SARASOTA | 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.
Photo Credit: Artwork by Natalia Lesniewski, a sixth-grader at St. Martha Catholic School in Sarasota, was awarded the grand prize in Missionary Childhood Association Christmas Artwork Contest. This artwork will be used in a Christmas card sent to Pope Francis and others around the world.
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 handwritten card to the Pope 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.
Her father, Maciej Lesniewski, said the family was shocked when they learned of the MCA recognition and thrilled to hear that Natalia had received the honor.
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,” Holden said. “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 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 information, call 941-776-9097 or email missionoffice@dioceseofvenice.org.
