St. Francis de Sales Parish teens win video contest

Youths at St. Francis de Sales Parish in Lake Zurich won $5,000 from a video contest sponsored by the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Archdiocese officials said the teenagers participated in the video contest conducted as part of the ongoing emphasis on the Year of Strong Catholic Parents. All Catholic high school students from archdiocese parishes in Cook and Lake counties were invited to show witness to their faith by creating an original video on the importance of parents passing on the faith to the next generation.

Contest entrants were asked to participate in a small-group reflection process called "Handing on the Faith," create and produce a two-minute video, show it to other teens and gather feedback and submit the completed entry form and DVD.

Thirty-four films created by 117 teens representing more than 12 parishes were submitted.

First place and the $5,000 went to the teens from St. Francis de Sales for "Passing on the Faith." Second place and $2,500 went to the entry "Send It On" by youth at St. Odilo Parish in Berwyn, with third place and $1,000 for "Because of Our Parents" created by teens at St. Constance Parish in Chicago.

As part of the contest, a matching award will be given to the Catholic parish or school designated by the winners.

The awards were presented to the teens during Parish Leadership Day Feb. 22 at Guerin College Preparatory High School in River Grove. The video contest was co-sponsored by the Archdiocese of Chicago, Mercy Home for Boys and Girls and ACTA: Foundation for Adult Catechetical Teaching Aids.

To view all of the submitted videos, click on "Video Contest Winners" on the front page of the Archdiocesan website, www.archchicago.org.