Each year the Antiochian Archdiocese, through the Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, in conjunction with the DCCP, manages three festival competitions held at the PLC. See descriptions below.

PLC Theme: “You shall be to Me a royal priesthood and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:6)

Creative Festival (Submission Deadline: April 15th, 2026)

The Creative Festival is an annual competition for all parishes in the Diocese. Sunday School students in grades 1-12 are invited to submit entries for judging in the categories of Art, Poetry, Photography, and Creative Writing. The entries are based on the annual Parish Life Conference theme. At the PLC, 1st , 2nd , and 3rd place in each category by grade level will be presented during the Creative Festival Awards Ceremony. Pre-K and Kindergarten students participate at the parish level only; their entries are not submitted for judging. For 2026, all entries will be submitted by parish Creative Festival Coordinators through the new online system. Please do not mail entries.

• Arts (Conventional or Digital): Create an original Art Display (physical/digital) based on the Conference Theme

• Photography: Take a photograph that represents the Conference Theme

• Poetry: Write a poem, based on the Conference Theme

• Writing: Write a formal essay on the Conference Theme

Bible Bowl (Deadline: June 1st, 2026)

At the Parish Life Conference, each Parish provides a three-member team to compete against other parishes on one book from the Bible. This years competition will be based on the book of Exodus (Chapters 1-20, 32-34, 38-40) . Below are the different Divisions:

• Pre-Teen Category: Ages 10-12

• Teen Division: Ages 13-19; The winner of the Teen Division will represent Diocese at either the Archdiocese Convention (odd year) or Mid-Summer meeting (even year). Each Diocese will assist the winning team with a stipend to cover some of the expenses.

• Adults: Ages 20 and over

Oratorical Festival (Deadline: June 1st, 2026)

Teens will present an oral presentation at the Parish Life Conference based on the Conference theme and will be judged based on the content and structure of the presentation. They will compete against teens from other parishes of the diocese in either of these two divisions:

• Junior: Ages 13-15 years old

• Senior: Ages 16-19 years old - The winner of the Teen Division will represent Diocese at either the Archdiocese Convention (odd year) or Mid-Summer meeting (even year). Each Diocese will assist the winning team with a stipend to cover some of the expenses.