Try Prayer! It Works! That’s the title of a children’s art and writing competition held each year by Family Rosary and the Holy Cross Family Ministries in Eaton, Massachusetts.

Last week they shared with me the beautiful artwork and exceptional creative writing works of their talented 2018 winners.

On first reading their lovely email, I thought to myself it’s not really an Irish themed blog post, but then I realized many of us have deep devotion to Our Blessed Lady and hold our faith dear to our hearts.

When I asked you what you treasure most about your Irish heritage, many of you responded that your faith is your most important ancestral inheritance. In addition the Family Rosary Mission was founded by an Irish priest, Fr. Patrick Peyton C.S.C who was made venerable in December 2017.

And so, I think my blog, is the perfect place to celebrate and congratulate the winners of this wonderful competition.

You’re in for a treat. Here I share with you, not only the names of all the winners, but also their written compositions and glorious artwork.

And so, let me hand you over to the good folks at Family Rosary to tell you all about this year’s contest and results. Let’s celebrate our heritage of faith with them today…

 

FAMILY ROSARY ANNOUNCES WINNERS

2018 “TRY PRAYER! IT WORKS!” CONTEST

 

31 Students Named First-Place Winners

20th Annual “Try Prayer” Contest with nearly 800 Entries.

 

EASTON, Mass. – Family Rosary announces the winners of the 2018 “Try Prayer! It works!” Contest. The 20th annual competition – which encourages students to express their faith through art, poetry and prose – attracted nearly 800 entries from across the country.

The Try Prayer! It works! Contest focuses on family faith enrichment in the home. Our goal is to bring the Church’s teachings to life around the dinner table with discussion prompts, reflection question, prayer ideas and creativity.

Each year, children and teens from Catholic Schools, parishes and other Catholic organizations across the globe utilize their creative skills to illustrate a different faith-based theme.

This year the theme was Mary, the New Eve. Students from Kindergarten through 12th grade creatively depicted in various forms how their families are united through prayer and faith.

The theme of this year, “Mary, the New Eve,” is to help your family reflect on God’s call for family life and to discuss the importance of our Blessed Mother Mary. Mary’s “Yes” to God’s call was her commitment to becoming “the New Eve,” the Mother of the Church and all baptized in Jesus’ name.

Mary’s role as “the New Eve” was the Holy Spirit working through her to bring each of us closer to God’s merciful love. Her devotion to Christ and humble acceptance of God’s plan gently unites all people, as she works to share the deep joy and peace His friendship can bring.

United by baptism, we are all brothers and sisters of Christ, sons and daughters of God. Mary is our perfect model, committed to helping bring God’s love to all. Reflect with your family about how you can work together to live your life full of faith like the Blessed Mother.

In addition to the “Try Prayer! It works!” contests in the United States, separate competitions are conducted in Mexico, East Africa, West Africa, Bangladesh, Brazil, India, France, Chile, Peru and Philippines.

Entries are judged on content, ability to capture and interpret the theme, artistic and technical proficiency, and adherence to rules.

In the United States, three winners are chosen per grade, one each from three categories: Art, Poetry and Prose. First place winners are awarded $100 U.S., and the sponsoring organization earns $ 100 U.S. All the teachers involved are given a memento and each student who participated a Certificate of Appreciation.

Family Rosary was founded in 1942 by Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C., who was declared VENERABLE in December 2017.

The “Try Prayer! It Works!” contest derives its name from an experience in his life. While a seminarian, Venerable Peyton was stricken with severe tuberculosis. At one point, a frustrated physician said, “Try prayer! We have done all we can for you.” Venerable Peyton prayed his Rosary to the Blessed Mother and he made a miraculous recovery, which he attributed entirely to Mary’s intercession.

This experience – coupled with his spiritually rich family life as a youth in Ireland – inspired Venerable Peyton to devote his life to Mary, Mother of God, and to the spiritual well-being of the family. His famous phrase, “The Family That Prays Together Stays Together,” still resonates today.

In the spirit of its founder, Venerable Patrick Peyton, Family Rosary serves Jesus Christ and his church by

inspiring, promoting and fostering the prayer life and spiritual well-being of families throughout the world. Faithful to Mary, the Mother of God, Family Rosary encourages family prayer, especially the Rosary. For more information, call 800-299-7729 or visit www.FamilyRosary.org.

 

WINNING ENTRIES LIST:

 

Grades 11 & 12

 

1st Place, Art

Mary Cecilia Eidem

Holy Angels Academy, Louisville, KY

 

1st Place, Poetry

Emily Kenney

Holy Angels Academy, Louisville, KY

 

Grades 9 & 10

 

1st Place, Art

Ellen Marie Hesselbrock

Holy Angels Academy, Louisville, KY

1st Place, Poetry

Jacob Paul Bifone

Holy Angels Academy, Louisville, KY

1st Place, Prose

Ethan Schroeder

St. Joseph High School, Natrona Heights, PA

 

Grade 8

 

1st Place, Art

Hannah Ramalho

H/S, New Bedford, MA

1st Place, Poetry

Emma Mohon

St. Peter Chanel School, Paulina, LA

1st Place, Prose

Denisse Adalay Alacron Rodriguez

St. Benedict School, Montebello, CA

1st Place, Prose

Samuel Moreno

St. Benedict School, Montebello, CA

 

Grade 7

 

1st Place, Art

Olivia C. Smith

H/S, Indianapolis, IN

 

 

1st Place, Poetry

Jared Michael Spalding

Holy Angels Academy, Louisville, KY

 

1st Place, Prose

Michael Garcia

St. Benedict School, Montebello, CA

 

1st Place, Prose

Marc Barajas, Jr.

St. Benedict School, Montebello, CA

 

Grade 6

 

1st Place, Art

Genesis Sanchez

St. Benedict School, Montebello, CA

1st Place, Poetry

Dominic Annaloro

St. Peter Chanel School, Paulina, LA

1st Place, Prose

Ram Alen Garcia

St. Benedict School, Montebello, CA

 

Grade 5

 

1st Place, Art

Kohana Nguyen

St. John the Evangelist Catholic School, Hapeville, GA

1st Place, Poetry

Sofia Navarro

St. Peter’s Memorial School, Laredo, TX

 

1st Place, Prose

Morgan Veale

St. John the Evangelist Catholic School, Hapeville, GA

 

Grade 4

 

1st Place, Art

Tyler Milioto

St. Peter Chanel School, Paulina, LA

1st Place, Poetry

Olivia Shuck

St. Martha Catholic School, Sarasota, FL

1st Place, Prose

Massimo Sorce

St. Benedict School, Montebello, CA

Grade 3

 

1st Place, Art

Lisa Olech

Our Lady of Grace Catholic Academy, Brooklyn, NY

1st Place, Poetry

Nikolai Gonzalez

St. Benedict School, Montebello, CA

1st Place, Prose

Bianni Rosales

St. Benedict School, Montebello, CA

 

Grade 2

 

1st Place, Art

Olivia Volion

St. Peter Chanel School, Paulina, LA

1st Place, Poetry

Emiliano Vazquez

St. Peter’s Memorial School, Laredo, TX

1st Place, Prose

Edgar Benavides

St. Peter’s Memorial School, Laredo, TX

 

Grade 1

 

1st Place, Art

Luke Becnel

St. Peter Chanel School, Paulina, LA

1st Place, Poetry

Luna Mia Rodriguez

St. Peter’s Memorial School, Laredo, TX

1st Place, Prose

Joaquin Rolando Perez

St. Peter’s Memorial School, Laredo, TX

 

Kindergarten

 

1st Place, Art

Edmund Sampedro

Holy Angels Academy, Louisville, KY

 

I now make Louisville my American home and it’s lovely to see so many local kids’ names among the winners.  Well done to all, and many thanks to Family Rosary for giving me permission to share all this lovely artwork and writing with you today.

 

Slán agus beannacht,

(Goodbye and blessings)

 

Irish American Mom