Catholic University Senior's Essay Lands Him Chance to Meet Pope
(Source: Catholic News Service)
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Peter Osgood, a senior majoring in biology at The Catholic University of America in Washington, couldn't move when he heard his essay on "How Catholic Education Has Changed My Life" won him a chance to meet Pope Benedict XVI when he delivers an address on Catholic education at the university April 17.
"But I knew I had to (move)," he said, with a wide grin at the gathering for essay finalists April 10.
"It was very unexpected. ... I have never had the opportunity to be that close to the pope, or to have a dialogue with a world leader," he said.
Osgood said that when he first heard about the essay contest, he decided not to write it because he thought about his competition -- all the other students at Catholic University who specialize in theology.
But the night before it was due, Osgood got a hankering that he should write the essay.
"One of the things I knew was that if I didn't do it, I would surely regret it," he said.
In his essay, Osgood wrote about St. Michael School, a small Catholic elementary school in his hometown of Penn Yan, N.Y., which his father called "the best kept secret of our region."
"I remember vividly how each school day began in prayer. It was here that we brought to mind those in need, gave thanks for our many gifts and asked for help in all of our challenges," he wrote.
"Our classrooms were focused on building quality persons who could push themselves -- and one another -- to achieve great things. Yet we were also shown how to be caring and supportive friends, in the true spirit of the Gospel," he wrote.
At the end of his essay, Osgood said because Catholic education made such a positive impact on his life it cannot remain a "best kept secret."
More than 125 students submitted essays to the contest; a panel of faculty judges narrowed the number down to 18 finalists.
Vincentian Father David O'Connell, the university's president, said he read over the final 18 essays many times, but when he read Osgood's essay he was "blown away."
"Catholic education so moved his heart and soul that it made him a different person," he said.
The essay contest runner-up was Christopher Seibt, a seminarian at the university's Theological College. Both Osgood and Seibt will attend Pope Benedict's address on Catholic education, and a private reception afterward.
In his essay, Seibt wrote about how his Catholic elementary school education led to his, his mother's and his sister's conversion to Catholicism. His Catholic education also helped him discover his vocation to the priesthood.
When Seibt is ordained, "Catholic education will be one of my main ministries, because I firmly believe in Catholic education," said Seibt, who is from Syracuse, N.Y.
Students who won an honorable mention for their essays were: Joanna Berry, a senior theology major from Joliet, Ill.; Marcel Antonio Brown, a doctoral student in English from Arlington, Va., who earned a master's degree in English from Catholic University in 2006; and Craig Mariconti, a junior psychology major from Warwick, N.Y.
They received tickets to sit in a special VIP suite at the papal Mass April 17 at Nationals Park.
Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Editor's Note: More information about the pope's schedule while he is visiting the United States is available online at: www.uspapalvisit.org.
