Each year students from around the country have the option to participate in the National Missionary Childhood Association Christmas Artwork Contest. The Missionary Childhood Association is a branch of the Pontifical Mission Societies.

In our diocese, schools that wish to participate have their students submit artwork to the Missionary Childhood Association (MCA) diocesan office. All entries are separated into five age groups and a winner from each group is chosen to be sent to the national contest.

This year, Bishop Steven Raica decided to use the local, winning artwork for his 2023 Christmas card collection. Students received certificates and were invited to a meet and greet with the bishop and Father Ray Remke, diocesan MCA director. This year’s winners were Olga Kern, St. Francis Xavier Catholic School first grader; Hannah Caesar, Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School fifth grader; Yamilet Gonzalez, Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School seventh grader; Elizabeth O’Farrell, Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School eighth grader; and Mary Lynn Owens, St. John Paul II Catholic High School sophomore.

At the national level, twenty-two winners will be selected, as well as two grand-prize winners whose artwork will be the official national Christmas card of the Pontifical Mission Societies.

National contest winners will be notified in late spring 2023 and announced to Catholic media in fall 2023. All winners receive a commemorative plaque and will be celebrated at an event in December 2023.