Merry Christmas to all the young artists who shared their talents in the third annual Catholic Times Christmas cover contest. This year, a record 765 entries were submitted to compete for the honor of being the Christmas cover of our diocesan newspaper.
This year's judges once again decreed a tie for first place.
One of our first-place winners is Hannah Dudek of Fillmore, a fifth-grader who attends St. Louis Church in Nokomis. Hannah's illustration is this week's cover of Catholic Times, our Christmas issue.
The other first-place entry, submitted by Chiara Evelti, a sixth-grader from Our Lady of Lourdes School in Decatur, will be on the cover of Catholic Times for Jan. 6, the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord.
Both first-place winners will receive a $25 check from Catholic Times.
In second place (shown on these pages) is the entry from Collin Beddingfield, a first-grader from Our Saviour School in Jacksonville. In third place was the entry from Audrey Hoene, a sixth-grader from St. Michael School in Sigel.
Additional runners-up shown on these pages are (in alphabetical order): Becca Osborn, a sixth-grade student from St. Aloysius Parish in Springfield; Emily Reid, a fifth-grader from St. Michael School in Staunton; Brooke Tavolacci, a fifth-grader from St. Francis/Holy Ghost School in Jerseyville; and Lauren Witte, a sixth-grade student from Ss. Peter and Paul School in Collinsville.
In addition, there were so many remarkable entries that the judges chose some "honorable mentions," which can be viewed online at ct.dio.org.
Again, many thanks to all the young artists who shared their Yuletide spirit with us. Thanks also go to the parents and teachers who helped them.
Merry Christmas to all, from the staff at Catholic Times.
| First Place | |
 cover-edit-corr.jpg |  chiara-evelti.jpg |
| ROAD TO BETHLEHEM — Joseph leads the donkey carrying a visibly pregnant Mary as they wind their weary way to Bethlehem, where there will be no room at the inn. On Christmas night, Mary’s child will be born in a stable. The picture above was submitted by Hannah Dudek, a fifth-grader from Fillmore, who is a member of St. Louis Parish in Nokomis. | THREE WISE MEN - The picture above was submitted by Chiara Evelti, a sixth-grader from Our Lady of Lourdes School in Decatur. |
| Second Place | |
 art03collin001.jpg | BIRTH OF THE KING — St. Francis of Assisi (lower right) dreams of creating a Nativity scene that will help people celebrate the joy of Christmas. St. Francis is credited with creating the first Nativity scene (crèche) in 1223, outside the Italian town of Greccio. Collin Beddingfield, a first-grader from Our Saviour School in Jacksonville, submitted this second-place entry. |
| Third Place | |
 art01audrey001.jpg | GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO — An angel brings good news of great joy to shepherds watching their flocks in the fields. The third-place entry was submitted by Audrey Hoene, a sixth-grade student from St. Michael School in Sigel. |
| Runners-up | |
 art02becca001.jpg |  art04emily001.jpg |
| TO BETHLEHEM — St. Joseph and Mary travel the lonely road to Bethlehem in this runner-up entry from Becca Osborn, a sixth-grader from St. Aloysius Parish in Springfield. | THE PLACE WHERE HE LAY — The Star of Bethlehem rests over the humble stable, where Mary’s newborn babe lies in a manger. The runner-up entry is from Emily Reid, a fifth-grader from St. Michael School in Staunton. |
 art05brooke001.jpg |  art06lauren001.jpg |
| WE SAW HIS STAR — Three Wise Men saw the star at its rising and followed it by night to find the baby Jesus. The runner-up entry is from Brooke Tavolacci, a fifth-grader from St. Francis/Holy Ghost School in Jerseyville. | BEARING GIFTS — The three Wise Men bring gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to give homage to the newborn king. The runner-up entry was submitted by Lauren Witte, a sixth-grade student from Ss. Peter and Paul in Collinsville. |