The Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Atonement are inviting young adults to “help shape a new vision of peace, unity, and reconciliation” through the Graymoor Peace and “At‑One‑Ment” Creative Challenge.
“The creative challenge parallels the Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi, commemorating the 800th anniversary of his death and honoring his enduring legacy as a peacemaker, bridge builder, and champion of unity,” the Friars said in a statement. The first-time competition may become an annual challenge.
‘A Franciscan Vision for Our Time’
Rooted in the charism of “At-One-Ment,” the creative challenge invites young adults to reflect on the theme “A Franciscan Vision for Our Time.” Participants are invited to interpret a single line from the well-known Peace Prayer often attributed to St. Francis, “offering a contemporary vision of peace, reconciliation, and unity through artistic expression,” the statement noted.
Submissions are welcomed in three categories: Visual Art, Writing, and Film/Media. Entrants must submit work inspired by a chosen line of the Peace Prayer (“The Prayer of St. Francis”), accompanied by a written statement explaining how their submission is inspired by a line from the Peace Prayer and reflects at least one of the following themes: unity, reconciliation, peace, or “At-One-Ment.” The competition is open to young adults ages 18 to 30, and all entries must be original works created specifically for the challenge.
A Grand Award will be presented in each category, with each winner receiving a $500 honorarium. Winning works will be publicly recognized by the Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Atonement, featured in the Graymoor Today newsletter, placed on display at Graymoor in Garrison for one year, and acknowledged during the 2026 Sharing Hope Celebration Dinner, an annual Manhattan-site fundraiser for the Friars.
Winners will be notified in September
The competition opened March 25, and submissions will be accepted through June 30. Winners will be notified in September, with a public announcement planned for October at the dinner.
“We need to encourage young people to voice their opinions about things like peace. This is our first time doing this (Creative Challenge). We haven’t committed to next year yet. But I would not be at all surprised if we did it next year as well. My hope is that we will continue this year after year,” Father Jim Gardiner, SA, former director of Graymoor, told The Good Newsroom on April 7 via telephone.
Father Gardiner said organizers hope to encourage a new generation to embrace the message of the Gospel and the example of St. Francis “by creating works that promote peace, healing, and unity in today’s world.” For more information and for submission guidelines, visit: www.AtonementFriars.org/Challenge or call Graymoor at (845) 424-3671.