Students compete in international Catholic trivia challenge

Catholic students from the Lower Mainland are back home after competing at the 33rd Roman Catholic Challenge in Oregon in January. Odilia Lee, a parent with Traditional Learning Academy, said Canadian teams fared well against their American opponents. She contributed the following:

“In 1954, US President Eisenhower—” *beep* 

Everyone in the auditorium of Valley Catholic High School looked intently to find out who had buzzed in.

“What is the Pledge of Allegiance?” answered the student who had interrupted.

The emcee finished his part, “... added ‘under God’ to this patriotic statement. 10 points to the Knights of the Immaculate, good job Canadians!”

Narrowly winning by five points, the Knights of the Immaculate, a Grade 5 team from Traditional Learning Academy, Coquitlam, became the Champion of Division 1 at the 33rd Annual Roman Catholic Challenge in Beaverton, Oregon, Jan. 25, 2020.

Joining the Knights of the Immaculate in their jubilant celebration were the Seekers of Truth, a Grade 7 team from St. Anthony of Padua school in Vancouver, who, for the second year in a row, won second place in Division 2. Though none of the Canadian teams in Divisions 3 and 4 made it to the finals, two teams ended up third out of nine teams and fourth out of seven teams, respectively. All teams competed at a very high level, and emerged from the competition determined to return next year.

Lee said a total of 45 teams participated in the international competition; 12 were from the Archdiocese of Vancouver. Congratulations to these Catholic students!