Thank you to everyone who entered our art competition to design the cover of our Christmas issue of the Catholic Outlook Magazine.
We had 24 entries from schools, Ambrose centres and parishes all over the Diocese – from Harris Park to the Blue Mountains and up to the Hills and beyond.
The artists, who ranged from children to older people, all depicted what Christmas meant to them and how it made them feel.
It was difficult choosing a winner from such a strong field, but the one we all agreed best displayed the “true meaning of Christmas” was the entry from Samantha Pan called “The birth of our Saviour”, which is on our cover.
“The birth of our Saviour” by Samantha Pan. Image: Diocese of Parramatta
Samantha, 10, from Mother Teresa Primary School, Westmead, said in the description of her entry that at Christmas we “celebrate the birth of Jesus and the gifts God gives us”, such as justice, hope, happiness, peace, harmony and Christian belief. All these gifts she depicted as presents at the bottom of the Christmas tree.
“My picture also depicts how cheerful Christmas is with the angels singing Alleluia,” she said.
“God in this picture is the light of the world. The ornaments on the tree are religious events that happen during Christmas – like the world should praise God and his son, the three gifts that the three kings gave to Jesus, and the sheep which represents us around Jesus as one holy family.”
There were four others we felt were worthy runners-up.
Alicia Buttigieg, 17, from Padre Pio Parish, Glenmore Park, with her entry “The light in the darkness”,
“The light in the darkness” by Alicia Buttigieg. Image: Diocese of Parramatta
Ellen MacMahon, 61, from St Bernadette’s Parish, Castle Hill, with her entry “Adoration”
“Adoration” by Ellen MacMahon. Image: Diocese of Parramatta
Mary Sleiman, 17, from Catherine McAuley College Westmead, with her entry “The True Meaning of Christmas”
“The True Meaning of Christmas” by Mary Sleiman. Image: Diocese of Parramatta
Eva Brown, 11, from Ambrose Christ the King, North Rocks, with her entry “Our Path to Jesus’ Hope”
“Our Path to Jesus’ Hope” by Eva Brown. Image: Diocese of Parramatta
Congratulations to Samantha and all our entrants!
This article was originally published in the 2025 Advent & Christmas | Summer edition of the Catholic Outlook Magazine. You can read the digital version here or pick up a copy in your local parish.
