Entry Deadline: The contest closes at 11:59 p.m. CST, November 18, 2025. Catholic Literary Arts encourages you to write poems in honor of Mary, Holy, Silent Mother of God during the season of Advent for our 2025 Advent Writing Contest. Prizes will be awarded to the top three submissions. A virtual event to celebrate the winners will be held on December 15, 2025 at 7 p.m. CST via Zoom. This contest will be judged by V. Paige Parker.
Submission Guidelines: Entry fee: $10. Entry of one unpublished poem per author.
Poems are limited to 32 lines. The title and stanza breaks are not included in the line limit.
The author's name must not appear on the submission or in the document's file name.
Minimum age of author is 16 YOA at the date of entry. International entries in the English language are accepted.
Submissions begin September 22, 2025 and end 11:59 p.m., CST, November 18, 2025.
Winners will be announced on the Catholic Literary Arts website on December 8, 2025.
Please review all submission guidelines on the Catholic Literary Arts website.
Your submission confirms that you have read and fulfilled all the above requirements and conditions. Each winner will complete IRS Form W-9 before payment of award. Catholic Literary Arts board members and charter members are not eligible to enter this contest.
Contest Overview
- Purpose: To inspire students in Archdiocesan-affiliated schools to write about spiritual topics, increase writing skills, and increase writing confidence
- Eligibility: Only open to students enrolled in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade in a school affiliated with the Catholic Schools Office in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Click here to view Catholic schools eligible for this contest.
- Deadline: Friday, February 20, 2026, at 11:59 pm CST.
2026 Prompt
- 2026 Poem Prompt: Write about Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Submission Guidelines
- Format: One Word document.
- Length: Maximum of 24 lines (title and stanza breaks do not count). All metrical forms and free-verse are accepted.
- Formatting: Typed in Times New Roman or Arial, font size 12. No handwritten submissions.
- Anonymity: Student names should not appear on the poem but must be included in the submission form.
- Required Details: Include the student’s school, grade, and a unique title for the poem in the top left corner of the page of the poem. Here is an example of a formatted individual poem's page.
- Requirements for Batch Submissions: Each batch submission will include poems by students in one grade level. In addition, each batch submission will include a Batch Submission Summary Form listing the following information for each poem: student name, grade, and title of poem. Here is an example of the required Batch Submission Summary Form and a formatted individual poem's page.
Anti-Plagiarism
- Disqualification: Plagiarism is a serious offense and will result in disqualification from the contest and other possible consequences.
- Originality: The poem must be original, not created by AI technology or copied from another source, unpublished in print, unpublished on the web or in limited edition books.
- Anti-Plagiarism Lesson Plan: To assist students in understanding the definition of plagiarism and its seriousness, we offer this downloadable lesson plan.
- Anti-Plagiarism Declaration: Each student submitting a poem must sign an affirmative declaration that his or her writing is unique, original work. Teachers will keep the statements in their files for one year.
Entry Fee
- Cost: $55 per participating school.
- Payment: Check with your school principal or instructional specialist to confirm if the fee has been paid.
Submission Process
- Open Dates: November 1, 2025 – February 20, 2026 (11:59 pm CST).
- Method: Submit individual poems via Submittable, or through a teacher’s batch submission via Submittable.
Finalists and Winners Selection and Announcement
- Finalists: The preliminary round judges will select the finalists, who will be announced on the Catholic Literary Arts website by March 17, 2026.
- Winners: From the pool of finalists, the final round judges will choose the winners, to be announced on the Catholic Literary Arts website by March 24, 2026.
- Eligibility for Poet Laureate: Only first-place winners from each grade are considered.
Awards Ceremony
- Winners (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, and honorable mentions) will be invited to read their entries at the Awards Ceremony in-person with their families, friends, school principals, and submitting teachers. The Awards Ceremony will take place in April 2026 and details will be shared at a later date.
Contest Overview
- Purpose: To inspire students in Archdiocesan-affiliated schools to write about spiritual topics, increase writing skills, and increase writing confidence
- Eligibility: Only open to students enrolled in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade in a school affiliated with the Catholic Schools Office in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Click here to view Catholic schools eligible for this contest.
- Deadline: Friday, February 20, 2026, at 11:59 pm CST.
2026 Prompt
- 2026 Poem Prompt: Write about Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Submission Guidelines
- Format: One Word document.
- Length: Maximum of 24 lines (title and stanza breaks do not count). All metrical forms and free-verse are accepted.
- Formatting: Typed in Times New Roman or Arial, font size 12. No handwritten submissions.
- Anonymity: Student names should not appear on the poem but must be included in the submission form.
- Required Details: Include the student’s school, grade, and a unique title for the poem in the top left corner of the page of the poem. Here is an example of a formatted individual poem's page.
- Requirements for Batch Submissions: Each batch submission will include poems by students in one grade level. In addition, each batch submission will include a Batch Submission Summary Form listing the following information for each poem: student name, grade, and title of poem. Here is an example of the required Batch Submission Summary Form and a formatted individual poem's page.
Anti-Plagiarism
- Disqualification: Plagiarism is a serious offense and will result in disqualification from the contest and other possible consequences.
- Originality: The poem must be original, not created by AI technology or copied from another source, unpublished in print, unpublished on the web or in limited edition books.
- Anti-Plagiarism Lesson Plan: To assist students in understanding the definition of plagiarism and its seriousness, we offer this downloadable lesson plan.
- Anti-Plagiarism Declaration: Each student submitting a poem must sign an affirmative declaration that his or her writing is unique, original work. Teachers will keep the statements in their files for one year.
Entry Fee
- Cost: $55 per participating school.
- Payment: Check with your school principal or instructional specialist to confirm if the fee has been paid.
Submission Process
- Open Dates: November 1, 2025 – February 20, 2026 (11:59 pm CST).
- Method: Submit individual poems via Submittable, or through a teacher’s batch submission via Submittable.
Finalists and Winners Selection and Announcement
- Finalists: The preliminary round judges will select the finalists, who will be announced on the Catholic Literary Arts website by March 17, 2026.
- Winners: From the pool of finalists, the final round judges will choose the winners, to be announced on the Catholic Literary Arts website by March 24, 2026.
- Eligibility for Poet Laureate: Only first-place winners from each grade are considered.
Awards Ceremony
- Winners (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, and honorable mentions) will be invited to read their entries at the Awards Ceremony in-person with their families, friends, school principals, and submitting teachers. The Awards Ceremony will take place in April 2026 and details will be shared at a later date.
Contest Overview
- Purpose: To inspire students in Archdiocesan-affiliated schools to write about spiritual topics, increase writing skills, and increase writing confidence
- Eligibility: Only open to students enrolled in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade in a school affiliated with the Catholic Schools Office in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Click here to view Catholic schools eligible for this contest.
- Deadline: Friday, February 20, 2026, at 11:59 pm CST.
2026 Prompt
- 2026 Poem Prompt: Write about Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Submission Guidelines
- Format: One Word document.
- Length: Maximum of 24 lines (title and stanza breaks do not count). All metrical forms and free-verse are accepted.
- Formatting: Typed in Times New Roman or Arial, font size 12. No handwritten submissions.
- Anonymity: Student names should not appear on the poem but must be included in the submission form.
- Required Details: Include the student’s school, grade, and a unique title for the poem in the top left corner of the page of the poem. Here is an example of a formatted individual poem's page.
- Requirements for Batch Submissions: Each batch submission will include poems by students in one grade level. In addition, each batch submission will include a Batch Submission Summary Form listing the following information for each poem: student name, grade, and title of poem. Here is an example of the required Batch Submission Summary Form and a formatted individual poem's page.
Anti-Plagiarism
- Disqualification: Plagiarism is a serious offense and will result in disqualification from the contest and other possible consequences.
- Originality: The poem must be original, not created by AI technology or copied from another source, unpublished in print, unpublished on the web or in limited edition books.
- Anti-Plagiarism Lesson Plan: To assist students in understanding the definition of plagiarism and its seriousness, we offer this downloadable lesson plan.
- Anti-Plagiarism Declaration: Each student submitting a poem must sign an affirmative declaration that his or her writing is unique, original work. Teachers will keep the statements in their files for one year.
Entry Fee
- Cost: $55 per participating school.
- Payment: Check with your school principal or instructional specialist to confirm if the fee has been paid.
Submission Process
- Open Dates: November 1, 2025 – February 20, 2026 (11:59 pm CST).
- Method: Submit individual poems via Submittable, or through a teacher’s batch submission via Submittable.
Finalists and Winners Selection and Announcement
- Finalists: The preliminary round judges will select the finalists, who will be announced on the Catholic Literary Arts website by March 17, 2026.
- Winners: From the pool of finalists, the final round judges will choose the winners, to be announced on the Catholic Literary Arts website by March 24, 2026.
- Eligibility for Poet Laureate: Only first-place winners from each grade are considered.
Awards Ceremony
- Winners (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, and honorable mentions) will be invited to read their entries at the Awards Ceremony in-person with their families, friends, school principals, and submitting teachers. The Awards Ceremony will take place in April 2026 and details will be shared at a later date.
Contest Overview
- Purpose: To inspire students in homeschool programs and independent Catholic schools to write about spiritual topics, increase writing skills, and increase writing confidence
- Eligibility: Only open to students enrolled in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade in a homeschool program school or independent Catholic school in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Click here to view independent Catholic schools eligible for this contest.
- Deadline: Friday, February 20, 2026, at 11:59 pm CST.
2026 Prompt
- 2026 Poem Prompt: Write about Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Submission Guidelines
- Format: One Word document.
- Length: Maximum of 24 lines (title and stanza breaks do not count). All metrical forms and free-verse are accepted.
- Formatting: Typed in Times New Roman or Arial, font size 12. No handwritten submissions.
- Anonymity: Student names should not appear on the poem but must be included in the submission form.
- Required Details: Include the student’s school, grade, and a unique title for the poem in the top left corner of the page of the poem. Here is an example of a formatted individual poem's page.
- Requirements for Batch Submissions: Each batch submission will include poems by students in one grade level. In addition, each batch submission will include a Batch Submission Summary Form listing the following information for each poem: student name, grade, and title of poem. Here is an example of the required Batch Submission Summary Form and a formatted individual poem's page.
Anti-Plagiarism
- Disqualification: Plagiarism is a serious offense and will result in disqualification from the contest and other possible consequences.
- Originality: The poem must be original, not created by AI technology or copied from another source, unpublished in print, unpublished on the web or in limited edition books.
- Anti-Plagiarism Lesson Plan: To assist students in understanding the definition of plagiarism and its seriousness, we offer this downloadable lesson plan.
- Anti-Plagiarism Declaration: Each student submitting a poem must sign an affirmative declaration that his or her writing is unique, original work. Teachers will keep the statements in their files for one year.
Entry Fee
- Cost: $55 per participating school.
- Payment: Check with your school principal or instructional specialist to confirm if the fee has been paid.
Submission Process
- Open Dates: November 1, 2025 – February 20, 2026 (11:59 pm CST).
- Method: Submit individual poems via Submittable, or through a teacher’s batch submission via Submittable.
Finalists and Winners Selection and Announcement
- Finalists: The preliminary round judges will select the finalists, who will be announced on the Catholic Literary Arts website by March 17, 2026.
- Winners: From the pool of finalists, the final round judges will choose the winners, to be announced on the Catholic Literary Arts website by March 24, 2026.
- Eligibility for Poet Laureate: Only first-place winners from each grade are considered.
Awards Ceremony
- Winners (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, and honorable mentions) will be invited to read their entries at the Awards Ceremony in-person with their families, friends, school principals, and submitting teachers. The Awards Ceremony will take place in April 2026 and details will be shared at a later date.