WHO:

Open to all middle and high school students participating in pro-life pilgrimages, rallies and events to mark the 40th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s abortion decision in Roe v. Wade.

WHAT:

Students will be invited to create a brief video (30 to 60 seconds) while on pilgrimage or participating in rallies or other pro-life events surrounding the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. The videos should illustrate (a) what it means personally for that student to take part in the pro-life pilgrimage (and to be part of the pro-life movement) as a witness to the value and dignity of every human being by showing their support for the reversal of Roe v. Wade and (b) why their participation has special meaning for them during this Year of Faith.

WHEN: 

Videos are to be recorded sometime during the Nine Days of Prayer, Penance and Pilgrimage, that is, between Saturday, January 19 and Sunday, January 27, 2013 while on pilgrimage, during pro-life events or while journeying to and from these events.

HOW:

  1. Diocesan Pro-Life and Youth Ministry directors are invited to sponsor a diocesan video contest for middle and high school students participating in pro-life pilgrimages, rallies and events to mark the 40th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision.

    In publicizing the contest, the lead office will make available guidelines and instructions for submission of videos using the YouTube platform. The lead office will also provide an email address to which students can send a link to where their video is posted on YouTube, their contact information and the name of the high school they attend. Entries must be received no later than 5 PM local time on January 28 (or such other date and time the diocese chooses).

  2. Videos will be judged on their substantive content, originality and how compellingly the message is communicated.

  3. Students will be notified that all videos submitted will become the property of the diocese, which will have an automatic, nonexclusive and transferable right to post or otherwise utilize the video footage at the discretion of the diocese. In addition, by entering the contest, students warrant that all persons recognizable in the video have given permission to be videotaped and for their image to be used by the diocese and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in any printed or electronic pro-life materials. A consent and release form, to be signed by the student and his or her parent, will be provided to those whose videos are selected by the diocese and/or the USCCB for use.

  4. The lead diocesan director coordinating the video contest, will oversee the judging of videos. Dioceses may select their top winning entries for local recognition. Dioceses may choose to award modest prizes to these winners. Winning entries could be posted on the diocesan website with biographical information on the winning entrants. The winners and their entries could be publicized in high schools, in the diocesan and local press and other local media. Winners and other students whose videos were found to have merit, will submit a copy of the video to the lead diocesan office.

  5. Dioceses may submit links to their top two entries to the USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities (@email) no later than February 15, 2013, for national recognition and awards. By sending winning entries to the USCCB, dioceses warrant that no property rights have been violated in making the videos and that the USCCB is given a nonexclusive right to use the videos and images they have submitted for any pro-life educational/promotional purpose.

  6. The Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities will select the top three entries nationwide for recognition and prizes. Cash prizes will be awarded in the amounts of $300, $200 and $100 for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place respectively.