2025 Pro-Life Essay Contest winning essay

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Jeremiah was told that before God formed him in his mother’s body, God chose him, that before he was born, God set him apart to serve God. (Jer 1:5) I believe I was set apart also.

Have you ever considered the possibility of never having the chance to live the life you were blessed with? I’ve reflected on this possibility multiple times. Knowing there was a chance of not being alive in this world is daunting.

People take life for granted daily. Our society puts a major emphasis on money, power and status. From my perspective, I’m amazed by the gifts that God has provided for us. The sun’s radiant colors, the earth’s beautiful landscape, or the diversity of individuals fortunate enough to be born and experience these gifts.

Although I was always wanted and wished for, my parents would never receive the joy of having a child to call their own. My mom and dad tried everything, but it was becoming unhealthy for my mom. It was also pulling them further away from God. They would ask God every day why they couldn’t have a son or daughter of their own? That’s all they wanted.

God knew their purpose in life; he wanted them to adopt a child, and help that child see and be who he made them to be. From there, they decided to turn their focus to adopting someone who needed a miracle as much as they needed one, too. My parents fought hard to have me, but they always say I was worth it. Knowing what they went through, makes me feel important. I wasn’t something ordinary that just happened. I was something they worked hard for.

I was adopted by the most loving and amazing family. They didn’t care that I wasn’t their biological child. They only cared that I was “their” child who they loved unconditionally.

From a young age, I often wondered why I didn’t look like my parents. I am interracial and both of my parents are white. To me, that is completely normal. People would ask questions as to why I have dark skin and curly hair. They would judge my mom on why she has a darker child and give her dirty looks.

Instead of letting that discourage them, they learned how to take care of my skin and my hair. They ignored the way people would stare. Instead, my mom would look at other girls and see that they had braids and beads in their hair. Their curly hair was so perfect and pretty. She felt like she wasn’t doing enough. She bought beads and asked her friends about products to put in my hair. I would tell her, “Mom, I don’t want those beads in my hair.”

When I was young, all I wanted was to look like my parents. I hated my curly hair and would beg them every day to straighten it. Every time my parents would tell me how beautiful I was and how they wanted to look like me someday. As I got older, strangers would tell me how I look like my parents. I would say, “But mom, I don’t look like you.” She would tell me to just smile, and then we would move on with our day. As our day went on, I still couldn’t comprehend how I could look like them?

People still say that I look like my parents. I just smile and say thank you. I may not resemble them on the outside, but everyone is made in God’s image, and I look just like them on the inside.

I am now 13 years old, becoming a strong and confident young adult. With their love and guidance, I’ve learned to love myself for who I am. My mom and dad have taught me that my purpose is to show people that we are all extraordinarily important in our own way.

The Catechism states, “The covenant between God and mankind is interwoven with reminders of God’s gifts of human life.” (CCC 2260) What I have gone through is a blessing that I will not take for granted, no matter what we look like on the outside, because I am a witness to God’s love. My hope is that I can be a reminder, too, by sharing my story, spreading the Gospel and not judging people on what they look like.

Kyndall May Ruebusch is an eighth-grade student at St. Anthony School, Taylor Mill, Ky. This is her first-place essay in this year’s Diocesan Pro-Life Essay Contest.

 

2025 Second Place Essay

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Piper Hagley, Holy Cross Elementary School

As I stood next to my grandma’s bed, I could feel her fading away. My mom was whispering into my grandma’s ear, gently stroking her hair. My aunt stood at the foot of my grandma’s bed, adjusting her covers to make sure that she was warm. As I looked at my grandpa, I could see that his eyes were filled with tears. He held onto my grandma’s hand so tightly that it was like he was trying to keep her here on earth with the strength of his grasp. As my grandma took her last breath, my grandpa fell to his knees. My heart sank and I thought to myself, “who is going to take care of grandpa now that grandma is gone?”.

Getting old is a natural process. It’s during old age that people need the most care and love. Society tends to focus on protecting the lives of the unborn, but who is preserving the lives of our elderly? The Catechism says, “Family should live in such a way that its members learn to care and take responsibility for the young, the old, the sick, the handicapped, and the poor.” (CCC 2208). Taking care of our elderly is a responsibility that we should all take on. The elderly deserve to lead fulfilling and happy lives just as much as we do. It is our moral duty to take care of them when they cannot care for themselves.

One of the best ways to care for the elderly is to simply spend time with them. Imagine sitting alone every day, doing the same things over and over, and not having anybody to talk to. That doesn’t sound very enjoyable to me. A person can make a huge difference in someone’s day by calling them, bringing them a sweet treat, or by sitting with them and listening to their stories. When I visit my grandpa, I like to watch golf and old Westerns with him. He’ll ask me how school is going, and he’ll tell me what it was like when he was growing up. Our older generation has lived through a lot, and they have a lot to teach us. We just need to take the time to listen.

Another great way to spend time with the elderly is to visit nursing homes. Nursing homes can get very lonely, and some of the residents don’t have any visitors. The residents often feel neglected and unhappy. Young people can bring so much joy to the residents by stopping by and saying hi, by playing a game with them, or by giving them a hug. You’d be surprised how much joy a hug can bring. People can also send cards. Everyone likes to get mail because it makes us feel special. When I visited my local nursing home, I sang Christmas carols and made Christmas cards with them. It was very special to see the smiles on their faces just from a simple act of kindness.

As we grow older, it gets more difficult to do daily tasks. Older people often feel overwhelmed by the tasks that they can no longer do. We can help by doing chores for them, helping with yard work, or by running errands for them. In doing this, we show them that we care about them. I know my grandpa always has a long list of things for us to do every time my family visits, and he is always very thankful for the help.

Older people also struggle with financial stability. They often don’t have the money to buy the things that they need, like food, clothes, and medicine. As a society, it is up to us to provide the elderly with items that they cannot afford. Our parents and grandparents spent years providing for us, now it’s our turn to provide for them. Whether it’s with our own money, or with the help of an outside organization, it’s our responsibility to make sure the elderly have the basic necessities of life.

Unfortunately, in today’s society, the youth seem to have forgotten their moral responsibility for their elders. Psalm 71:9 states, “Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.” This passage calls on us to care for our elders and to give them the love and care that they deserve. God does not abandon us in our time of need, so we shouldn’t abandon the elderly in their time of need.

 

 

 

2025 Third Place Essay

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Ryan Bennett, Villa Madonna Academy

Walking down the long hallway leading to the turf field ahead, I saw children; some young, old, unable to speak, and in wheelchairs. Sitting with their parents-water in one hand, soccer ball in another- the children waited eagerly to play soccer. I don’t know how this will go…What if they don’t have fun with me? I wondered. Volunteering at All Ability Sports started off as a way to get service hours, but in the end, taught me a valuable lesson I will never forget. I am a witness to God’s love by learning to see the gifts of the Holy Spirit in all people, regardless of their physical or mental disabilities.

The organization All Ability Sports brings children with special needs from across the area and gives them the chance to play soccer. Playing soccer myself, I thought I could easily get my service hours done. To my surprise, these interactions deepened my understanding of God’s presence in every person. My partner (we’ll call her Rose) walked into the building excited to play soccer but had trouble focusing on the drills. Every time Rose got the ball; she would take off running in all directions and wouldn’t stop! While I loved her passion throughout the sport, I found it confusing running her through drills. Not only that it proved hard to keep her focused, but I also wondered how Rose kept so much joy inside her. Rose’s life presented struggles and burdens, but instead of letting that hold her down, Rose allowed herself to embrace what she loved to play: soccer. The courage Rose showed reminds me of Scripture, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Watching Rose play soccer gave me a clear example of what this Bible verse meant. When Rose could have let fear allow her to quit, Rose showed fortitude. From Rose, I realized that even though struggles may keep her down, she never seemed sad or negative about them-only positivity. The huge amount of fortitude a younger child could show in the face of adversity helped me learn that every problem you encounter should be tackled head on and with positivity and confidence, because the Lord guides you throughout the whole time.

Many of the parents at All Ability Sports display counsel and sacrificial love. Despite the parents facing so many obstacles raising their children, they provide unwavering support for their children. Everyday, parents care for their children, dedicate time, and worry endlessly about how their child’s life will end up. Referring to the Catechism of the Catholic Church “To love is to will the good of another.” The parents could have abandoned or aborted their child when receiving news that their child will have a disability. Instead, parents saw the beauty of God’s creation and meaningful life their child has. The parents decided that to love their child, they must give them the best they can offer. To do this, the parents displayed counsel and used their lives to show their children agape love. Doing this helped their children see God’s love in person.

At All Ability Sports, a dad –“William”- provided a clear example of what agape love should look like. When I trained his son, William asked if he could help teach his son how to shoot a soccer ball. After saying yes, I watched the dad put so much effort into helping him. William never checked his phone, took a break, or gave up. The children’s laughter and celebrations showed that the bond between father and son proved strong.

From volunteering at All Ability Sports, I’ve learned that everyone has the ability to show the gifts of the Holy Spirit in their own unique ways. Rose displayed fortitude by showing courage when playing soccer instead of cowering away. The parents of those disabled children showed counsel by not giving up their children when they saw their burdens. Instead, they reminded themselves that their children, children of God, should be prioritized and respected above all. While society focuses on the large aspects of maintaining the dignity of human life, we must also realize that the dignity of human life is prioritizing and respecting life through everyday actions.

 

 

Third Place Essay #1

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Third Place Essay #1

St. Joseph School, Crescent Springs

Human life begins at conception, and we need to recognize and protect it from that moment.  This belief has built and strengthened during my eight years of learning more about my faith in a Catholic School.  There are many reasons I feel strongly in my opinion.  The foundation of my belief is based on my reading of Scripture, my understanding of how science proves when life begins, and my personal family experience.

In many areas of Scripture God leads us through his words to understand that human life begins at conception.  In Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.”  God shows that he values everyone from the moment of conception and even before.  For him to know us even before we are formed in the womb means that God had a plan for each of us when we were conceived.  God shows how much he values the birth of each child in Matthew 18:5 “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me”.  To read the word of God where he is speaking about knowing every child and those who welcome them also welcome Him shapes my beliefs.

Some people believe women should have the right to do what they want with their bodies.  They argue that a child in the womb is part of the woman’s body and not its own person.  Science counters this claim.  Science has proven that a child in the womb is a unique individual and not just a part of their mother’s body.  A study of human development by Dr. Keith Moore concluded, “A new human embryo in the womb has a genetic composition that is absolutely unique to itself, different from any other human that has ever existed, including that of its mother.”  If a child in the womb is a unique individual, then it deserves the protections that we give to all individuals.

The final and most personal reason I believe all life should be protected is from my own family’s experience.  My mom was born when my grandma was only 18 years old. I’m sure it was not easy on my grandma and her family.  However, her family followed the teaching of Saint John Paul II and showed “radical solidarity” in helping to raise my mom.  Had my mom’s family, especially my great-grandma, not come together to support my grandma in raising my mom then she may have decided differently and then my brother, my sister, and I would not have been born.  People must remember to offer support when women are in similar situations, so they do not feel pushed to make other decisions.

Something I thought I could do as an 8th grader to show compassion and friendship is to volunteer my time at DCCH Center for Children and Families.  I could be a good friend, role model and teacher to the kids there until their moms are able to care for them again.  My aunt works there, and she often brings children to our family gatherings who do not have a family to spend time with at the holidays.  Another thing I could do to show compassion is to offer to babysit for mothers in need to allow them to work, run errands or just have time to themselves.  Therefore, it is important to remember that human life begins at conception, and we need to recognize and protect it from that moment.

According to Catechism of the Catholic Church, “Every human life, from the moment of conception until death, is sacred because the human person has been willed for its own sake in the image and likeness of the living and holy God.”  These words should ring in the minds of everyone faced with a similar situation to what my grandma experienced.

 

 

Third Place Essay #2

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Third Place Essay #2

St. Joseph School, Crescent Springs

Is it right to eliminate God’s gift and motive for each individual?  God did not just take time to create each human life so beautifully for us to take it away from the world.  He did not frame our lives for people to disrespect it.  Our lives are in the hands of God, which means he takes care of us and watches over us.  As sons and daughters of God, we are meant to take the path that he developed for us.  He shows us how to live our lives by putting others’ needs before our own.  God’s objective for creating us was for everyone to be made with dignity and purpose, even those people who have disabilities.

The Church teaches that all life is made in the image and likeness of God, born or unborn, from conception to death.  I have worked with and met a lot of people who have disabilities.  Some of them may feel out of place because they are not able to do some things that we are able to do.  It is our job to make them feel like they belong, because they do.  Every life put into the world is a miracle, and God took time to create each life with intent.  Some may say that life does not begin until birth because you are not a human at conception.  However, the church teaches that life begins the second you are made in your mother’s womb.  Therefore, God admires all human life no matter the size or age.  As the Bible says, “nor is he served by human hands because he needs anything. Rather it is he who gives to everyone life and breath and everything” (Acts 17:25). This shows that God gives us everything, starting with our own life.

Radical Solidarity is recognizing that someone else’s struggle is your struggle.  To me, it also means bringing the community together and helping each other out.  Most people think donating is the best way to help, while that is important, there are a variety of other ways to assist people in need.  Doing community service, making sure everyone is being treated right, and coming together to be kind and helpful are all things that people can do to help.  At dance, I help take care of the kids with special needs.  It is such a big community, and we always have a blast dancing together.  Radical solidarity is important to our society because without it, our world would be a mess.  As Christians we should practice radical solidarity because by working together, it produces a stronger community.  St. John Paul II say, “Solidarity is not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of so many people, both near and far”-St. John Paul II.

There are many ways that us 8th graders can help women, children, and families who need it.  God created us to share love, and we should cherish that gift.  One of the things that people my age could do to help, is to support and treasure children with special needs so that they can grow and thrive. Some people think that people with disabilities are different from everyone else because of the way they look.  They are not different.  In fact, they are just like us.  Therefore, everyone deserves the same amount of respect.  My dance studio offers a class for children and teenagers with different types of disabilities.  We also participate in the Buddy Walk in Cincinnati every year, which supports the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati.  It touches my heart when I see their smiling faces and the light in their eyes when they are dancing.  The Catechism states, “The virtue of chastity blossoms in friendship” (CCC 2347).  This means that helping others creates friendships.  In order for us to share God’s gift of love, we not only have to be friendly, but compassionate about the things that we do.

God wants for us to share our love and treat everyone with courtesy.  He wants us to include everyone, even people with disabilities.  The church teaches that all life is precious, from the moment you are in your mother’s womb to natural death, and everyone deserves to be treated with dignity. This means practicing radical solidarity, in which St. John Paul II teaches.  Radical solidarity can help people my age change someone’s life for the better.

 

 

Second Place Essay

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Second Place Essay

St. Timothy School, Union

A young lady comes home from her minimum wage job and sees a pile of bills with big red “OVERDUE”         stamps staring her in the face.  She struggles to pay even for herself, living paycheck to paycheck.  Now she has an even bigger worry; she will soon have another mouth to feed.  This is the sad reality for many women in the modern-day world.  Their hard life is seemingly made more difficult by welcoming a child into the world.  Most even struggle to get day-to-day necessities.  By choosing to welcome a new life, they are being extremely selfless and putting God’s plan before their own.  My assistance with the Madonna House has shown me the struggles of women and children.  Women need many material goods to support themselves and a child.  By grasping St. John Paul II’s concept of radical solidarity, I make their struggle my struggle and embrace God’s love.

To start, God had your entire life planned out for you before you are born.  The Bible proves this in Jeremiah 1:5 when it states, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations” (New American Bible Revised Edition).  This illustrates that all life is extremely precious and endowed with God given dignity from the moment of conception.  In the above quote the Lord is speaking to Jeremiah, but what he says is true for everyone; we all have a right to life.  All life should be loved and cared for, from the moment of conception.  This is important to me because I believe that all children should be treated as they are made in the image of God, because they are.

Furthermore, as a young man who has grown up in a privileged life, I strive to understand the struggles that the women and children who live in poverty go through every day. At Thanksgiving I led a prayer for the unborn, the born, and mothers.  At that moment I was filled with the Holy Spirit.  It made me understand how to make their struggle my struggle by helping all those I see that need it.  Jesus Christ himself states, “I give you a new commandment: love one another.  As I have loved you, so you also should love one another” (New American Bible Revised Edition, John 13:34). Jesus is telling us to love everyone in our lives, no matter the good or bad they have done.  That is very similar to St. John Paul II’s concept of radical solidarity.

The Madonna House is a non-profit organization that gives mothers and their children a home to live in while they search for a job and a good source of income.  They teach mothers how to care for their child, how to care for themselves, and how to live with a child in their lives.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “The duty of making oneself a neighbor to others and actively serving them becomes even more urgent when it involves the disadvantaged, in whatever area this may be…” (1932).  The Madonna House lives out Pope John Paul II’s belief of radical solidarity by fulfilling all of the criteria in the passage.  The Catechism tells us that when we see those in need, we should do anything we can to help them.  I heard this quote and applied it to my daily life by attempting to help one person a day.  At a recent family reunion, I asked my family to bring donations for the Madonna House.  Almost all of them brought items for the donation.  Just a few of the items they brought were shampoo, conditioner, baskets, and crib sheets.  By praying for and donating to the Madonna House, I hope to embody the works of Christ.  My grandfather was a chairman of the Diocese of Covington Pro-Life Commission from 2003 to August 2006.  I wish to follow in his footsteps and inspire young children to be pro-life as well.

As shown above, St. John Paul II’s idea of radical solidarity should be guiding principle for all young Catholics leading through faith.   The struggle of women and children in this modern world is too much for them to bear alone.  I practice radical solidarity by making the struggle of women and children my own, and by loving all women and children just as Christ himself did.  If we all do this, then we can make Heaven on earth.

The Winning Essay

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The Winning Essay

St. Timothy School, Union

It was a morning like any other.  My stomach grumbled, and I felt the deep pain of hunger in the pit of my stomach.  I knew the day would bring only a few small morsels of food.  I was born into poverty-stricken Ethiopia, and I lived there until the age of four when I was adopted.  I am here living with a wonderful family and several other adopted sisters.  I am able to walk the earth today because my birth mother recognized the dignity and worth of all life.  My parents also understand this, and they created a welcoming home for their children.  Knowing the pain of hunger myself, I understand how poverty and food-scarcity could lead to women terminating the life in their own womb rather that facing the struggle of not being able to raise their child.  By offering support such as childcare and food relief to poverty-stricken mothers, we can offer hope and compassion during a pivotal time in their lives.

By having a mother who embraced my innate, God-given dignity, my life was spared.  My birth mother lived in poverty in a small town in Ethiopia.  She could barely feed herself, and she knew she would not be able to take care of me when I was born.  Instead of taking the easy way out, she chose to carry and give birth to me.  She put me in an orphanage that had more resources than she could ever provide.  She had tears in her eyes as she watched me leave and go to a place where she knew I would get the care I needed.  Because of her selfless decision, I am able to realize the worth of life.  Scripture states, “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you-oracle of the LORD-plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope” (New American Bible Revised Edition, Jeremiah 29:11).  My birth mother knew that God had a plan for my life, and she understood that my life was meaningful, no matter the circumstances I was born into.  All life is precious regardless of the condition.

It is our responsibility to support struggling mothers and families in our community.  According to a recent study, “The average cost of childcare for one child in the U.S. is about $10,900 per year.” (The Economic Impact of Childcare by State”).  This puts additional stress on mothers with a limited income.  This was the case with my younger sister who was adopted at birth.  Her mom lived in Cincinnati, and was not able to provide for her, so she made an adoption plan.  The lack of support mothers receive with new children is devastating.  To help alleviate this, I have taken the initiative to offer free babysitting services in my community.  By using my service, families can have time to attend to health concerns, be active in their faith network, and work to provide for their families.  As leaders of our faith we need to lend a helping hand to impoverished mothers.  It is our duty as young Catholics to pray for leaders in our country to pass legislation and welcome new life.

Providing meals for lower income children and moms is essential to supporting families as they welcome new life into their homes.  I prioritize helping lower-income children because I remember when I was in Ethiopia and would only receive a small portion of food.  Go Pantry collects and distributes food to malnourished children in Boone County.  We need to raise awareness in our community about this beneficial service to our neighbors who need additional support to feed their families.   Attending to the needs of the poor is our call from God.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, “The corporal works of mercy consist especially in feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned, and burying the dead.  Among all these, giving alms to the poor is one of the chief witnesses to fraternal charity: it is also a work of justice pleasing to God” (2447). Feeding poor families brings alive the teachings of the Church.

To conclude, all life is precious and deserves dignity and respect.  When we support struggling women and families in both speech and action, we bring our faith to life.  Let us answer God’s call for us to help our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.