The Sacred Heart Knights of Columbus were proud to announce the winners of our 2016 council level essay contest at the Sacred Heart Academy Lessons and Carols for Advent concert on December 15th. The Knights of Columbus worldwide understand the important issues Catholics and other religions are facing in the world today, so they once again selected a theme of “The Importance of Religious Freedom.” The contest opens the doors of young minds, enabling the entrants to be creative, thoughtful and introspective in their work, encouraging young people to become citizens who are firmly grounded in the Faith. The contest starts at the council level and progresses through diocese, state and all the way to an international level.
Here are a few quotes from our winning essays;
” Religious liberty is not merely a matter of tolerating religion but also a matter of acceptance and respect form many different religions”,
“Freedom of religion leads us to truth. Truth leads us to right and just morals. These morals lead us to a well formed, united nation.”
“The separation of church and state was created to protect religious liberty, not to prohibit the American people from using their beliefs to guide their actions and decisions.”
“The American people must turn back to God, the Author of life and liberty and also pray for the strength and courage to fight the good fight of faith to which they are called, before it is too late.”
“John Adams, one of America’s Founders and second president, once said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other”.”
“…and the misconception that material things are the source of happiness, is concealing the authentic source of happiness for all people.”
“Liberty is the ability to do what [one] ought and comes not from ourselves, but from God (Lord Acton in “The Roman Question”). This is completely different from the current idea that liberty is doing whatever one wants with no restraints.”
Last year the Sacred Heart council was proud to send all five of our winners on to the state level contest. Our council winners took home two of the five first place awards at the state level. Congratulations to the two Michigan 2015 state winners from Sacred Heart; 10th Grade – Meghan Koepke and 12th Grade – Sophie Divozzo (Details on the 2015 state winners).
In 2016 we had even more entries to our council competition and the scores were very close. This year’s essay contest winners are;
In second place for the 8th grade – Emma Den Braber
In first place in the 8th grade – Allison Krakowski
In second place for 9th grade – Evelyn Ferhlen
In first place for 9th grade – Maria Forrester
In second place for 10th grade – Anna Cook
In first place for 10th grade – Kathleen Weis
In first place for 11th grade – Emily Mistaleski
We also awarded 1st and 2nd place overall form our council. Those winners were;
Council 2nd place overall – Maria Forrester
Council 1st Place overall – Emily Mistaleski
Sacred Heart Knights Mike Menardie, Tim Walsh and Mike Tober present essay contest award to Maria Forrester.
