Editor’s note: This is the third place entry from the Friars’ essay contest for high school students on how to achieve Christian unity. You can view the other entries here.

Since Jesus’ death and Resurrection, the Christian Church has gone through a number of changes and has branched off to many other sects and divisions. This is the result of many disagreements and historical conflicts between different Christians. However, did Jesus want His followers to be divided over arguments about who is right and wrong? No.

Editor’s note: This is the second place entry from the Friars’ essay contest for high school students on how to achieve Christian unity. Read more entries here.

“I’m starting with the man in the mirror.” Whether we’ve heard this being sung by Michael Jackson or faced it on a poster in the library, most of us are familiar with the message: in order to change the world, one must first change him or herself. Likewise, in order to attain Christian unity, each individual member of the Church must change him or herself. Christian unity can only be achieved when the members of all denominations reach out to one another as followers in Jesus and come together under the umbrella of Jesus’ love.

Editor’s note: This is the winning entry from the Friars’ essay contest for high school students on how to achieve Christian unity.

Throughout many generations, the Church’s moral teachings have succeeded in surviving evolving societies and cultures. However, there is a rift between members of different Christian denominations regarding the knowledge, values and beliefs of the faith.

Lack of unity is detrimental to the impact of evangelization and division contradicts the truth of the Gospel, which calls all to unity. The Church is the body of Christ and to fulfill this honour, she must reveal the communion and love of God as one. To attain unity among Christians, the changes that must be made include internal conversion within Christians, done through effective prayer, an increase of understanding and passionate will to continue on the journey towards communion within the Christian faith.

TORONTO - Natalie Wong is the first-place winner of the Friar’s Essay Contest sponsored by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement and The Catholic Register for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

High school students between the ages of 14 and 18 were asked to submit an essay no longer than 500 words answering the question: “What must be changed in order to attain Christian unity in the Church?”

Students were asked to reflect on the Scripture passage of 1 Corinthians 15:51-58, given the theme for this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Jan. 18-25: “We will all be changed.”

The 2012 Friar’s Essay Contest winners have been announced.

The annual contest is sponsored by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement and The Catholic Register for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

You can read about the three lucky winners here: "Friar’s Essay winners announced, students take home an iPad2 and Kindle Fire".

We will be publishing the winning entries in the coming weeks in the newspaper and here at CatholicRegister.org.

Contemplating Christian unity could get you an iPad 2 as part of this year’s Friar’s Essay Contest.

Submissions are currently being accepted for the 10th annual contest for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity co-sponsored by The Catholic Register and the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement-Graymoor in Toronto.

The theme for this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is “We will all be changed.” Students are asked to submit a 500-word essay answering the question: What must be changed in order to attain Christian unity in the Church?