Eleventh-grader Mary J. Maclean, a student at Mount de Sales Academy in Catonsville, was one of six winners in Maryknoll’s 2006 annual student essay contest. Mary won $300 for second place out of 4,000 students writing on the topic, “Continuing the Mission.” Students nationwide wrote about where they would go and what they would do if they were missioners to share God’s love with people.
Parts of Mary’s essay included: “I spread the love of God by traveling to El Salvador on a medical mission to San Bartolo. I love helping these people … my faith strengthens. Why would I go to help people in scorching temperatures during my summer vacation, much less in one of the world’s most dangerous countries? I grew up hearing her (mother) talk about the incredible poverty and amazing faith of these people, and I wanted to help. I give thanks to God that I am fortunate enough to have running water and air conditioning in my home. I thank God that I can go to school full time and do not have to support my family by getting a job. What I do and will continue to do for as long as possible, is spread God’s love in the form of children’s vitamins and toothpaste.”