Five students from Holy Cross H.S., Flushing, won this year’s Project Hope Contest for their self-produced films. Sponsored by the Brothers of Holy Cross, Moreau Province in Austin, Texas, this year’s contest yielded 750 entries from all 12 Holy Cross schools within the nation.

The contest analyzed the writing, music, art, and film work of students, which required them to reflect on the meaning of mercy, explore their faith, and become an active part of the Holy Year of Mercy.

Contestants were asked to consider their experiences regarding God’s mercy as well as corporal and spiritual works of mercy around the community.

At the beginning of this Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis asked everyone to mindfully examine how people can live a pure life of mercy. This thought-provoking statement was one pondered by the Holy Cross students as they worked on their projects.

Holy Cross High School contestants received awards for the production of two films.

For their “Project Hope: Anything Goes” film, second-place prize winners were Teddy Byrne and Thomas Kostic. For their “Children of Mercy” film, fourth-place prize winners were Brian Dolan, Pantelis Mouchlis, and Oghenetanure Adegor.

Winners were acknowledged for their faith-filled work and awarded cash prizes.

To view the films, visit holycrossbrothers.org/project-hope-winning-entries-2016/.