MCA Christmas Art Contest
Why Does the Missionary Childhood Association Have a
Christmas Art Contest?
Jesus' birth is God's ultimate "missionary moment" - when the Word became flesh to live with us and bring Good News to the poor.
Pope Leo XIV, in Dilexi Te, said that "God became poor and was born like us" so we could see how near His love really is (§16). When children draw the Nativity, they are telling the story of God's love for everyone, especially those who are poor or forgotten. Every artist becomes a kind of missionary when creating beauty that helps share Jesus with the world.
What Is the Christmas Art Contest?
The Office for Pro-Life and Missions invites all Catholic schools and parish schools of religion to participate in the 2025-2026 MCA Christmas Art Contest.
Students are invited to create art that celebrates the birth of Jesus and shows His love, joy, and missionary spirit.
For full participation details, please review the attached Contest Guidelines and Entry Forms. These documents explain everything you need to know about submitting student artwork.
For questions, please email Director of Missions Michael Carlson: [email protected].
Cecilia Arana, St. Boniface School, Edwardsville, along with 21 other students around the United States, was selected as a national winner in The Pontifical Mission Societies National 2024/2025 Christmas Art Contest.
During the 2024 Missionary Childhood Association Christmas Art Contest, the following eight students were chosen as local winners in their respective categories.
Abilene Clavin
St. Louis School, Nokomis
Madison Jade
Luces Our Lady of Lourdes School, Decatur
Cecilia Arana
St. Boniface School, Edwardsville
Norah Arbogast
St. Francis Solanus School, Quincy
J P Thoele
St. Dominic School, Quincy
Daniel Albright
St. Louis School, Nokomis
Cody DeMoss
St. Dominic School, Quincy
Cooper Kane
St. Ambrose School, Godfrey