From staff reports

Once again, elementary school students throughout the four counties of the Diocese of Trenton showed their support for Respect Life by creating works for the diocesan Respect Life Contest that expressed their value of life in all its stages.

Working off the 2018 theme of “Be Not Afraid,” the students of Catholic schools, parish religious education programs and youth groups designed posters, wrote essays – and this year, submitted entries to a new category: a photo meme. The latter replaced the video categories of previous years’ contests.

The submissions were grouped by various grade categories: Kindergarten through second grade, third through fifth grade, and sixth through eighth grade. Following judging at the parish or school level, the top entries were made available online for judging by the diocesan Department of Pastoral Care’s Respect Life Ministry members. Submissions were judged on creativity, clarity of message, and when applicable, visual appeal.

Six diocesan winners were chosen – one from each grade category – as well as first runners up in each grade group by county. Each diocesan winner receives a $100 prize; runners up will receive a $40 prize. Awards will be presented to winners and winning entries displayed in their respective counties during the following Masses on March 4:

Burlington County: 12 p.m. Mass, Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Hainesport; light reception to follow

Mercer County: 11 a.m. Mass, St. George Church, Titusville; light reception to follow

Monmouth County: 12 p.m. Mass, St. Mary, Mother of God Church, Middletown; light reception to follow

Ocean County: 11 a.m. Mass, St. John Church, Lakehurst; light reception to follow

Below are the 2018 Respect Life Poster, Essay & Meme Contest Winners:

Diocesan Winners

Grades K-2 Poster: AIDEN SELF, second grade, Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton; Sacred Heart Parish, Trenton

Grades 3-5 Poster: JAVIER MORENO CORRALES, third grade, Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton; St. Joseph Parish, Trenton

Grades 6-8 Poster: Gabriella Vizzoni, sixth grade, St. Paul School and Parish, Princeton

Grades 3-5 Essay: MARY KATE O’CONNOR, third grade, Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton; St. Mary Parish, Bordentown

Grades 6-8 Essay: MATTHEW MILLER, sixth grade, St. Charles Borromeo School and Parish, Cinnaminson

Grades 6-8 Photo Meme: KENNY MALLOY, seventh grade, St. Peter School and Parish, Point Pleasant Beach

First Runners Up

BURLINGTON COUNTY

Grades K-2 Poster: No first runner up selected from Burlington County

Grades 3-5 Poster: Michaela Smith, fourth grade, St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Cinnaminson

Grades 6-8 Poster: Autumn Brutschea, seventh grade, Our Lady of Good Counsel School and Parish, Moorestown

Grades 3-5 Essay: No first runner up selected from Burlington County

Grades 6-8 Essay: Christian A. Caminotti, eighth grade, Sacred Heart School, Mount Holly; Our Lady, Queen of Peace Parish, Hainesport

Grades 6-8 Photo Meme: Owen Donohue, eighth grade, Sacred Heart School and Parish, Mount Holly

MERCER COUNTY

Grades K-2 Poster: Danielle Self, first grade, Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton; Sacred Heart Parish, Trenton

Grades 3-5 Poster: Maria Jagielska, third grade, St. Hedwig Parish, Trenton

Grades 6-8 Poster: Joshua Arriola, eighth grade, Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton; St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Hightstown

Grades 3-5 Essay: Anthony Arriola, fifth grade, Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton; St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Hightstown

Grades 6-8 Essay: Alyssa Rauscher, seventh grade, Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton; St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Community, Joint Base MDL

Grades 6-8 Photo Meme: No first runner up selected from Mercer County

MONMOUTH COUNTY

Grades K-2 Poster: Summer Green, kindergarten, St. Benedict School and Parish, Holmdel

Grades 3-5 Poster: Alexa Mastrorilli, third grade, St. Catharine-St. Margaret Parish, Spring Lake

Grades 6-8 Poster: Skylar Cary, sixth grade, Holy Cross School and Parish, Rumson

Grades 3-5 Essay: Octavia Rose Musilli, fifth grade, St. Benedict School and Parish, Holmdel

Grades 6-8 Essay: Kathleen Grace Crowe, sixth grade, St. Benedict School and Parish, Holmdel

Grades 6-8 Photo Meme: Michael Liddy,eighth grade, St. Catharine School and St. Catharine-St. Margaret Parish, both Spring Lake

OCEAN COUNTY

Grades K-2 Poster: Roma Scalzo, second grade, St. Pius X Parish, Forked River

Grades 3-5 Poster: Emma Mullins, third grade, St. Peter School and Parish, Point Pleasant Beach

Grades 6-8 Poster: No first runner up selected from Ocean County

Grades 3-5 Essay: Summer Bruce, fifth grade, St. Peter School, Point Pleasant Beach; Visitation Parish, Brick

Grades 6-8 Essay: Zoe Petrella, sixth grade, St. Peter School and Parish, Point Pleasant Beach

Grades 6-8 Photo Meme: No first runner up selected from Ocean County