Misyon announces its fourth annual essay contest, which this year is open to all high school students. First prize is P10,000, second prize is P5,000 and third P3,000. There are ten consolation prizes of P2,000.

Theme: ‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses’ (Acts 1:8).

This passage occurs after the death and resurrection of Jesus, just before his ascension to the Father. It represents the birth of the Church.

This is the theme of World Youth Day Sydney 2008, ‘WYDSYD08 www.wyd08.org.

This issue of Misyon, like every edition from the first in 1988, features stories of Filipino missionaries overseas. We highlight the first Filipinos to be given responsibility for church jurisdictions overseas, Bishop Wenceslao S. Padilla CICM, Prefect Apostolic of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and Fr Raymundo T. Sabio MSC, Prefect Apostolic of the Marshall Islands. In Mitzi Saguisag’s article on WYD Geff Calmerin from Bacolod City hopes to find in Sydney in a clearer way what his vocation in life may be, in other words, how God wants him to ‘be my witness’ for the rest of his life.

Pope John Paul II on young people in Crossing the Threshold of Hope, 1994:

The World Youth Days have become a great and fascinating witness that young people give of themselves. They have become a powerful means of evangelization. In the young there is, in fact, an immense potential for good and for creative possibility. Whenever I meet them in my travels throughout the world, I wait first of all to hear what they want to tell me about themselves, about their society, about their Church. And I always point out: ‘What I am going to say to you is not as important as what you are going to say to me. You will not necessarily say it to me in words; you will say it to me by your presence, by your song, perhaps by your dancing, by your skits, and finally by your enthusiasm.’

We need the enthusiasm of the young. We need their joie de vivre. In it is reflected something of the original joy God had in creating man. The young experience this same joy within themselves. This joy is the same everywhere, but it is also ever new and original. The young know how to express this joy in their own special way . . . ‘You are the hope of the Church and of the world. You are my hope.’ I have often repeated these words.

Assignment:

1. Tell an experience of your own or of other young people you know which can prove that the youth has the capacity to be good and creative despite so many temptations and limitations present around you/them.
2. What are the situations that hinder the youth from being joyful, productive and enthusiastic members of their family, school and church? What are the effects of these hindrances on the beliefs and personality of the young generation and their interaction in society?
3. How can you become the hope of the Church and of the world especially now that our country is facing many serious problems?

Rules: All high school students may enter but only one entry per student.

Length: 500-750 words. Pages should be typed and double-spaced or neatly handwritten in ink and stapled – no binders or folders, please.

The entry form should be attached to the essay. (Entry forms may be downloaded fromwww.misyononline.com or printed from the VCD version. Photo-copied forms may be used.) The entry must include the name and signature of the principal or the student’s Christian Living or home room teacher.

Misyon Essay Writing Contest Form

The student’s name and that of the school must not appear on the essay.

Entries that do not have complete information will be disqualified.

Mail to:
MISYON 2008 Student Essay Contest, PO Box 588, 6100 BACOLOD CITY
or to our courier address: Corner Camia-Tapulanga Sts, Espinos Village, Bacolod City

1st Place – P10,000 . 2nd Place – P5,000. 3rd Place – P3,000. Honorable mention – ten prizes of P2,000.

Deadline: Entries must be postmarked not later than Wednesday 10 September. All entries become the property of Misyon and cannot be returned. Winners will be notified in November. The Top Three essays will be published in the January-February 2009 issue of Misyon. The others will appear onwww.misyononline.com