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Courageous Missionaries
Pope Francis challenges young people in his letter Christ Alive, “Learn to swim against the tide, learn how to share Jesus and the faith he has given you.”
Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers asked students across the country to write an essay explaining how and with whom they share the Good News of God’s love.
Students at SJRCS in grades 7-8 participated. All essays were forwarded to Maryknoll for the competition
Dr. Benjamin and the entire faculty and staff of SJRCS are very proud of the work done by the 7th and 8th graders on these essays. Their thoughtful reflections on Pope Francis’s message ensure all of us that the future of the Church is alive and well within our school.
SJRCS 7th grade winner is Jackson Santoro. His essay follows:..
Jackson Santoro
Maryknoll Student Essay Contest
SJRCS/Religion 7
October 25, 2019
Childhood to Now
Friendships that start young can go on for many years. That is what my friendship with my best friend is like. We have known each other for about nine years. For most of that time, if not all of it, we have gone to St. Jude Parish at 10:30 Mass. Together we both went to the children’s liturgy there and now as helpers we assist children of different ages to learn a simplified version of the gospel. We, who have been with each other for such a long time, have grown as children of God. We have experienced years of Mass together, listening to the gospel. Those years with each other have made our friendship strong. We childhood friends share the news of God in all our religious activities past, present, and future.
My best friend has been in my religious life all my life. We have had our baptism, Eucharist, penance and reconciliation, and soon, confirmation. First we were learning about God in children’s liturgy, but now is the time that we help others learn about Him. My friend and my family have shared the good news with me in both learning and teaching. He and I have religion class in which we learn more complex teachings of the Bible. All these religious experiences like sacraments and classes, we do together. We will continue to take the Eucharist and all the sacraments together as peers. My family has played a great role in me learning about God as well. We have all been together all the time and every Sunday. Music is something my family has shown me helps spread the good news. Religious music is an inspiration of the gospel. During Mass I sing to let that inspiration be heard. Our teachers urge us to sing so that others may join in the singing. In our school we have a buddy system where the older kids of the school help the younger kids in Mass and school events.
My friend and I both adore our buddies and intend to help them become the best person they can be. Holidays like Halloween, Valentine’s Day, and Thanksgiving are times we can show our adoration for our buddies. We spend time with our buddies when there is a special event and our job is to make that time memorable for our buddies. The buddy system of our school is a good opportunity to share God’s love. The more time we enjoy with our buddies, the better role models we are.
This strong friendship I have with my friend has lasted for nine years and will continue for many more. We have been together for such a long time and will keep being friends and peers in the Church. Together we will be the best role models we can be for others. We will learn more and help others learn the good news in children’s liturgy. Our relationships with our buddies are good examples of love. We are two long-time friends that do better together and that affects all that we do. We childhood friends will keep our faith and spread the news of Christ’s life.
The essay below by Naomi Barish is the 8th grade chosen by SJRCS as the "winner of 8th grade.”
Courageous Missionaries
Know, Love, and Serve Him
by Naomi Barish, SJRCS 8th Grade
If someone asked me to describe myself, I would describe myself as a young, Catholic woman. I try to know God, love, God, and serve God. I try to share the Good News of God with others. This is the right thing to do, so that everyone can get to heaven.
I have come to know God through my family and school. My family has taught me the difference between right and wrong. We say grace before meals. We keep our language clean. I talk to my little buddies at school about what is right and what is wrong. The students say grace before lunch at school. I feel blessed to give thanks with my classmates. I keep my language clean, to be an example for others. There are lots of family-friendly words that can replace not-so-nice words. School has helped me to know God by helping me learn to pray. My classmates and I are learning this together. I share my prayer life with my grandmother, who was my Confirmation sponsor. I chose her out of all of the important women in my life. My choosing her shows my love for her. I show my love for God by attending Mass and Adoration. When I attend Mass, I show my love for God and that I believe in Him. I follow His commandments. I know that if I keep God first, everything else will fall into place. At Adoration, I can reflect on this and how Jesus understands me like no one else. I spend time worshipping Him with my family, teachers, classmates, and friends, like my friends at Catholic summer camp. We attend Mass, go to confession, and say the Rosary each day together. These are activities that show who I am, a young woman of faith. As a young woman of faith, I try to serve God every day. I serve God by loving and serving others.
I do community service through my Girl Scout troop. We sing to the residents of an assisted-living facility and this helps us all to feel good. Visiting the Sick is a Corporal Work of Mercy. Instruct the Ignorant is a Spiritual Work of Mercy. I help children who are learning about Jesus. I help them with information about the Catholic Church and to learn their prayers. The students look up to me and they know that being Catholic is a good thing. Another good thing about being Catholic is altar serving. I serve God by helping the priest and this gives me an opportunity to serve God in a very special way. This shows boys and girls that serving God makes me very happy and that serving God could do the same for them, as well.
With God’s grace, I will get to heaven. As a young, Catholic woman, my goal is to help others get to heaven, too. I will try my best to know God, to love God, and to serve God. As Mother Teresa said, “The fruit of silence is prayer. The fruit of prayer is faith. The fruit of faith is love. The fruit of love is service. The fruit of service is peace.”
Who Are The Maryknoll?
We Live and Serve Around the World
Grounded in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers partner with local churches to bring compassion, relief, and the message of God’s love to the poor on the fringes of society.
Pope Francis challenges the Catholic Church to create a culture of mission, one in which all Christians respond to their baptismal call to be “Missionary Disciples.” Maryknoll answers this call to mission in the poorest regions of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and we invite and enable others to answer the call across the US.
We create clinics and hospitals, agricultural and vocational training, feed and care for vulnerable children, provide economic empowerment, AIDS ministry, disaster relief, and we bring HOPE and healing to a world of broken spirits.