St. Dominic Academy Student Wins First Place in Seton Hall University High School Essay Contest
Monday, April 28, 2025
Megan Phalen, a student at St. Dominic Academy in Jersey City, New Jersey, has received
first place in Seton Hall University’s 2025 High School Essay Contest: “What Does It Mean to be a Pilgrim of Hope?” for her essay titled “The Power of Abstinence: Road to Spiritual Revitalization.”
This annual contest, organized by the Department of Catholic Studies, is open to all Catholic high school students in New Jersey.
In his papal bull Spes Non Confundit (“Hope Does Not Disappoint”), Pope Francis called for a Holy Year centered on pilgrimage, reconciliation and tangible acts of hope. Students were asked to respond to one of two prompts, encouraging personal reflection on how young people can be signs of hope in their communities or practice abstinence from futile distractions or superfluous consumption in a meaningful, spiritual way.
Joining Phalen in receiving recognition are runners-up Rachel Jules of Union Catholic High School, Scotch Plains, and David Makowka of Seton Hall Preparatory School, West Orange.
“The essays we received from high schools throughout the state were truly refreshing,” said Ines Murzaku, Ph.D., professor of Religion and director of the Catholic Studies Program. “These young people have shown that they are thinking about and acting on ways to bring Christ and hope to the world, to their families, their schools, their parishes, their local communities and the global community. They are ready to rise to the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century, guided by a strong moral compass and by compassion.”
Winners will have their essays published in Arcadia: A Student Journal for Faith and Culture, a publication of the Catholic Studies Program.
The annual contest, open to students in grades 9 through 12, continues to serve as a platform for Catholic high school students to engage thoughtfully with the Church’s teachings and share their perspectives on living a faith-filled life in today’s world.
Categories: Faith and Service
