Joyful anticipation of Christmas was illustrated through artwork in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., where many of this year’s 24 winners of the Missionary Childhood Association Christmas Artwork Contest gathered Dec. 6 with their families for the annual awards presentation.
Contest winners from the Diocese of Harrisburg are Mary Grace Duncan of St. Columba School in Bloomsburg and Sydney Dissinger from Our Mother of Perpetual Help School in Ephrata. Their artwork, selected from among thousands of entries, is on display in the National Shrine throughout the 2019 Advent/Christmas season.
Father Peter James Alindogan, Mission Office Director of Trenton, celebrated Mass at the Basilica for winners and their families.
The Missionary Childhood Association is the Holy Father’s society for children to share the Good News of God’s love and salvation while providing basic support for projects that directly support children in the missions. By participating in MCA activities, children learn about their brothers and sisters in mission countries – children just like themselves. And they also learn that their prayers and personal sacrifices make them missionaries today.
The Diocesan MCA is part of the Office of Pontifical Missions, under the direction of Father Robert F. Sharman.
Winning artwork can be sent as eGreetings. Visit www.hbgdiocese.org/MCA and look for “2018-2019 Christmas Artwork Contest Winners.”
The entry form for the 2019-2020 contest can also be found on the website; or contact the Diocesan Missions Office at missions@hbgdiocese.org or 717-657-4804 for more information. Deadline is Jan. 31, 2020.
(Karen Harding is the Diocesan Missionary Childhood Association Coordinator)
By Karen Harding, Special to The Witness
