Adriana Termini loves art. It’s her favorite subject in school, she takes every opportunity to hone her skills with extra classes and she doesn’t “go anywhere without paper and something to draw with.”
Little did the first grader in St. Leo the Great School, Lincroft, expect that her artistic talent would garner her a national award. She was one of 22 youngsters from throughout the country whose artwork was selected a winner in the 2024-2025 annual Christmas Artwork Contest sponsored by the Missionary Childhood Association. She was recognized during the diocesan World Mission Sunday Mass celebrated Oct. 19 in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, and was presented with a certificate by Father Peter James Alindogan, diocesan director of missions and pastor of St. Veronica Parish, Howell. Her artwork will also be on display in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, during the Advent and Christmas seasons.
“Adriana has always shown great interest in art starting at a very young age,” said Adriana’s mother, Alexandra Termini.
Noting how “thrilled” she and her husband, Dominick were to learn about their daughter’s winning art entry, Termini said, “Every day Adriana is drawing pictures and challenging herself to learn to draw something new that she hasn’t done before. She never gives up and takes her time to perfect her drawings.”
Adriana’s Christmas drawing depicted a Nativity scene showing the Holy Family in a simple stable that’s surrounded by several animals. In the distance, the three Wise Men, are approaching from the East.
“I drew this picture after learning in kindergarten about the three Wise Men going to see Jesus in the manger after he was born and they were bringing gifts for him,” Adriana said. “They were following the bright star in the sky.”
Adriana’s teacher, Carrie Cisar, said the school faculty strives to instill in students that mission work is a call to “live our faith each day through prayer, love and service.”
“Students come to learn about the needs of children around the world and how their own awareness and actions, can make a difference,” Cisar said.
Art teacher Nicole Lopusznick said Adriana’s drawing “beautifully portrays the greatest story of all time, the Birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.”
Having a St. Leo the Great student recognized with a national award “not only reflects Adriana’s individual creativity and faith but also the spirit of love and faith we strive to nurture every day here at SLG,” Lopusznnick said.
The MCA Christmas Artwork Contest dates to 1916, when the MCA 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 has used children’s artwork on these seals since 1933. In 2005, MCA then introduced Christmas cards featuring the winning artwork in its annual contest.
The MCA, one of four Pontifical Mission Societies, promotes mission and global awareness while encouraging children to share their faith through their prayers and generosity. Every year, the MCA invites children in Catholic schools and parishes throughout the nation to submit their Christmas-themed drawings for the contest.
World Mission Sunday is about continuing Christ’s call to bring the Good News to all nations