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 Poem Prompt: Write about Our Lady of Guadalupe.

• Click here to access a lesson plan about the religious, cultural, and historical significance of the apparition and devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe.

• Click here to access a creative writing lesson plan on writing poetry about Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Format: One Word document.

Length: Maximum of 24 lines (title and stanza breaks do not count). All metrical forms and free-verse are accepted.

For last year’s first-place poems by grade level, click here.

To Purchase the 2025 Sacred Poetry Contest Anthology to see 2025 first, second, and third-place winners and finalists in all grade levels, click here.

As part of Catholic Literary Arts’ investment in our community’s school children, we offer archdiocesan schools the possibility of scheduling a free visit by a poet to read joy-filled, sacred poetry, OR a one-hour poetry lesson for a 6th, 7th, or 8th grade classroom in sacred poetry.  Professional development for teachers in teaching creative writing is poetry is also available for a fee.

Please fill out the form at this link by December 15, 2025, at the latest. Availability will vary.  Please reach out to us soon! Visits will occur between December 1, 2025 and February 1, 2026.

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. Click here for an example of a formatted individual poem’s page.

Batch Submission: Each batch submission will include poems by students in one grade level. (The 6th Grade Batch Submission document should have only 6th Grade entries) 

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.

Click here to submit entries. 

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.

Method: Submit poems via Submittable.

Click here to pay the entry fee.

If schools wish to mail a check, please mail it to Catholic Literary Arts, 2505 Driscoll St, Houston, TX 77019.

Payment: Check with your school principal or instructional specialist to confirm if the fee has been paid.

Open Dates: November 1, 2025 – February 20, 2026 (11:59 pm CST).

Click here to submit entries.

Method: Submit either individual poems or a batch submission via Submittable.

Poet Laureate:

• $500 cash prize.

  1. Note: The poet laureate must complete IRS Form W-9 before receiving the prize.

• Published in the Catholic Literary Arts Sacred Poetry Annual Anthology.

• Full-tuition scholarship to the Fearless Catholic Summer Writing Camp (June 8-12, 2026).

First, Second, and Third Place:

• Published in the Catholic Literary Arts Sacred Poetry Annual Anthology.

• Full-tuition scholarship to the Fearless Catholic Summer Writing Camp (June 8-12, 2026).

Honorable Mentions:

• Published in the Catholic Literary Arts Sacred Poetry Annual Anthology.

• Partial scholarship to the Fearless Catholic Summer Writing Camp (June 8-12, 2026).

Finalists:

• Published in the Catholic Literary Arts Sacred Poetry Annual Anthology.

Join us to celebrate the emerging young writers in our archdiocese! Winners will be invited to read their entries at the Archdiocesan Awards Ceremony in person with their families, friends, school principals, and submitting teachers.

Our Inspiring keynote speaker will shed light on the importance of poetry within the Catholic intellectual tradition as the students’ love of Our Lady of Guadalupe shines through their written words. 

The Awards Ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, April 15, 2026, from 9 to 10 a.m.  More details and a registration link will come soon.