DYKER HEIGHTS — Eighteen students attending Catholic schools and academies within the Diocese of Brooklyn were honored on April 22 for artwork they submitted to The Tablet’s “Christ Is Risen” Art Contest.
Several schools and academies celebrated the students’ significant achievement, as St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy in Belle Harbor, St. Athanasius Catholic Academy in Bensonhurst, The Mary Louis Academy in Jamaica Estates, and St. Patrick Catholic Academy in Bay Ridge each received multiple awards.
The winners were selected from the more than 300 entries submitted.
“I was inspired by the fact that Jesus conquered death, and that’s the message we need at Easter,” explained ninth grade winner Rose Regula from The Mary Louis Academy in Jamaica Estates. “Easter is about Christ, and the fact that Jesus saved us from death, and he gave us the opportunity to enter into eternal life.”
Chloe Carnella from St. Patrick, who received a third grade honorable mention, said that her work was inspired by a song.
“I took a quote from a song we sing in school, and I put it on my picture to match the theme,” she said. “I really love drawing.”
St. Francis de Sales third grader Nora Gaynor, who received an honorable mention, and her mother, Megan, were beaming with pride.
“She’s always drawing,” Megan said. “She’s been entering the art contests at St. Francis and hadn’t won yet, and then she found out she won this contest, and she was so excited.”
For over 20 years, The Tablet has collaborated with the Archbishop John Hughes Knights of Columbus Council No. 481 on the art contest. It started when The Tablet’s Editor Emeritus, Ed Wilkinson, formed a camaraderie with then-Grand Marshal of the Knights, Camillo Casano, wherein the Knights donated awards and cash prizes to students who crafted faith-based artwork inspired by the Scriptures.
The awards ceremony, held at the Archbishop John Hughes Knights of Columbus Council No. 481, began with prayers and comments from Father Jeremy Canna, pastor of The Shrine Church of St. Bernadette in Dyker Heights, and Father Nicholas Colalella, pastor of Our Lady of Hope in Middle Village.
Father Canna said the artwork expressed the joy and the appreciation of everything Christ has done for us. He spoke about St. Luke, the patron saint of artists, and how art reflects the beauty and the glory of God.
“What the world needs is beauty because that is a sign of God’s presence,” he said. “And our young people here have participated in that, and the work that they created reflects the beauty, the goodness, and the truth of God.”
Distributing the awards at the ceremony were Grand Knight Sean Flanagan and Faith Director Steve Bilardi. Flanagan welcomed the students and their families to what he called “our home for over 100 years,” and added that “it’s been our distinct pleasure to be able to host this event.
“The artwork is beautiful, and I just want to remind everyone that as you grow older and grow in your faith,” he said, “I want to encourage you to explore the deeper significance of what Christ did on the cross and the true meaning of the empty tomb as the real symbol of Christianity with Christ’s victory over death.”
Bilardi, who recently celebrated his 50th anniversary with the Knights, said that he’s seen all the artwork over the years and that “each year it just gets better and better.”
St. Athanasius Principal Gina Auricchio was in attendance to support two of her students — Axel Guitarero, the first grade winner, and Nicholas Cunalata, a first grade honorable mention recipient.
“I’m so very proud of them,” Auricchio said, “And the fact that they can express themselves through the arts and show their talent as related to their faith and religion is amazing and exceptional.”
