7th grader explains why the world needs priests in award-winning video
What would the world be like if there were no priests to guide, give, or comfort us?
With this thought-provoking question, Mikalle, a seventh-grade student from the Archdiocese of Newark, begins his award-winning video essay, “The Roman Catholic Priesthood and How It Is a Force for Good in the World.”
Now in its seventh year, The Cardinal Joseph Tobin Award for Priestly Vocations Essay and Video Contest encourages students to think seriously about why we still need priests today. The archdiocesan Office of Priestly Vocations initiated the contest to engage middle school kids and highlight the need for vocations.
Each year, a team of judges reviews written essays submitted by Catholic schools and faith formation programs from across the Archdiocese. Three young finalists are selected and invited to produce a 3- to 4-minute video inspired by their essays. Grand prize winners are awarded $1,500, while the second- and third-place winners receive $250 each. An award is also given to the teacher or parish catechetical leader who mentored the grand-prize winner.
The Office of Priestly Vocations announced the 2025 winners on June 6 and posted the grand-prize winning video on their website and YouTube channel, NewarkPriest.
This year’s winner, Mikalle, makes a compelling case that the Catholic priesthood remains a powerful force for good in the world. Through moving examples, he shows how priests serve others by 1) administering the sacraments and doing good works, 2) offering moral guidance in a troubled world, and 3) providing comfort and prayers to those who suffer in moments of crisis and loss.
Changing the world for the better by word and deed
Mikalle recounts how, one Christmas, he saw priests in Ecuador working with volunteers to feed and clothe the homeless, “not for recognition, but out of love.”
He also reminds viewers of the COVID-19 pandemic, when priests risked their health to console and anoint the sick. “I personally experienced the comfort they brought when I was hospitalized,” Mikalle says, explaining that priests perform such actions “from the kindness of their hearts.”
The seventh grader also shares how moral guidance from his parish priests has helped him to grow as a person. In a world where “many nowadays struggle with right and wrong,” Catholic clergy remind people “how to live with love, respect, and honesty.”
Finally, Mikalle illustrates how “the Roman Catholic priesthood is a light in times of crisis.” Citing the death of his grandfather, Mikalle recalls how a priest helped guide his family as they grieved, reminding them “to trust God’s plan and let go of sorrow.”
“Priests change lives and entire communities, shaping the world into a better place,” Mikalle concludes.
Teaching others about the positive impact of priests
Mikalle told Jersey Catholic that working on the essay and video reminded him just how impactful priests can be. “When I dedicated a video and essay to the topic, it seemed like their great and important presence flashed before my eyes,” he said. He added that he hopes the message about the value of the priesthood will be “something others can learn from.”
While he has made short videos for entertainment purposes in the past, making a video essay was a new experience for the seventh grader. “Making a professional-looking, 3- to 4-minute-long video project was a challenging experience,” Mikalle said. Previous had taken him less than an hour to edit, while his priesthood video took him at least 12 hours to complete.
You can watch Mikalle’s award-winning video below.
Visit newarkpriest.com for more information about the Office of Priestly Vocations.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated with quotes from the winning student.
