Deadline: September 10, 2026, at 11:59 pm CST.

Purpose: To inspire students in the greater Houston area who are not included in the Archdiocesan or LUX communities to write about spiritual topics, increase writing skills, and increase writing confidence.

Eligibility: Only open to students enrolled in 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade who live in the greater Houston area and are not included in the Archdiocesan or LUX communities.

2026 Theme: Brother Sun, Sister Moon

• Click here to access a lesson plan about the religious, cultural, and historical significance of the life and death of St. Francis of Assisi.

• Click here to learn more about the Canticle of All Creatures, written by St. Francis of Assisi.

Format: One Word document.

Length: Maximum of 18 lines (title and stanza breaks do not count). All metrical forms and free-verse are accepted.

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.

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The poem must be original, not created by AI technology in whole or in part, or copied from another source, unpublished in print, unpublished on the web or in limited edition books.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 thisdownloadable lesson plan.

Anti-Plagiarism Declaration: Each student submitting a poem must sign an affirmative declaration that his or her writing is unique, original work. Parents or teachers will keep the statements in their files for one year.

Disqualification: Use of material generated by AI and claimed to be the work of the submitting poet 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The poem must be original, not created by AI technology in whole or in part, or copied from another source, unpublished in print, unpublished on the web or in limited edition books.

Anti-AI Lesson Plan: To assist students in understanding the definition of plagiarism from AI-generated material and its seriousness, we offer this downloadable lesson plan.

Anti-AI Declaration: Each student submitting a poem must sign an affirmative declaration that his or her writing is not the result, in whole or part, of AI-generated material. Teachers will keep the statements in their files for one year.

Method: Submit poems via Submittable.

Click here to pay the entry fee.

Cost: $10 per participating individual student.

Payment: Payments may be made here.

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

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

Open Dates: September 10, 2026 (11:59 pm CST).

Method: Submit individual poems via Submittable.

Click here to submit entries.

Finalists: The preliminary round judges will select the finalists, who will be announced on the Catholic Literary Arts website by September 17, 2026.

Winners: From the pool of finalists, the final round judges will choose the winners, to be announced on the Catholic Literary Arts website by September 26, 2026.

1st place:

• $100 cash prize

• Published in the Catholic Literary Arts Alleluia Poetry Anthology

2nd place:

• $75 cash prize

• Published in the Catholic Literary Arts Alleluia Poetry Anthology

3rd place:

• $50 cash prize

• Published in the Catholic Literary Arts Alleluia Poetry Anthology

Honorable Mentions:

• Published in the Catholic Literary Arts Alleluia Poetry Anthology.

Join us to celebrate the emerging young writers in our archdiocese! 

Winners will be invited to read their entries at the Alleluia 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’ admiration of St. Francis of Assisi shines through their written words. 

The Alleluia Awards Ceremony will be held on October 8, 2026. Details to follow.