OUR Lady of the Mount Roman Catholic Parish, Meadow Bank, East Bank Demerara, on Sunday put on a spirited performance at the Roman Catholic Youth Annual Bible Quiz Competition held at Marian Academy, Carifesta Avenue. Levelling a crushing defeat against four other competing Parishes, Our Lady of the Mount (OLMP) copped first place positions in both the senior and junior categories, walking away with the coveted trophies.

The Meadow Bank parishioners began competing at the junior level in 2008, and as of 2009, has maintained an unbeaten record, copping the first place positions in four consecutive rounds of the competition. The juniors range between the ages of 12 and 15 years.

Meanwhile, entering the competition at the senior level (16-32 years) for the first time on this occasion, OLMP on Sunday also scooped up the first place prize in that category, scoring a record 39 points out of a maximum 40. There were 20 questions with 2 points being awarded for each correct response.

Overall, there were five teams competing at the senior level. Their performance was rated as follows:
* 1st Place   –    Meadow Bank with 39 points
* 2nd Place   –    Holy Spirit Parish with 34 points
* 3rd Place  –    Sacred Heart with 33 points
* 4th Place   –    Our Lady of Fatima with 29 points and
* 5th Place    –    St. Pius with 25 points

And in the junior category, four parishes competed, scoring as follows:

* 1st Place –    Our Lady of the Mount (Meadow Bank) – 32 points
* 2nd Place  –   St. John the Baptist (Plaisance)   – 31 points
* 3rd Place  –    St. Peter’s (Beterverwagting)      – 30 points
* 4th Place   –   St. Pius (West La Penitence)        – 25 points

The quiz competition which is now in its 8th year, was introduced in 2005, and according to Quiz Mistress  Otilie Tampo, of St. John the Baptist parish, keeps getting ‘better and better’ each year. Teams from the respective parishes put in a lot of work over the last three months, preparing for the competition. The quizz was based on the books of Judges, Ruth, and Samuel.

Head of the Roman Catholic Diocese in Guyana, Bishop Francis Alleyne, who observed the competition, was heartened at the performance of the young people and had words of encouragement for them.
The competition, apart from testing the competitors’ knowledge of the Holy Bible, also provided a forum which offered keen and healthy competition and friendly interaction at the end of which, everyone left Marian Academy gratified and in high spirits.