Diocese announces Respect Life essay contest winners

The Office of Marriage, Family, and Life at the Diocese of Duluth recently held its annual Respect Life essay contest for middle and high school students. This year, students wrote on the theme “Radical Solidarity.” 

Runners up are: 

Middle school 

Second place: Henry Thell, Immaculate Heart Church, Crosslake 

High school 

Second place: Alyssa Blazevic, Stella Maris High School and St. James Church, Duluth 

Third place: Jeremiah Pond, Stella Maris High School 

Below are the first place winners in each category: 

Middle school 

By Levi Turner 
St. Joseph Church, Crosby 

Imagine you are a young woman in your senior year of high school who has discovered that you are pregnant. You may feel scared or anxious about how you will support the baby, or the pains of birth. You decide to go to the local gynecologist who suggests that you abort the child. How would you respond to that? A woman going through an unexpected pregnancy, especially outside of a marriage, might feel scared or anxious. By being in solidarity with these women, you can help them choose life by preparing them with both their physical and spiritual needs. 

A few examples of helping these women physically could be donating money, clothing, diapers, or formula. Experienced mothers could teach them what to expect when delivering the baby, proper breastfeeding techniques, or how to change the baby’s diaper. These are great physical acts showing solidarity and relieving the mother of some of her fears. 

A way to help these young women spiritually would be to comfort them, showing that God is always merciful and will never turn his back on anyone. Prayer is a very powerful tool that can be used to live out radical solidarity. The Novena for Life or the intercession to Our Lady of Guadalupe are some great prayers for the unborn. 

So if we go back to being in the shoes of one of these young women, would you choose life if this help were available to you? It is very important to be in solidarity with these women during and after their pregnancy. We need to teach them, be by their side, and pray for the strength that they can make this brave decision. 

High school 

By Grant Byer 
Stella Maris High School 

In life, difficult situations will arise; however, the situation of a mother in a moment of vulnerability is exceptionally dire. Those who are in these situations are pressed to make incredibly difficult and painful decisions, and the pro-choice argument leaves vulnerable mothers to “decide” on their own. The pro-choice movement, which argues for the “rights of the woman” not only allows human lives to be ended, but also leaves women alone and unaided amid a crisis, which ultimately harms both mother and child. 

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). 

Jesus calls us to hold every life as worthy of help and support, and to treat all with the dignity God has given us. We are to support and save human life, treating both mother and child with kindness and compassion. By supporting vulnerable mothers, we support their lives, and the lives of their children. Saving mothers from the pain of abandonment, and their children from insecurity or abortion. This is radical solidarity. 

Living out radical solidarity requires radical initiative. We must ask ourselves, what have we done to ensure that pregnant or nursing mothers know they are supported? We are to support these mothers as the Lord supports us, supplying their needs, and guiding them through parenthood. Radical solidarity calls us to actively go out of our way to support the lives of mothers and their children; to be a beacon of hope, letting the Lord’s light shine in all.