Tag: missionary childhood association

Natalia Lesniewski has a passion for swimming. However, if the people at the Missionary Childhood Association (MCA) Christmas Artwork Contest are any judge, Natalia may want to consider becoming a professional artist

Natalia is a sixth grader at St. Martha Catholic School in Sarasota and was one of two grand prize winners amongst 17 finalists, chosen from thousands of entries from elementary school age children across the country.

Her art, and that of the other grand prize winner, will be featured on the official Christmas cards of The Pontifical Mission Societies (TPMS), which will be sent to hundreds of people, including Pope Francis! The card to the Pope, handwritten, will be signed in the name of all the children who took part in the contest.

The artwork of all the winners is on display throughout the Advent and Christmas Seasons at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

Natalia’s winning artwork was of her own interpretation from her creative mind. It features the Blessed Virgin Mary weeping with joy as she gazes upon the newborn Child Jesus outside of Bethlehem.

“The inspiration for my artwork was Mary since she went thru so much for God,” Natallia said. “I felt really ecstatic and thrilled that I won my first art project. This recognition makes me want to continue making art and to join other contests.”

Her father, Maciej Lesniewski, said the family was at first shocked, but also thrilled and proud when they learned of the MCA recognition.

In announcing the 2024 MCA Christmas Artwork Contest winners, Alixandra Holden, National Director of the Missionary Childhood Association, shared her enthusiasm: “Art has a unique power to bring the Gospel to life. These young artists have captured the heart of Christmas in their drawings. Through this contest, we aim to nurture a missionary spirit in children, connecting them with the universal Church and their brothers and sisters in the missions.”

Holden will be present at St. Martha Catholic School on Dec. 20, where Natalia will be formally recognized and given a commemorative plaque following a family Mass celebrated by Father John Belmonte, SJ, Diocese of Venice Superintendent of Catholic Education.

This is not the first time a St. Martha Catholic School student has been honored through the MCA Christmas Artwork Contest. In fact, this is the fourth year in a row a St. Martha student has been a finalist in the MCA contest!

Throughout the years, Mary Jo Salomone, Natalia’s art teacher, takes time to ensure all her students take part in the different art competitions both nationally and locally, never losing sight that each award is a gift from God which should be shared with others.

“We are extremely pleased that Natalia was able to be recognized for her artistic talent and creativity,” Salomone said. “The Lord has really blessed the St. Martha art students with the many awards that we have received.”

In each of Salomone’s art classes, the following prayer is given, “We offer all that we create for the honor and glory of God through the intercession of the Blessed Mother.”

Since its inception in 1933, the MCA Christmas Artwork Contest has received thousands of submissions annually, showcasing artistic depictions of key Christmas story elements: shepherds and angels, the Three Kings and the Holy Family, the animals present by the manger, and the Baby Jesus. The tradition of featuring children’s artwork began with Christmas seals and later evolved to include cards and eGreetings, introduced in 2005 and 2007, respectively.

The MCA was founded by the Pontifical Mission Societies in France in 1843 to encourage all children to be aware of the needs of children living in mission Dioceses throughout the world and support them both spiritually and sacrificially. Under its banner “children helping children,” monies raised through schools are directed towards self-help programs involving the building of schools, the provision of health and nutrition programs and medications, school fees, as well as teaching and learning resources.

Father Joseph Gates is the Director of the Diocese Office of Propagation of the Faith (Mission Office), which coordinates activities regarding foreign, domestic, and Diocesan mission work. For more information, please call 941-776-9097 or email missionoffice@dioceseofvenice.org.

Isabella Valentine wants to be an artist when she gets older. If the people at the Missionary Childhood Association (MCA) Christmas Artwork Contest are any judge, Isabella is well on her way to achieving this dream.

Isabella is an eighth-grader at St. Martha Catholic School in Sarasota and was one of 24 artists to be recognized for her work in the MCA Christmas Artwork Contest. Her artwork, and that of the other winners, is on display through the Advent and Christmas Seasons at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. All winners are featured as MCA eGreetings, which launched on the First Sunday of Advent at egreetings.missio.org.

Isabella’s winning artwork of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Holy Child Jesus was of her own interpretation from her creative mind.

The honor of being recognized for her artwork is very exciting for the young lady as her mother, Tamera Valentine, explained, “We are so beyond proud of Isabella and this amazing award. Isabella’s true passion is art. In her free time, she is always drawing and creating. Her dream is to go to Ringling College of Art and pursue her passion.”

Isabella’s progression and skills as an artist has impressed her parents and they encourage her in reaching for her dreams. The artwork created for the MCA contest was created when she was in seventh grade, and her mother said in one year she has improved her skills immensely.

This is not the first time a St. Martha Catholic School student has been honored through the MCA Christmas Artwork Contest. In fact, in 2021, two students were recognized, and several have been honored in years past.

Throughout the years, Mary Jo Salamone, Isabella’s art teacher, takes time to ensure her students take part in the different art competitions, but never losing sight that each award is a gift from God which should be shared with others.

“The St. Martha Catholic School art students win many national and local art awards during the school year,” Salamone said. “It is always great to see one of our students be recognized for their talent.”

Hundreds of submissions were received, both through the mail and online, for the annual MCA competition which dates back to 1933. Back then, MCA used children’s artwork on Christmas seals. Christmas cards were introduced in 2005, and in 2007 eGreetings were launched with these drawings depicting scenes of the Christmas story: shepherds and angels, the Three Kings and the Holy Family, the animals present by the manger, and the Infant Jesus.

An agency of the Pontifical Mission Societies, the MCA asks children in the nation’s elementary schools and Parish religious education programs and those who are home-schooled to submit their artwork to illustrate “The Nativity & Mission.”

The MCA was founded in France in 1843 by Bishop Charles de Forbin Jansen. Its purpose is to encourage all children to be aware of the needs of children living in mission Dioceses throughout the world and support them both spiritually and sacrificially. Today it is in 110 countries and helps make Jesus known to children all over the world. Under its banner “children helping children”, monies raised through schools are directed towards self-help programs involving the building of schools, the provision of health and nutrition programs and medications, school fees, as well as teaching and learning resources.

Father Joseph Gates is the Director of the Diocese Office of Propagation of the Faith (Mission Office), which coordinates activities regarding foreign, domestic, and Diocesan mission work. For more information, please call 941-776-9097 or email missionoffice@dioceseofvenice.org.