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.
The Annual Catholic Charities Christmas Appeal is underway and needs your support! The Christmas Appeal continues through January 2025 and is Catholic Charities’ largest annual fundraiser, critical to operating this social service organization. Gifts provide funding for the many Catholic Charities programs and services available throughout Southwest Florida. Your generosity enables Catholic Charities to serve those seeking help all year long. To donate please mail a contribution to Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc., 1000 Pinebrook Road, Venice, FL 34285, or visit 
The 2025 Catholic Charities Ball will be held at the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort, 1601 Gulf of Mexico Drive, at 6 p.m., Feb. 1, 2025, to benefit the programs and services in Sarasota County. Please join Catholic Charities for an elegant evening to celebrate the program’s mission to serve all of those in need who come for help, regardless of race or religion. “Creating Miracles Through Faith and Service.” Tickets are $500. Register at 
Bishop Frank J. Dewane described the holiday this way while celebrating Mass at Our Lady of the Angels Parish in Lakewood Ranch on Nov. 28, 2024.
The Bishops of Florida held an Advent Retreat at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice in early December. The retreat spanned to include the observance of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Dec. 9, 2024. (The celebration of the Solemnity was transferred to Dec. 9 from Dec. 8 to not interfere with the Second Sunday of Advent.)
Bishop Frank J. Dewane was the principal celebrant for a Mass at St. Paul Parish in Arcadia. The Mass included prayers, petitions and music in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. A full celebration of the Feast Day, which is Dec. 12, followed and included traditional dancers and music as well as food. Our Lady of Guadalupe is the Patroness of the Americas and is an important symbol of the Catholic faith, particularly among Catholics of Hispanic descent. Large celebrations take place at Parishes throughout the Diocese of Venice for this Feast Day each year. Please read the Dec. 20 e-edition of the Florida Catholic for full coverage of the local Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrations.
The latest offering of the St. Paul Street Evangelization (SPSE) Training took place on Dec. 7, 2024, at St. Andrew Parish in Cape Coral. Adam Janke, Vice-President of SPSE was the presenter, offering guidance on how to share the faith in the public square. Following the classroom training, participants were offered the opportunity to use what they learned in a Live Lab at the Coralwood Shopping Plaza in Cape Coral to gain practical, hands-on experience in real street evangelization. There were 27 people in attendance at the all-day training and many participated in the Live Lab.
“Blessed Carlo Acutis spent his whole life devoted to Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. He understood his invitation to the Banquet of the Lord,” Bishop Dewane said. “He always kept Christ at the center of his life. He never forgot that invitation he had to the Banquet that Christ prepares for all of us. Despite his illness, he didn’t ask to be excused from going to church for Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, or prayers. He heard those excuses of people who weren’t there at the Banquet and he kept his word to Jesus. You and I are called to do the same. Called to remember; called to pray; called to come to the Mass – the Eucharistic celebration – and to love God and love our neighbor.”
Falestiny explained that the whole basis for the devotional project can be found in Pslam 91:11: “For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”
Bishop Frank J. Dewane celebrated a Mass for the students at Bishop Verot Catholic High School in Fort Myers on Nov. 15, 2024. The Mass was celebrated in the neighboring St. Cecilia Parish church to accommodate all of the students and faculty. Bishop Dewane also celebrated Mass for students at St. Joseph Catholic School in Bradenton on Nov. 19. These were the latest in a series of Masses Bishop Dewane celebrates at each of the 15 Diocese of Venice Catholic schools during the first semester of the academic year.
The students at St. Mary Academy in Sarasota welcomed Bishop Frank J. Dewane to an early Thanksgiving luncheon on Nov. 19, 2024. Students, faculty and guests were treated to a choice of turkey with all the trimmings, ham, and pie. Bishop Dewane led everyone in prayer before the meal.
