The theme for the 2010 Catholic Young Writer Award was the life and message of Cardinal John Henry Newman, who in September 2011 was beatified by our Holy Father, Benedict XVI, on his visit to Britain.
The winner was:
CORINNA KEEFE of St Leonards/Mayfield School.
Entrants were invited to write a poem inspired by John Henry Newman’s quest for truth. Corinna’s graceful poem was a clear winner among the entries sent in by young people at various schools:
To seek a shaft of sun amid a grubby world
I followed turns which turned again
On maps stained with a million paths -
I ended lost in smoke and glass.
In fog, in shades of bitter dark.
My soul passed, prayed for honest wings
Toi strive for wonder in the sky.
Soft feathers fell and veiled my eyes -
At last I must be still and watch
The little lights of glowing souls.
Beneath the grime there shines a good and faithful God.
Corinna was presented with her Award - which includes a shield to be kept for one year - from the Master of The Keys, Mary Kenny, at a meeting of the Guild at St Mary Moorfields church , joining Guild members for supper.
The 2011 Award - which as in 2010 is run jointly with the Catholic Union of Great Britain - is on the theme of “Love”, to link with the 2011 Royal Wedding.See details below:
The Catholic Young Writer Award 2011
2011 – YEAR OF A ROYAL WEDDING
The year 2011 sees a Royal Wedding in Britain. Marriage unites a man and a woman, and
begins a new family. It symbolises the union between Christ and his Church.
Christ’s first miracle was at a wedding – at Cana, where he turned water into wine.
Even cynics are touched by the joy and beauty of true love. Some of the greatest poetry in the
world has been written in celebration of love. Pope Benedict’s first Encyclical Letter had the
message: GOD IS LOVE, Deus Caritas Est.
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This Award is open to all Roman Catholics aged 11-18 inclusive, and to all pupils at Roman
Catholic secondary schools in the United Kingdom.
You are invited to write something - in prose or poetry – inspired by one of the following:
- Imagine you are a guest at the wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11). The Bridegroom pours
you some wine, and you raise the cup to your lips. It is the most beautiful wine you
have ever tasted…
- “The human being needs unconditional love. He needs the certainty which makes him
say: “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor
things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:38-
39). If this absolute love exists, with its absolute certainty, then—only then—is man
“redeemed”, whatever should happen to him in his particular circumstances”. (Spe
Salvi, Benedict XVI )
The winner of the best entry will win the CATHOLIC YOUNG WRITER
AWARD – an engraved shield, to be kept for one year – plus £50 cash, and a
selection of books presented by members of the Catholic Writers’ Guild.
The CATHOLIC YOUNG WRITER AWARD is presented annual by the
Catholic Writers’ Guild of England and Wales and the Catholic Union.
Note to teachers: This Project has been designed to fit in with the GCSE requirements for “Religion and Life
from a Roman Catholic perspective”.
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Entries – which should be no longer than two A4 pages in length, and can be either hand-written or produced on
a computer – should be sent to:
Catholic Young Writer Award 2011
The Catholic Union of Great Britain
Maximillian Kolbe House
63 Jeddo Road
London W12 9EE
To arrive not later than May 30th 2011.
We particularly welcome batches of entries: this has been designed so that it can be set as a project in
which a whole class can be invited to take part.
NOTES:
Each entry must be the writer’s own unaided work, and must include the writer’s FULL NAME (in block
capitals) and DATE OF BIRTH, and the FULL NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE SCHOOL. Entries are
non-returnable: you are advised to ensure that you have a copy before posting.