By Lois Rogers | Correspondent
Emma DiUbaldi enjoys creating pictures with the striking colors of permanent markers, so it came as no surprise when the 13-year-old eighth-grader in St. Aloysius School found a set of them under the Christmas tree in her Jackson home last Dec. 25.
What did come as a surprise is that the rich marker tones adorning the robes of the Three Kings she created for her entry in the Missionary Childhood Association Annual Christmas Artwork Contest will be on display for all to see during Advent and Christmas in Washington’s Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
Beginning in 1916, the Missionary Childhood Association produced the first Catholic Christmas seals in America to raise awareness of and support for the evangelizing work of the Church in the missions. MCA used children’s artwork on these seals since 1933.
In 2005, MCA also introduced Christmas cards featuring the winning artwork in its annual contest.
In all, 24 national winners are chosen with one grand prize winner from grades 4-8 featured as the National Directors Annual Christmas Card.
Emma’s striking picture, which frames the royal travelers against the backdrop of a radiant star, was selected from among thousands of entries nationwide as one of 24 winners in the contest. On Dec. 2, Emma, her parents, Donna and Anthony, grandparents, John and Linda DiUbaldi, and her brother, Anthony, 15, who attends Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, will be at the Mass celebrated for all finalists and families in the shrine.
Every year, thousands of students in Catholic schools, parish religious education programs and home school programs from dioceses across the United States enter the contest, with a total of 24 winners being selected. This year, Maryanne Roman from the Trenton Diocesan Mission Office, said of the 63 total entries her office received from students around the Diocese. Twelve including Emma’s were then sent to the national office.
“We are proud of Emma and all the children who entered the art contest,” Roman said.
Emma, who enjoys art projects, especially do-it-yourself projects, has entered contests before – most notably the annual Diocesan Respect Life poster contest. But the teen, who will enter Notre Dame High School next fall, said she never expected the letter she received from the MCA proclaiming her a winner.
As her mother described it, the outcome was a testament to Emma’s fortitude, creativity and determination, and, in this case, the dog actually did eat the artwork.
Entering a picture had been an art class assignment. Unfortunately, the finished picture was destroyed by Taco, the family’s new Maltese puppy, the night before the assignment was due.
“It fell off her dresser in her bedroom and it was eaten by Taco,” said Donna DiUbaldi. “It happened at night and she worked that night and in the morning before the school bus came to complete it. She’s very determined.”
Emma, who plays sports including cross country running, volleyball and basketball and has studied dance for 10 years, is very excited to be going to the shrine with her family for the Mass and a luncheon and, of course, to view her picture on exhibit. She is especially looking forward to seeing how the shrine “looks different from St. Aloysius.”
Her artist’s eye just may focus on details in the largest and most spectacularly embellished Catholic Church in the United States and inspires yet another work of art.
Emma DiUbaldi’s depiction of the Three Kings as an e-greeting may be found on the Missionary Childhood Association’s website at www.MCAKids.org.
Roman said that entry forms and contest rules for the 2017 contest may be found at www.onefamilyinmission.org/hca/advent.html and the deadline for submissions is Jan. 31, 2017. Entries from the Diocese may be sent to the Diocesan Mission Office, 2420 Branch Pike, Cinnaminson, NJ 08077.