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View last year’s grand prize winning video. (*Note: the contest themes have changed for 2024.)

The Mercy Justice Team needs you, a Mercy student, to create a short, social media style PSA (public service announcement) video – think Reels or TikTok – that reflects the Sisters of Mercy’s Critical Concerns. Put those creative ideas and video skills to work and you could win $500!


What does it mean to be a faith filled, values voter?

What is your own immigration story?

What is the immigration story of someone you know?

How can voting with Mercy affect our community, our nation, our world?


To receive information, updates and reminders about this year’s contest, complete this form and we’ll be in touch. Click here to learn rules for entry and how to upload your video.

View the grand prize winning video from 2022. (*Note: the contest format has changed since 2022.)

Purpose

For this year’s contest we are seeking short, PSA style videos (30 to 90 seconds) that are suitable for sharing on social media platforms such as TikTok or Reels. Video entries must focus on one of these topics:

Immigration
  • Videos should reflect the Mercy Critical Concerns, especially the Critical Concern for Immigration, but do not need to identify the Critical Concerns specifically.
  • Videos should inspire action to address the injustices that cause people to immigrate or the injustices that immigrants face in their new countries.
Voting
  • Videos should explore the ways that faith and Mercy values can influence the choices we make on our ballots.
  • Videos should inspire faithful citizenship and active involvement in elections without promoting partisanship or individual candidates.

Contest Webinar

Watch our 20 minute webinar to learn more about this year’s contest.


Who Can Enter

Any student or group of students, high school age or older, enrolled in Mercy high schools, colleges/universities, or involved in a Mercy-affiliated ministry.

Use this tip-sheet to help you as you begin the process of creating your video.

Format

Read the complete rules

Length: 30 to 90 seconds

Language: English or Spanish

Other Requirements

1. Title. Each video must have a title. The title must be indicated on the submission form. The title does not need to be included in the video itself.

2. Credits. Credits must include the name of those involved in the creation of the video. The credits must also include citations for any images, audio, or text used in the video that is not original. The credits do not need to be included in the video itself, but must be included in the submission form.

The Sisters of Mercy may delete title and credit screens before posting videos on social media.

Entrants are strongly encouraged to use original footage and graphics as much as possible.

Important Note on Rules: In order to honor copyright protections, rules regarding use of images and music were updated for the 2022 contest and remain in effect for 2024. See the complete rules for details.

Deadline

All entries must be received by April 3, 2024.

Prizes

A panel of judges will use these criteria to select the winning video. Individual winners will receive financial awards. The Grand Prize Winner receives $500.

Winning entries may be featured on the Sisters of Mercy Institute web site and social media channels. Winners and their winning institution will be formally announced.

Interested?

If you think you might be interested in entering this contest, fill out this form to receive contest information and updates.

Past Winners

Click here to view all of our past winners.

The dangers of conflating Anti-Zionism and Antisemitism

November 2023 – Two terms that have surfaced over the past several weeks as the ongoing hostilities between Hamas and Israel and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continue are Anti-Zionism and Antisemitism. While they are often used interchangeably, and any criticism of the government or the policies of the State of Israel is labeled anti-Semitic, Jewish Voice for Peace has highlighted the danger of conflating these terms.

Antisemitism is discrimination, targeting, violence, and dehumanizing stereotypes directed at Jews because they are Jewish and is totally unacceptable. It denigrates one of the great faith traditions of the world which is thousands of years old. Anti-Zionism, on the other hand, opposes a political philosophy (Zionism) that originated in the late 1800s and led to the formation of the State of Israel, a process that included dispossession (750,000 Palestinians were expelled from their homes in 1947- 48), ongoing occupation (Israel has occupied Palestinian the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem since 1967) and numerous violations of international law.

In a March 23, 2023 article in Georgetown Voice, contributor Annette Hasnas says, “Zionism as a political idea needs to be judged on its own merits and condemned for its own failings, and antisemitism needs to be taken seriously and actively combated. And conflating the two related but separate concepts actively hinders both pursuits.”


Red flag laws in jeopardy: faith voices speak to save them

Women are particularly vulnerable to gun violence in the United States, especially in the context of intimate partner violence. Just a few weeks ago, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in United States vs. Rahimi, a case that centers around whether those subject to domestic violence restraining orders can legally own firearms. An article by Justice Team member Angie Howard-McParland details how the Sisters of Mercy participated in advocating for the continued protection of women and others vulnerable to intimate partner violence through red flag laws.

View last year’s grand prize winning video (*note: the contest format has changed for 2023)

The Mercy Justice Team needs you, a Mercy student, to create a short, social media style PSA (public service announcement) video – think Reels or TikTok – that reflects the Sisters of Mercy’s Critical Concerns. Put those creative ideas and video skills to work and you could win $500!


What form of injustice makes your nostrils flare every time it’s mentioned in the news?

Who do you know who’s been impacted by gun violence?

What story is yours to tell about the need for Mercy?

How do we challenge injustices in our society?


To receive information, updates and reminders about this year’s contest, complete this form and we’ll be in touch. Click here to learn rules for entry and how to upload your video.

View the grand prize winning video from 2021 (*note: the contest format has changed for 2023)

Purpose

For this year’s contest we are seeking short, PSA style videos (30 to 90 seconds) that are suitable for sharing on social media platforms such as TikTok or Reels. Video entries must focus on one of these topics:

Gun Violence
  • Videos should reflect the Mercy Critical Concerns, especially the Critical Concern for Nonviolence, but do not need to identify the Critical Concerns specifically.
  • Videos should inspire action to address gun violence.
Advocating for Justice
  • Videos should reflect the spirit of the Sisters of Mercy efforts to advocate on behalf of social justice issues.
  • Videos should inspire further advocacy.
  • Videos should seek to make the idea of advocating for justice more accessible to people of all ages by explaining why is it important or showing what it looks like.

NEW! Watch our 20 minute webinar

to learn more about this year’s contest.


Who Can Enter

Any student or group of students, high school age or older, enrolled in Mercy high schools, colleges/universities, or involved in a Mercy-affiliated ministry.

Use this tip-sheet to help you as you begin the process of creating your video.

Format

Read the complete rules

Length: 30 to 90 seconds

Language: English or Spanish

Other Requirements

1. Title. Each video must have a title. The title must be indicated on the submission form. The title does not need to be included in the video itself.

2. Credits. Credits must include the name of those involved in the creation of the video. The credits must also include citations for any images, audio, or text used in the video that is not original. The credits do not need to be included in the video itself, but must be included in the submission form.

The Sisters of Mercy may delete title and credit screens before posting videos on social media.

Entrants are strongly encouraged to use original footage and graphics as much as possible.

Important Note on Rules: In order to honor copyright protections, rules regarding use of images and music were updated for the 2022 contest and remain in effect for 2023. See the complete rules for details.

Deadline

All entries must be received by April 1, 2023.

Prizes

A panel of judges will use these criteria to select the winning video. Individual winners will receive financial awards. The Grand Prize Winner receives $500.

Winning entries may be featured on the Sisters of Mercy Institute web site and social media channels. Winners and their winning institution will be formally announced.

Interested?

If you think you might be interested in entering this contest, fill out this form to receive contest information and updates.

Past Winners

Click here to view all of our past winners.

Each year, Mercy students are invited to enter the Social Justice Video Contest and put their creative ideas and skills to work by sharing stories of the Sisters of Mercy’s Critical Concerns. The Grand Prize Winner receives $500.


2023’s First Place Winners

Emma Lemieux, Maggie Misbach, Abigail Gomes, Katherine Grelotti and Georgia Baldini
“Are you with us?”
Mercy High School, Middletown, Connecticut

Amer Hasan Macarambon, Allyza Jane Dangga, Rianna Ysabella Dollete, Krizyl Baguhin, Susan Gayle Andales, Sittie Nihaya Umba, Fatima Rose Rivera, Atheel Villaganas, Abby Kim Suan
Racism”
Holy Cross High School, Mindanao, Philippines

2023’s Honorable Mentions

Rineyri Cáceres, Isaac Blanco, Liam Schultz
“Bandera del amor”
Instituto María Regina, La Ceiba,
Honduras

Ava Kolp, Katelyn McGuire, Jamie O’Donnell
“Together We Can End Gun Violence”
Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School, Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania

Grace de Klerk
“What is Justice?”
Mercy High School Farmington Hills

Shannon Talley, Maggie Baker, Alivia Chieffo
“Stop the Violence
Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School, Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania

Gracie Gavin, Maxine Schaffner
“Welcome to the Gun Zone”
Mercy High School Burlingame
California

Ana Sophia Butkus
“Life Is Not A Game”
Mercy High School, Middletown, Connecticut


Previous Winners

2022

Meena Balaratna, Elizabeth Romano and Kristen Yezzi
“Protect our Earth”
Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School
Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania

2021

Tristen Hasson, Melanie McGill, & Sydney Pasceri
“Women Make Mercy Real”
Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School
Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania

2020

The 2020 contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic

2019

Grace Wettengel, Morgan Lee, Michelle Delgado & Nina Bennett
Injustices in India’s Villages
College of St. Mary
Omaha, Nebraska

2018

Alyssa Dela Cruz
Make Mercy Real
Academy of Our Lady of Guam
Hagatna, Guam

2017

Kenzie Uhr
Change the Narrative
Mount St. Mary Catholic High School
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma  USA