To download the flyer above: 2013 Vatican II Symposium Flyer 8.5" x 11"

Symposium has been cancelled for 2013.

“Light of the Nations: Reflecting on Vatican II”— a symposium and essay contest sponsored by University Ministry at Benedictine University—is chance for students in two divisions (High School and College) to be published, present their academic excellence at a symposium and receive an award for remission of tuition at Benedictine University.

Published - If your paper places in the top three in your division, you will be published on Constellation, Benedictine University's GoogleScholar searchable online journal.  You could be published!

Presentation - Present your paper at an academic event before scholars in this field.  (Only those in the top three of each category will present their papers at the event).

Awards -  Monetary awards are awarded for remission of tuition at Benedictine University.  No cash awards will be given.

2013: Winners

There were no submissions that met the criteria for publication.  Benedictine University believes in excellence.  Therefore, the academic panel decided that it could not approve any essays this year based upon the lack of quality of entries, both from the High School and College Divisions.

2012 Winners:

College Division:

1st: Mr. Edward Trendowski, Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.

2nd: Mr. Kevin Byrnes, Benedictine University, Lisle, IL

3rd: Mr. Sean McConnell, Benedictine University-Springfield, IL

High School Division:

1st: Mr. Matthew Daley, Glenbard North High School, Carol Stream, IL

Published Entries: To view the winning essays, please go to Benedictine University's Online Journal, Constellation.

Next Symposium and Question:

"Light of the Nations: Reflecting on Vatican II," Symposium, Saturday, March 1, 2014, Benedictine University, Krasa Center.

The Question for 2014: How do the “Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy” (Sacrosanctum Concilium) and the most recent translation of the mass (2011) both relate to the classic Catholic dictum, ‘Lex orandi, lex credendi’?

Catholic Faith. Welcoming Spirit.