The purpose of this site ifrom August 2025 through April 2026 is to provide information and instructions for the Columbus Serra Club’s Vocation Essay Competition.
With its third annual essay competition, the Columbus Serra Club again challenges eighth grade boys to write an essay of five hundred words or less answering a question about whether God might be calling them to the priesthood. Writers of the ten best essays will be awarded a $1,000 tuition assistance grant to a diocesan Catholic high school for the 2026/2027 academic year.
Catholic Schools Superintendent, Dr. Adam Dufault, will announce the contest to principals during September. Students will have October and November to write their essays. Eighth grade boys not attending a Catholic school, please go Information and Instructions for 2025/2026 Serra Essay Contest.
The Serra Club looks forward to participation from all schools in the diocese. The mere fact of writing vocation essays helps form a culture of vocations. Last year’s essays, even those written as an extra credit assignment, were very well written while showing serious thought about what God might have in mind for them. A boy who settles down to write out what he thinks about his future in light of God’s will, forms in himself an antidote against secularism.
The Serra Club appreciates help, especially from people with education experience, for processing and evaluating a large number of essays. Text 614-558-0806 or email kielkopf.1@osu.edu on how to help.
Serra Club of Columbus 