Serra Club announces theme for
2006 Vocations Essay Contest

By Sean Gallagher

The Serra Club of Indianapolis has announced the theme for its 2006 Vocations Essay Contest.

Inspired by the example of Jesus at the Last Supper washing the feet of his disciples told in John 13:1-15, the participants in the contest are asked to answer in their essays the question, “How do priests, brothers and sisters in their service to others follow Jesus’ call to do as he did when he washed the feet of his disciples?”

The contest is open to students throughout the archdiocese in grades 7 through 12 enrolled in religious education programs or interparochial and private schools. Contest rules and procedures will be sent to all parishes and schools early next year. The deadline for entries is Feb. 15, 2006.

Teachers and catechists for each grade may choose one or two essays from each grade to be submitted to the contest. A committee will read and judge the entries.

One winner from each grade from throughout the diocese will be chosen and receive a cash prize, be invited to read his or her essay at a recognition luncheon and have the essay published in The Criterion.

The Serra Club of Indianapolis is a chapter of Serra International, a Catholic organization dedicated to promoting vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Immaculate Heart of Mary parishioner John Kelley of Indianapolis, a Serra Club member involved in the contest, said that the theme of next year’s contest emphasizes the connection between service and all vocations.

“Jesus not only gave us the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper,” he said. “When he washed his disciples’ feet, he also provided a powerful example of how all of us are called to serve one another.

“The theme of next year’s Vocations Essay Contest provides an opportunity for young people to reflect on the universal call to service and particularly how priests, brothers and sisters fulfill that call in their daily life.”

Father Eric Johnson, archdiocesan vocations director, sees the importance of the contest for the individual students who participate in it, saying that it “puts the issue of religious vocations and priestly vocations in front of young people’s eyes” and encourages them to give serious thought to what vocation God might be calling them.

However, Father Johnson also

emphasized how the contest can help youth to support vocational discernment in their peers.

“I think it’s important with regards to [youth] taking on the importance of praying about and encouraging and supporting those vocations for others,” he said.

According to Kelley, approximately 40 percent of archdiocesan schools participated in the contest last year, which is also open to parish religious education programs. He hopes that participation will increase for next year’s contest. †