About Project Hope
Welcome to Project Hope 2012! The Brothers of Holy Cross are religious men who dedicate their whole lives to bringing hope to others through their many good works.
It’s the Year of the Brother in the Congregation of Holy Cross community. The Year of the Brother began on Oct. 17, 2011, the first anniversary of the canonization of Bro. André Bessette, C.S.C., to honor St. André and all of the religious Brothers of Holy Cross who dedicate their lives to God.
Who is Eligible?
Project Hope is open to any student enrolled in grades 9–12 at a designated Holy Cross high school. The contest will have its official launch on January 7, 2012, during National Vocations Awareness Week. Submissions are limited to one per student. Group submissions will be accepted in the categories of film and music; up to four participants per entry.
Contest Deadline and Notification
The deadline for Project Hope is Friday, March 2, 2012. Winners will be announced on Friday, March 23, 2012, at which time they will be published on the Brothers of Holy Cross website.
View a Project Hope promo featuring winning entries from previous contests and a message about this year’s contest:
Need An Idea for Project Hope? Click here for some ideas.
The Brothers of Holy Cross look to St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus, as their patron and guide. Research the life of St. Joseph. How does he exemplify the person you hope to become?
There are many creative ways for you to address the question about St. Joseph. Write an essay about how St. Joseph influences the person you hope to become, create a comic book about the life of St. Joseph, poem or original song.
A religious Brother models the image of Jesus who was a Brother to all people, particularly those who were poor, oppressed or suffering. How does your education in a Holy Cross school prepare you to continue this part of Jesus’ mission? In your own life, who is a “brother” to you and how does this person embody these qualities?
For the second question about the mission of the Brothers, you may want to create a collage or photo essay of service projects in your school, interview a Brother of Holy Cross or the person who is a “brother” to you as a newspaper article, write a reflection on what social justice means to you, or make a short video about how your school works to help the poor and needy in your local area.
During “Year of the Brother” we hope to encourage young people to consider lives of service in the Church, particularly as a religious Brother. How can the Congregation of Holy Cross encourage young men to consider the vocation of a Brother as an option for their lives?
For the third question about vocations, you may want to make a poster for a religious vocation, create a commercial to promote vocations for the Brothers of Holy Cross, write an essay, use anime to tell the story of the Brothers of Holy Cross, create an original logo for the “Year of the Brother,” or write an original prayer for vocations.
