The Diocese of Knoxville’s Office of Consecrated Life is holding art contests for all Catholic students to mark the Year of Consecrated Life.
Beginning with Catholic Schools Week held Jan. 25-29 and continuing through February, all students of the Catholic faith living in the diocese will have a chance to compete.
The competition will be split into age groups for students in kindergarten through second grade, students in third through fifth grades, students in grades sixth through eighth and then students in high school.
There will be one winner from each age group.
The contest’s theme is “Wake up the world! Be witnesses of a different way of doing things, of acting, of living!” The theme was inspired by Pope Francis.
“The quote is from Pope Francis and we hope that it will inspire the kids to think about consecrated life and their own vocation,” said Sister Mary Charles Mayer, RSM, who is the associate chancellor for pastoral services and delegate to religious for the diocese.
“Please encourage our kids to participate. This is to help them think about what consecrated life is and to ask themselves if they have a vocation to become a religious sister, brother or priest. At least it will hopefully focus their attention on the idea,” Sister Mary Charles added.
Principals, teachers, parish secretaries and directors of religious education are being urged to get their students involved in the competition. Students do not have to attend Catholic schools, but they must be Catholic. They can be home-schooled or attend public schools.
There will be a prize for each finalist in each age group.
The contest rules state that the art project should be a drawing, painting, sculpture or woodcraft; only one entry per student; there will be a finalist per age group in each of the diocese’s four deaneries (Smoky Mountain, Cumberland Mountain, Five Rivers and Chattanooga); the artwork must fit into a small car for transport; each entry must reflect the theme of the contest; students must create the artwork and do all finish work; students must submit their entries March 7-8 and not before or after.
Judging will take place March 9-13, and then the finalists’ artwork from each deanery will be transported to the Chancery for final judging.
Finalists will be announced March 28-29, and the winners will be contacted by phone by March 31.
Each entry is to have identification on it (student’s name, parent’s name, address, phone number, e-mail address, age, grade and parish) so it can be identified and returned.
The winner of each age group will be invited to the Chancery for a reception and to receive their prizes. Then each winner’s artwork will be displayed at their parish. Parishes are not liable for any damage to artwork.
“They will have to pick up the art work but I have encouraged our four deaneries to display the artwork so the kids can see it and the parents can appreciate it as well,” Sister Mary Charles said.
Later in the year, there also will be a film contest for the older students and a writing contest involving consecrated life.
