Blessed Basil Moreau, the founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, described education as “the art of helping young people to completeness. For the Christian, this means that education is helping a young person to be more like Christ, the model for all Christians.” An immersion experience at an international ministry of the Congregation of Holy Cross is intended to be educational in the most expansive sense of the word—not simply limited to a classroom setting or academic curriculum. 

Within this framework, the Holy Cross Missions Student Essay contest provides an opportunity for college and high school students to share their formative experiences at Holy Cross’s ministries in Bangladesh, Chile, Kenya, Mexico, Peru, Tanzania, or Uganda.  In partnership with these ministries, we invite student travelers to reflect on their person-to-person encounters with individuals during their immersion experience and how those encounters point them towards “completeness,” as understood by the person of Jesus Christ. 

2024 Theme: 

Towards Completeness, Towards Christ

Guidelines:

Student travelers are invited to reflect on their personal encounters at Holy Cross missions using the Holy Cross Mission Center’s Reflection Questions for Immersion Experiences.  Explore how those encounters pushed you towards “completeness,” towards living “more like Christ.”

From there, applicants should hone in on one specific moment when they felt a profound connection with a person they encountered and describe the impact of that encounter. Your story should paint a clear picture of that personal encounter, frame it within a Holy Cross context, and highlight the ways that it prompted you to live more like Christ. Your personal transformation may have occurred through your head (your insights, understandings, perspectives, etc.), your heart (your aspirations, feelings, attitudes, attentiveness to others, etc.), or both. 

Applicants should submit their entries in the form of a written essay. Submissions can range from 500-2,000 words and should include visual elements, quotes, and anecdotes that bring the encounter to life. 

If an applicant would like to submit a video documentary, photo essay, or any other creative medium that effectively communicates their story, they must receive prior approval. Email hcmc@holycrossusa.org to begin this process. 

Prizes:

The top 3 submissions will receive a cash prize from the Office of Apostolic Mission & Charism of the U.S. Province of Priests and Brothers and the Holy Cross Mission Center will make a donation in their name to the Holy Cross ministry that hosted them. 

• First Prize: 
  • $500 award provided by the Office of Apostolic Mission & Charism of the U.S. Province of Priests and Brothers
  • $1,000 donation made by the Holy Cross Mission Center on behalf of the first-place winner to the Holy Cross ministry that hosted them during their immersion
• Second Prize: 
  • $300 award provided by the Office of Apostolic Mission & Charism of the U.S. Province of Priests and Brothers
  • $500 donation made by the Holy Cross Mission Center on behalf of the second-place winner to the Holy Cross ministry that hosted them during their immersion
• Third Prize: 
  • $200 award provided by the Office of Apostolic Mission & Charism of the U.S. Province of Priests and Brothers
  • $500 donation made by the Holy Cross Mission Center on behalf of the second-place winner to the Holy Cross ministry that hosted them during their immersion

Eligibility:

• All graduate, undergraduate, and high school students who have participated in an immersion experience at an international Holy Cross ministry in Bangladesh, Chile, Kenya, Mexico, Peru, Tanzania, or Uganda this past academic year.

Submission Instructions:

• Entries must be submitted electronically to hcmc@holycrossusa.org by August 15, 2024. Include “Student Essay Contest Submission” in the subject line.
• Please include your name, college/university/high school, the organization (office/institute/club, etc.) that sponsored or chaperoned your immersion, the Holy Cross ministry that you visited, contact information, 3 photos from your immersion experience, and a brief personal bio (no more than 100 words) with your submission.

*Note: The Holy Cross Mission Center retains the right to publicize applicant names and submissions.

Announcement of Winners:

Winners will be announced on September 9, 2024, via email and on the Holy Cross Mission Center’s social media and website. 

Conclusion:

We hope that your experience at Holy Cross missions provided you with opportunities to know, love, and serve God through your personal encounters. As you embark on this journey of storytelling and reflection, remember that your encounters have the power to inspire, educate, and transform hearts and minds in the Holy Cross tradition. Thank you for sharing your encounter story with us.

Blessed Basil Moreau, pray for us!

Published: June 12, 2024