DYKER HEIGHTS — The Tablet’s annual “Keep Christ in Christmas” art contest awards ceremony on Jan. 15 was a big night for students from 11 Catholic schools in the diocese, including eight academies and three high schools.
This year, The Tablet received more than 300 entries from students.
The eight winning academies are Holy Child Jesus in Richmond Hill, St. Francis de Sales in Belle Harbor, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Sunset Park, Our Lady of Mercy in Forest Hills, St. Thomas the Apostle in Woodhaven, St. Sebastian in Woodside, St. Patrick in Bay Ridge, and The Mary Louis Academy Middle School in Jamaica Estates. The winning high schools are Christ the King in Middle Village, Archbishop Molloy in Briarwood, and Saint Saviour in Park Slope.
Many schools had multiple winners from first to 12th grade. In all, there were 11 first-place winners and nine honorable mentions who received an award and cash prize from the Knights.
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Angela Esquen, mother of the fifth-grade winner, Paula Esquen, said she is extremely proud of her daughter’s artwork, which depicts a manger scene with the Holy Family and the Magi’s camels under a heavenly star.
“I always teach my kids about faith and believing in Jesus and his almighty power, so this really is a reflection of what my kids are growing up with,” Esquen said. “This was her idea and inspiration. She just created a picture from what she believes in.”
St. Thomas the Apostle seventh grader Stella Martinez, who received an honorable mention, said the mosaics at churches inspired her to create a unique mosaic of the Holy Family.
“At my church, there are some pretty mosaics, and I really love seeing them,” Stella said. “When I visited other churches on field trips, I saw their mosaics, and I was inspired to make one.”
For over 20 years, The Tablet has collaborated on the art contest with the Archbishop John Hughes Knights of Columbus Council No. 481 in Dyker Heights. Grand Knight Sean Flanagan and financial secretary and past grand marshal Joe Sbarra helped welcome guests to the ceremony. Sbarra offered the opening prayer, and Flanagan thanked all the children for their creative artwork.
“I hope you understand the meaning of this as you grow older,” Sbarra said. “Christmas is not all about Santa Claus, but about our Lord and Savior.”
The Tablet’s Editor, Michael Gray, said the art contest aims to evangelize.
“This art contest and the Easter art contest are baby steps to building their faith,” Gray said. “The Tablet covers student sports, and we have our monthly Tablet Jr., where students themselves write for the paper.
“So, we are helping lead the chilldren on their faith journey.”
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The Tablet’s Editor Emeritus Ed Wilkinson, who helped start the art contest with the Knights, highlighted parents’ decision to send their children to Catholic schools.
“Kids, be glad your parents sent you to Catholic school,” Wilkinson said. “You’re lucky because you are … learning things that other kids are not. ‘Keep Christ in Christmas’ was started to remind everybody that Christmas is not just a holiday, but it’s a holy day.”
St. Francis de Sales Principal Chris Scharbach, St. Patrick Principal Kathleen Curatolo, and Saint Saviour High School Principal Carolann Timpone were in the audience to support their students. Scharbach said the art contest was a primary focus at his school in December.
“The contest is festive, and allows the kids to demonstrate their God-given talents of artwork, and they really get to show the true meaning of Christ and the true meaning of Christmas,” Scharbach said. “The winning artworks are all well-deserved and really highlight the season of Christmas.”
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