Family Rosary has announced its 19th annual “Try Prayer! It Works!” contest.

Family Rosary, which is part of Holy Cross Family Ministries, in the spirit of its founder, Servant of God Father Patrick Peyton, who knew the importance of the Rosary and recognized the value of media, is calling children and teens nationwide to express their faith through art, poetry and prose for this year’s particular contest theme.

For 2014, Family Rosary has announced the theme is “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.” The focus is on the Fourth Joyful Mystery, the Presentation in the Temple.

This mystery includes the story of Simeon, who recognizes that Jesus is the Messiah. With great faith, Simeon has waited practically his entire life to see this moment promised to him by the Holy Spirit fulfilled, and he is rewarded for his faith.

This “Try Prayer! It Works!” contest asks students from kindergarten through grade 12 to creatively illustrate and express what the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple means to them.

Speaking for Holy Cross Ministries/Family Rosary and also from a mother’s point of view, Susan Wallace, director of marketing, has seen the benefits of these annual contests.

“In today’s technology-crazy world, the 'Try Prayer! It Works!' contest is a great way to get kids off all those devices and onto a blank piece of paper, where they have to use their creative side more deeply,” she said.

“And what they’re reflecting on is a mystery of the Rosary and how they live it out each day. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

There are first, second and third prizes for each grade level’s qualifiers.

Each first-place winner gets $100, and his or her school or sponsor or home-schooler also receives $100. Second- anad third-place winners will receive a set of DVDs that are produced by Family Theater Productions.

View 2013 winning entries for each grade level here, and check out past winning entries from earlier years here.

Entry deadline is Feb. 1.

For all details and an application in either English or Spanish, visit FamilyRosary.org/TryPrayer or call Holy Cross Family Ministries at (800) 299-PRAY (7729).