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2017 Catholic Young Writer Award

The 2017 CATHOLIC YOUNG WRITER AWARD

for all young Catholics of secondary school age in Britain

Every Catholic should attend Mass each Sunday.

Why?

– You will find some answers in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and in the Bible.

– You will find some answers in the writings of men and women who have studied and taught about this, including Pope St John Paul the Great.

– You will find some answers in the lives – and deaths – of heroes and martyrs who grasped the essential point of it all.

In the 2017 CATHOLIC YOUNG WRITER project we invite you to study some of this and write an essay – maximum 4 sides of A4, handwritten or produced on a computer, answering the question “Why does a Catholic attend Mass each Sunday?”

This project is open to all Roman Catholics aged 11 to 18 years, and all pupils at Roman Catholic secondary schools in the United Kingdom.

Sources to consult:

Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 2168-2195 – and look up some of the Biblical references given.

The Martyrs of Abitene, martyred in 303. Pope Benedict XVI spoke about them in May 2005: look up some relevant internet links.

Dies Domini, letter of Pope Saint John Paul the Great, 1998

NOTE TO TEACHERS:

This essay is designed to be part of a class effort, so ideally the essays should be gathered together and sent as a group…but individual pupils can send an essay alone if they wish.

EACH ENTRY must carry the PUPIL’S FULL NAME (including surname) and date of birth, all written legibly, and the FULL NAME AND POSTAL ADDRESS OF THE SCHOOL.

The winner of the best essay will win £50 cash plus book prizes, and the coveted Young Writer Shield, to be kept for one year. There will be a number of runner-up book prizes.

The judges will be looking for clear, sincere writing, with reasonable grammar and spelling, with a list of any books or websites consulted.

Entries should be posted to:

Catholic Young Writer Award 2017,
Catholic Union of Great Britain,
St Maximillian Kolbe House
63 Jeddo Road London W12 9EE

to arrive by May 30th 2017. We are unable to accept entries by email.

The Catholic Young Writer Award is sponsored by the Catholic Union Charitable Trust