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Christmas Artwork Contest

Local Christmas Artwork Contest Winner

When 13 year old Marissa Perrotta, then a seventh grader from St. John the Evangelist Parish in Winthrop, MA entered the annual Holy Childhood Association (HCA) National Christmas Artwork Contest, she never expected to be chosen as a winner. "It was a lot of fun; it didn't matter to me if I won or not", Marissa said recently. "I like art and I like to help charities. When I heard about the contest through my parish, I decided to enter." Marissa's artwork, one of 24 chosen nationally in the 2007-2008, featured the Three Kings and was inspired by a painting that she saw of the Magi bringing their gifts to the Christ Child.

Like Marissa, your students could see their artwork appear as Christmas e-greetings and displayed at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. during Advent and Christmas, 2011. Every year, over 10,000 students in Catholic schools, parish religious education and home school programs from dioceses across the United States enter the contest. Twenty four winners are chosen for these honors. One Grand Prize Winner also has his/her artwork made into a Christmas card that is used by Msgr. John Kozar, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the U.S., parent organization of the Holy Childhood Association; the card is sent to the Societies benefactors and friends. Winners and their families are also honored at a special Mass celebrated by Msgr. Kozar. In addition, winning designs are featured for use as e-greetings on the national website of the Holy Childhood Association.

About Our Contest

Since its founding over 160 years ago, the Holy Childhood Association (HCA) has had but one focus -- to bring the love of Jesus to the world's children. HCA's annual Christmas Artwork Contest is one way children in the United States express their love and commitment to children in the missions.

The contest is open to all Catholic school, parish religious education and home school students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The deadline for entry to this year's contest is January 31, 2011. Entry forms and contest guidelines are mailed to all parishes and schools in December. Forms are also available to download here from the HCA National Website. Click on Enter, then on Artwork Contest.