Vocations Art Contest draws inspirational pictures from students

The Catholic Center came alive with the colors and designs from students as they displayed their artwork at the annual Vocations Awareness Contest Award ceremony on June 11.

Sponsored by the Diocesan Vocation Office and Mary, Mother of Vocations Ministry, the art contest is designed to increase the students’ awareness and appreciation of their life’s vocation, with emphasis upon answering God’s call to the priesthood, the diaconate, religious life, married life or single life.

“Pilgrims of Hope,” the theme of Jubilee 2025, asked younger students to draw a picture of themselves walking with Jesus as a young boy to the pope’s church in Rome. Kids in third through fifth grades were asked to create a picture of themselves carrying a jubilee cross, surrounded by the supportive people in their life. Sixth to eighth grade students were asked to show the opening of doors to the future, and include a written statement about their future selves and their hope for the future.

“One of the ways that God communicates to us is through beauty, the beauty of our world,” said Bishop Michael W. Fisher before handing out the awards.

Each grade level had a first place finisher and an honorable mention.

“Judging is always a difficult job. A lot of submissions came in. We’re glad so many children throughout the diocese at all different levels of education participated,” said Father David Baker, diocesan director of Vocations.

Laliana Rodriguez, from St. Christopher School in Tonawanda, took top honors for the eighth grade.

“My inspiration was to have a big family that lives in a city, not a specific city. I envision it to be a very happy family filled with trust, empathy, support and understanding,” she said, showing off her color and line drawing. “It feels really good to be winning this. I enjoyed doing this contest with other people and I love seeing other people’s drawings.”

Anna Bogulski, a fourth grader from the St. Mary of the Lake Faith Formation program in Hamburg, accepted an Honorable Mention certificate.

“It feels amazing,” she said, adding she was shocked to win because she thought this was just another class assignment. She didn’t know about the contest.

She still gave it 100 percent of her talent.

 “The truth is when you work hard in all of your work, it really pays off in the end,” she said.

In closing, Father Baker mentioned that Luca LaNasa, who won the art contest in second grade, has entered St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore to study for the priesthood.

“He’s now 20 years old and just started the seminary this year. It does work,” Father Baker said.