Students respond: What does the Eucharist mean to you?

Anne-Marie Welsh
04/24/2023

Elle Osterman of DuBois Central Catholic took first place for her charcoal
drawing for Visual Arts, grades 9-12.

DIOCESE OF ERIE — More than 700 students took time to express what the Eucharist means to them in response to an art contest sponsored by the Catholic Schools Office and the Office of Faith Formation of the Diocese of erie. Entries came in the form of videos while others submitted paintings, charcoal drawings, and magic marker or crayon masterpieces. Some were dramatic, others insightful; all were poignant demonstrations that the Catholic faith is alive and well in the hearts of young people across the diocese.

Winning honors for their visual artwork are:

Grades K-4

First Place: Bristol Smail, St. Joseph School, Lucinda

Honorable Mention: Juliauna Lilley, St. Joseph School, Lucinda

Grades 5-8

First Place: Vidalia Kelly, Our Lady of Peace School, Erie

Honorable Mention: Ellie Williams, St. Joseph School, Lucinda

Grades 9-12

First Place: Elle Osterman, DuBois Central Catholic, DuBois

Honorable Mention: Breanna Yale, DuBois Central Catholic, DuBois

Winning honors for their video submissions are:

Grades K-8

First Place: Madison Link, Fort LeBoeuf Middle School and All Saints Parish, Waterford

Honorable Mention: CeCe and Leah Varacallo, Homeschool and St. Michael the Archangel Parish, DuBois

“We were pleased to see winners representing so many different areas of the diocese,” said Laura Blake, assistant superintendent for Catholic schools. “I also was happy we had entrants and winners who attend Catholic schools, public schools and who are homeschooled.”

Blake said many of the judges commented about how much they would love to speak with some of the students who participated.

“They were impressed with the amount of time that went into the pieces as well as the thought that went into them,” she said. “It was truly inspiring.”

The contest was created as part of the national Eucharistic Revival of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. See all of the winning entries, including the videos, as well as other submissions, at https://www.eriercd.org/art.html.