In today's oft-frenetic world, it’s easy to overlook the quiet, steadfast presence of Catholic priests. For over two millennia, these men have offered guidance, comfort, and the sacraments — often unnoticed, always needed. We see them at baptisms, weddings, funerals, and every Sunday at Mass, yet how often do we truly pause to appreciate the depth of their calling and the impact of their daily sacrifice?
It’s not a question most adults think to ask — let alone children. But one seventh-grade student from the Archdiocese of Newark has done just that. In his award-winning video essay, “The Roman Catholic Priesthood and How It Is a Force for Good in the World,” young Mikalle reflects on a question that is as simple as it is profound:
“What would the world be like if there were no priests to guide, give, or comfort us?”
His answer is both touching and deeply thoughtful — a reminder, through the eyes of a child, of just how much the world will always need the priesthood.
A force for good, a light in the darkness
Mikalle’s video was awarded first prize in the annual Cardinal Joseph Tobin Award for Priestly Vocations Essay and Video Contest, an initiative run by the Archdiocese of Newark’s Office of Priestly Vocations. Now in its seventh year, the contest invites middle schoolers from Catholic schools and parish programs to reflect on the value of the priesthood.
Finalists are chosen based on their essays, then invited to bring their words to life in short videos. Grand prize winners receive $1,500 — and a chance to help inspire others.
In his video, Mikalle offers a beautiful testimony to the ways in which priests serve as beacons of hope in the world. He recalls seeing priests in Ecuador one Christmas, working alongside volunteers to feed and clothe the homeless, “not for recognition, but out of love.”
He shares how, during the COVID-19 pandemic, priests risked their own health to anoint and console the sick. “I personally experienced the comfort they brought when I was hospitalized,” Mikalle says. These men, he explains, act “from the kindness of their hearts.”
In a world where “many nowadays struggle with right and wrong,” Mikalle says the clergy offer needed clarity, reminding us “how to live with love, respect, and honesty.”
And when his own grandfather died, it was a priest who gently led his family through the pain, encouraging them “to trust God’s plan and let go of sorrow.”
“Priests change lives and entire communities,” Mikalle concludes, “shaping the world into a better place.”
A young witness to a timeless vocation
For Mikalle, creating the video was more than a school project.
“When I dedicated a video and essay to the topic, it seemed like their great and important presence flashed before my eyes,” he shared with Jersey Catholic. Although he’d made short videos before, this was different — more professional, more meaningful. It took over 12 hours to complete. His hope? That his message is “something others can learn from.”
And truly, it is.
At a time when vocations are fewer in some places, and priests face growing challenges everywhere, Mikalle’s work is a moving tribute to the beauty of the priesthood — and a gentle call to each of us to appreciate it more deeply. His young voice reminds us that priests are not just spiritual functionaries — they are spiritual fathers, healing hands, and moral anchors.
May we never take for granted the gift they are. And may we, like Mikalle, take time to reflect — and give thanks — for those who guide, give, and comfort us in Christ’s name. And offer a prayer for them too.
You can watch the award-winning video below:
