Pro-Life Mass, Essay Contest And Nominations

As we approach the upcoming anniversary date of Roe vs. Wade and Doe vs. Bolton, which effectively removed every legal protection from human beings prior to birth, we begin to focus on our Annual Diocesan Essay Contest which takes place at this time each year.  This year’s theme is taken directly from Scripture:

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

before you were born I dedicated you,

a prophet to the nations I appointed you.”

-  Jeremiah 1:5

As Catholics, known, dedicated, and appointed by God, we are called to follow in Christ’s footsteps, and Live the Gospel Life, remembering and giving thanks for the gifts we have received and the responsibility that goes along with them.  This includes shining a light of hope for the unborn and all of those whose right to life is threatened.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”  (Matthew 5:14-16)

This year we ask students to reflect on these bible passages and submit an essay as it relates to the upcoming Anniversary date of Roe vs. Wade and Doe vs. Bolton.

We ask that you submit your top three essays from each of the two categories listed on the enclosed sheet, which enumerates subject matter, deadline, notices, and rules. The deadline for all submissions entries is Monday, January 25, 2021. Entries submitted later than this date will not qualify. As always, essays received by us must be in full compliance with church teaching or they will be immediately disqualified.

The winning essays will be read at the Annual Pro-Life Mass which will be celebrated at St. Julie Billiart Church in North Dartmouth on Thursday, March 25, 2021, at 11:00 AM.  Awards for the winning essays will be presented at this time.  Please mark your calendars as your participation in this Mass is so very meaningful. 

God bless,

For Life

Irina DeLucca

Pro-Life Apostolate & Project Rachel Director

Diocese of Fall River

450 Highland Avenue

Fall River, MA 02720

(508) 985-6509

1. The Essay Contest is sponsored to raise awareness of the wide-ranging cultural effects of the United States Supreme Court decisions, Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton (January 22, 1973), by which induced abortion was made legal, for virtually any reason, at any time in the nine months of pregnancy.

2. The Title of each essay is to be “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.”. The essay should be 300-400 words in length for Category One and 400-600 words in length for Category Two. Typed or computer-generated documents are preferable, double-spaced. If handwritten, the text should be plainly legible. Only one side of each piece of paper should be used and the pages should be stapled together. Complete identification (name, address, and phone of the author, together with his or her grade, school, and parish) should be on a separate final page stapled to the essay.

3. Students in grades 6-12 who are enrolled at any Catholic school or parish religious education program in the diocese or are members of any diocesan parish are eligible to enter. Essays will be grouped and judged in two categories according to grade level: grades 6, 7, and 8 comprise the first category, and grades 9-12 comprise the second category.

4. Parishes and schools are requested to transmit no more than three representative essays for each category (not per grade level). If an institution has participation exceeding three essays, an initial round of selection should take place on the local level, sending the top three to the Apostolate. Of the essays which are sent to the Pro-Life Apostolate, judgment will be based upon content (factual and motivational – 80%) and style (punctuation, grammar, etc. – 20%).

5. First prize winners in each category will be awarded $150.00 US Cash; Second Prize in each category will be $75.00 US Cash. Authors will receive these awards at the Diocesan Pro-Life Mass at St. Julie Billiart Parish, North Dartmouth, MA, on Thursday, March 25, 2021, at 11:00 AM, and winning essays will be published in the diocesan newspaper, The Anchor.

6. Deadline for submission of the essays is Monday, January 25, 2021. They should be mailed or hand-delivered to the Office of the Pro-Life Apostolate at the Chancery, 450 Highland Avenue, P.O. Box 2577, Fall River, MA 02722-2577, where the telephone number is 508-675-1311. If mailed, January 25, 2021, is the deadline for receipt, not postmark – please plan accordingly. If hand-delivered, the Office closes at 4:00 PM. In either case, no entries will be accepted after 4:00 PM on Monday, January 25, 2021.

7. If chosen as a winner, any essay submitted will include publication of said essay in the Diocesan Newspaper “The Anchor".