Short story competition to foster a culture of vocations

Last year, the Vocation Recruitment Team of this Archdiocese promoted their annual Vocation Awareness Week during the week of November 12 – 17. The theme was: What gifts have we received from God and how are we using them?

As is customary, young people in our schools were asked to contribute to this initiative on November 15, 2023. They were requested to participate in a short story competition in keeping with the theme.

While participation was not widespread, all efforts were appreciated, and winners selected as follows:

1st place – Zahara Bertrand and Sheridan Maharaj, St Joseph’s Convent, San Fernando

2nd place –  Gabriel Khadoo, Holy Faith Convent, Penal

3rd place – Karimah Thompson, Holy Faith Convent, Penal

Special award – Jaylon Pedro, Presentation College, San Fernando

Special award – School with the most entries – Holy Name Convent, Point Fortin

All winners deserve sincere congratulations and all entrants our grateful thanks.

The prizes were distributed on Tuesday, February 27 and we thank the schools in question for accommodating our team led by Fr Kenwyn Sylvester, who was able to address the entire assembly at St Joseph’s Convent, San Fernando. Unfortunately, time did not permit this at Presentation College and Holy Faith Convent, but presentations were formally made and recorded before staff and students who were available to do so.

The Vocation Recruitment Team will continue to spearhead these initiatives in our schools, to foster a culture of vocations.

“Vocations is everybody’s business,” stated Fr Matthew D’Hereaux, former Vocations Director, in The Catholic News of March 4, 2018. In a later edition, the Editorial of November 8, 2020, we were further challenged to “create spaces of reflection in which life-changing and direction-changing questions can be asked of our faithful, particularly the youths and young adults”. This is our hope and our mission.

—Diane Lucky, member of the Generation S team