More Than ‘Being Green’: Seton Hall Honors Winners of 2026 St. Francis Essay Contest

The Catholic Studies Program at Seton Hall University has announced the winners of its 2026 New Jersey Catholic High School Essay Contest, “St. Francis and ‘Integral Ecology’: More Than ‘Being Green.’” The contest invited high school students in New Jersey to reflect on care for creation as a spiritual and moral calling, not merely an environmental trend.

The first-prize winner is Octavio Chavez, an 11th-grade student at Saint Peter’s Prep. The two runners-up are Leah Nott, an 11th-grade student at Mother Seton Regional High School and Kayla Varela a 9th-grade student at Union Catholic Regional High School.

This year’s essay theme was inspired by the Year of St. Francis of Assisi, established by Pope Leo XIV on January 10, 2026, to mark the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ Transitus or passing from earthly life to heaven. The special year runs from January 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027. In their essays, students considered the example of St. Francis of Assisi and the teaching of Pope Francis on integral ecology, exploring how love for creation shapes the way people live, consume and serve others.

“Selecting this year’s winners was a difficult task because the essays showed thoughtfulness, maturity and a lot of Catholic imagination,” said Ines Angeli Murzaku, Ph.D., professor of Religion and Director of the Catholic Studies Program. She continued,

Octavio, Leah and Kayla are to be commended not only for the quality of their writing, but also for the seriousness with which they engaged St. Francis, Pope Francis and the Church’s call to integral ecology. This essay contest has been a cherished tradition since the beginning of the Catholic Studies Program and we are grateful that it continues to invite young people into the great conversations of the Catholic intellectual tradition. Fortunately or perhaps challengingly, we never seem to run out of timely topics in Catholicism. Just as important, the contest helps us build bridges with high schools across New Jersey and beyond. That mission reflects Seton Hall’s own history as a diocesan university, rooted in service to the local Church and local communities, while always expanding its reach and engagement internationally.

All three winners were honored during Seton Hall University’s annual Catholic Studies Honor Society Induction and reception.

The three winning essays will also be published in Arcadia: A Student Journal for Faith and Culture, the annual journal of Seton Hall University’s Department of Catholic Studies.

Categories: Education, Faith and Service