Blessed are the peacemakers
Eligibility
The essay invitational is open to:
- High school juniors and seniors entering the 2026–2027 school year
- Recent high school graduates
- Students enrolled in an undergraduate program at colleges and universities
- Students who live in the United States or its territories
Essay prompt
Write about an issue of peace, nonviolence, justice, anti-racism, immigrant rights, nuclear disarmament, or conscientious objection.
Your essay should be grounded in personal experience or community connection, and reference at least one person — historical or contemporary — who has put their livelihood, freedom, or safety on the line for this cause. What does their example demand of you?
Original content required; AI writing assistance is not permitted.
Word count requirements
Submissions must adhere to the following word count guidelines. Word counts exclude footnotes and bibliography.
- High school submissions: 750–1,000 words
- College and university submissions: 1,000–2,000 words
Submission deadline: June 15, 2026
All essays must be received by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on Monday, June 15. Late submissions will not be accepted.
How to submit
Essays should be submitted via this online form.
When submitting your essay, please provide the following information:
- Your full name
- Your email address
- Your mailing address
- Your phone number
- Your current grade level or year in school (high school junior, high school senior, college first year, college second year, college third year, college fourth year, or other)
- Your school name and address
- Whether you are a current member of Pax Christi USA (yes/no)
- Whether you are a current member of Pax Christi Young Adult Community (yes/no)
Awards
Winners will be selected and recognized in two categories: high school and college/university.
High school category
- 1st place: $750
- 2nd place: $500
- 3rd place: $250
College and university category
- 1st place: $1,000
- 2nd place: $750
- 3rd place: $500
Winners will be notified in late July 2026.
Judging and selection
Essays will be judged by a selection committee appointed by Pax Christi USA. Judging will use criteria appropriate to each category. All decisions of the selection committee are final.
Publication and rights
Winning essays: Your essay may be published on Pax Christi USA’s website, in our communications, or in other materials promoting peace and justice.
Non-winning essays: You may grant permission for your essay to be included in a digital collection celebrating outstanding submissions from young Catholic voices. Inclusion of your essay in this collection is entirely optional and will not affect the judging process.
Your rights: You retain full ownership and authorship of your work. You will be credited by name in any publication. Pax Christi USA will not use your essay for commercial purposes without your explicit written consent.
When you submit your essay, you will be asked to indicate your publication preferences.
General rules
- Essays must be original work written by you; AI assistance is not permitted.
- Essays must address the prompt directly.
- Essays must follow the specified word count limits.
- Multiple submissions from the same person are not permitted.
- By submitting, you confirm that your essay is your own work and that you have the right to submit it.
Questions?
For questions about the contest, please contact Pax Christi USA at info@paxchristiusa.org.
This invitational is generously sponsored by Rev. Fred Thelen.
Submission deadline: June 15, 2026
Use this link to submit your essay.