By telling stories about children without families, of families without proper homes and of all the kids my age whose meager dinner left them hungry - we had the ability to shine our light in the community. Social justice became a life calling for me – compassion became the essence of my spirit and I threw myself into my community and became a Catholic leader. My Catholic faith has always been integral to my identity but after Honduras I chose to put my Catholicity into action. My commitment to social justice and community spirit will continue to guide me throughout my university career and beyond.
I am defined by my Catholic education. It has shaped me into the person I am today. I have been molded by my teachers’ call to shine my light as Christ preached in his Sermon on the Mount. It is my absolute goal in life to act as a leader in my community, unwaveringly driven by Catholic virtue. Christ’s call to ‘shine your light’ so that others can see is integral to my identity – my ultimate goal is to be an instrument of hope. Like the altar in the Nuevo Paraiso hospital I want to use my light to brighten the world’s darkest corners in harmony with Christ’s message. We are all given a light to shine, as leaders we are all called to illuminate God’s works on earth.
Christopher Oppermann
Pope John Paul II, in his encyclical Fides et Ratio, described the relationship between faith and reason with the following words: “Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth.” My experience of the Catholic faith through my religious education has taught me what I believe to be the greatest lesson of all – that Faith and reason, heaven and earth, God and man have an intimate and profound connection with each other.
My first experience of this reality came while I was attending minor seminary, discerning a vocation to the priesthood. Our eighth grade religion course, an introduction to apologetics, revolved around the theme of fides et ratio. I soon became fascinated by an aspect of Catholicism I had never been acquainted with before. As I learned that faith is compatible with reason, I realized that my Catholic belief was more something that was only “true” during religion class. The faith could inspire me to draw new insight in other subject areas.
The Catholic doctrine of fides et ratio, however, is much more than an abstract, academic concept; it has great relevance to life in the “real world.” The lesson of faith and reason teaches us that our Catholicism can and should penetrate, influence, and even drive our way of living. It inspires me to make ambitious attempts to help others. My Belief in the importance of Christian charity drove me to head a school-wide service project that successfully raised over $26,000 in one year to build dormitories for an indigent boarding school in rural Zambia. This same belief continues to inspire me to organize service trips to the local homeless shelter with my classmates, and to lead my local parish’s boys’ club.
But when one only engages in relatively infrequent, “large-scale” acts of faith, he still runs the risk of compartmentalizing all of the lessons his faith teaches him. Since the Gospels tell us that trustworthiness in small matters is necessary for trustworthiness in great ones, I have come to realize that it is imperative to constantly live according to the tenets of Catholicism. None of these actions need to be very noticeable: A cheerful smile, a polite comment, a small prayer for another – all things will suffice to do good. Their effect can have a much greater impact than intended. Mother Teresa once said, “ In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.” In essence, this is what Catholicism is about: doing ordinary, everyday tasks with extraordinary love and a supernatural outlook.
The vast majority of Catholics will never join the clergy. Many of them will not become world-famous, accomplished professionals. Instead, they will continue to live relatively obscure lives. I count myself among this group. It is likely that only an incredibly small percentage of the world’s billions of people will come to know me, but by integrating my faith into everything I do, I can still have a profound, eternal effect upon the lives of the people I meet. By living by example, by being another Christ to others, I can help bring about their salvation. This is much greater than anything a politician, doctor, engineer, or businessman can do. This is not to say that these professions are not important; they are, but the benefits they bestow are only temporary and disappear when we depart the world. But the powerful, salvific effect that a faithful, educated Catholic can have on those around him lasts forever. It is eternal.
Matthew Calardo
On the surface, a cross is nothing more than two intersecting pieces of wood. However, within this physical symbol lies the deeper meaning of Jesus’ gift of eternal love for us. Catholicism is often expressed in terms of symbols. Bread, oil, water, fire, sheep shepherds, mustard seeds, and wedding feasts are all physical signs that help us, the universal congregation of the Church, better understand the mysteries of our faith. They are outward signs of an inward reality. Likewise, symbols may be broadly universal, or deeply personal. The school uniform, for example, is often a symbol of Catholic teaching, but for many people, the connection stops there. To me, the uniform means something more. It is a representation of who I am, where I have been, and where I hope to be. It reminds me of the lessons I have learned throughout my Catholic education; that my actions are a reflection of my school, my values, and my Catholic faith.
I strive to be a symbol of my Catholic education. It has provided me with the tools I need to change this world for the better. It has bestowed upon me the gifts of empathy, leadership, and determination.
Empathy means being able to share the thoughts and feelings of others. It is the first step in helping someone in need, and the reason why I have accumulated over 200 service hours throughout my high school career. Empathy is interwoven with my conscious, contributing to my sense of right and wrong. It causes me to act on my values and ideals in order to help those around me. My desire to better this world led me to the impoverished country of Honduras. The children there have virtually nothing, and yet they possess and unwavering faith in God. They are surrounded by violence and poverty, but remain overwhelmingly hopeful and optimistic about the future. More than anything, the children of Honduras yearn for friendship. Empathy is feeling that emotion and acting on it. My high school Catholic education gave me the opportunity to go to Honduras, and, in a small way, help less fortunate children of God. The lessons learned in Central America were truly humbling, and I now possess a greater appreciation for the life God has given me.
My Catholic education has challenged me to strive for a purpose greater than my own, to serve Christ by serving and by leading others. As a result, I have become a leader in my community. To quote George Bernard Shaw, “I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.” Throughout high school I have held numerous leadership positions and attended a number of leadership conferences around the country. These experiences have taught me that my religious education is intricately woven into every fiber of my being, and there is no separating from it. My views are the direct result of the Catholic ideals that are deeply rooted in my character. I lover to learn, but I don’t want to succeed if it means sacrificing my values. I come from a home and educational system that values God and His work above everything else.
My determination is a direct result of my Catholic education. Whether I am in the classroom, on the football field, or out in the community, I am never satisfied. I always have this desire to do more, to rise above complacency and become the greatest human being I can. My religious education challenges me to become a better son, a better brother, and better human being. It is the reason I donate my time and effort serving my fellow man. My Catholic education is not a part of me; rather, it is who I am.
Symbols are outward signs of an inward reality. Like the two pieces of intersecting wood, there is more to me than meets the eye. The truth is that I myself am a symbol. I represent my Catholic high school, my family, my community, and my God in everything I do. More than anything, my Catholic education has taught me to become a symbol of Jesus’ love. A song frequently sung at my church states that, “All will see the good you do and give your Father praise.” As time goes on, I will continue to be the “good” that reflects our God’s message. I am and will always be a symbol of my Catholic education.
Murphy Kate Delaney
Many people view Catholic education as little more than children attending school in plaid uniforms. While most believe a religious education to be equal to that of a public school, many people cannot comprehend the need to pay for an education when the alternative option is free. The quality of religious and public education may be equal, but the lessons being taught are not. My experiences as a Catholic school student have strengthened my Catholic identity.
Beginning in kindergarten, my lessons in Catholic education taught me that Jesus is a part of my everyday life. Learning prayers, Jesus’ parables, and the Ten Commandments at a young age instilled the principles of my faith deep within me. Virtues including sharing and love were emphasized throughout grade school and above all, The Golden Rule was cherished. Unique when compared to the core subjects, religion was never only taught for a designated class period; it was lived by example in every class throughout every day.
The influences of my Catholic education are not easily defined in a concise paragraph. In fact, what Catholic education truly is cannot be fully disclosed in words at all. There is no standard, no list of lessons one must master to graduate from a Catholic institution that are different from that of a public school. Yet what is it that sets a Catholic education apart? The truth lies, as it is an education of the whole person – mind, body, and spirit. Catholic education teaches you are cared about beyond your academic or extracurricular performances. It is the feelings of walking down the hallway without stereotypes and accepting all students as God’s children. The best description is that a Catholic education is an incredible sense of community. My years as a student of Catholic education have taught me how important it is to establish what you believe in and to stand up for your beliefs. I have learned how to be a strong-willed independent woman, who is never alone on my journey through life. I strive to make good decisions for myself, my family, and God; and know He will love me unconditionally for whatever path the journey of life takes me. The words of a lesson learned in second grade constantly remind my conscience WWJD: What Would Jesus Do?
The past four, crucial years of education have taught me to selflessly realize the world around me. As a teenager it is simple to become self-absorbed and force the world to revolve solely around you. My years at Monsignor Donovan High School have not allowed time for this ignorance. A plethora of community service projects, organizations, and classes have opened my eyes to the reality of others’ misfortune within my own backyard. I now endeavor to put others first: volunteering my time and talents as a reader at my church, serving meals at soup kitchens, walking in hunger walk-a-thons, and befriending the elderly and homebound of my parish. Catholic education has taught me that the grand scheme of life, my problems and my imperfections are miniscule when compared to the lives of others. I have been taught to praise God for the generosity in all that I have been given. I now realize that the Kingdom of God is no longer a distant concept, but is the vast, hopeful world around me.
Thirteen years of Catholic education has taught me more than how easy it is to wear a uniform to school every day. It has made me realize that being a part of a Christian community is essential to my life. When selecting a college, continuing my education in a religious environment is high on my list of priorities. I seek a school that encourages students to serve God and the community. My lifelong experiences of community service projects have illuminated the importance of assisting others. In college, I want to be a part of a community that values the same morals I have been taught throughout my schooling. My years in Catholic education seem to have narrowed my college search for me, as I am optimistically looking ahead to four more.
How is my religious education influencing my life? It is giving me the opportunity to discover my peers beyond their appearances, develop a close relationship with God, and make a difference in the world. My final months of high school are setting a foundation for the rest of my life as I decide who I want to be and how I will continue making decisions to benefit those less fortunate. Despite my determination, the question remains: what am I going to do with the rest of my life? With God by my side, the ambiguity is not such a fearsome thought. I have learned not to be afraid of the future, for as the Book of Proverbs 16.3 states “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”
Who I will be in the future is still a mystery; however, I know that my religious education will be reflected in who I am and how I will act. It will ultimately formulate the person I will be tomorrow.