For the Junior Saints Christmas feature, students were invited to draw a picture of a scene from the first Christmas, and write about what Christmas means to them.
St. Jude Regional Catholic School, Rockville
Artwork by Emma Lopez-Chavarriaga, fourth grade, St. Jude Regional Catholic School, Rockville
Artwork by Eliana Gaona-Burgos, fourth grade, St. Jude Regional Catholic School, Rockville
Artwork by Camila Perez, fourth grade, St. Jude Regional Catholic School, Rockville
Holy Redeemer School, College Park
“Christmas is so much more than presents. It is about spending time with family and loved ones, and celebrating the one who saved us all: Jesus Christ. Christmas is about the magic of knowing that when you wake up, the milk and the cookies will be gone, and there will be presents under the tree. But when you really, really think about what Christmas is, you think about more than presents. You think about the love and joy that it brings you. You think about the happiness that it brings you to have the people you love around you on this special day. There is so, so much more to Christmas than presents; there is the love and joy of having family around you, and remembering that our Savior who saved us was born on this day. So if you don’t get exactly what you want for Christmas, just look around you; there is your present.” – Cassie Fike, fourth grade, Holy Redeemer School, College Park, Maryland
St. Columba School, Oxon Hill
“Christmas means a lot to me, because it celebrates the birth of Jesus, which shows God’s love and brings hope to the world. When I think about the Nativity, I imagine how peaceful and meaningful that night must have been. Christmas also brings my family closer, and I enjoy the traditions we share together. Even though presents are part of the holiday, I think the real meaning is about kindness and love. In the end, Christmas reminds me to appreciate what I have and to show love to others.” – Artwork and writing by Karla Osorio, seventh grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill, Maryland
“Christmas to me is a holiday in which everyone from anywhere can come together and celebrate Jesus. I especially love Christmas because I get to see my family.” – Artwork and writing by Macey Pleta, eighth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill
“Christmas is a special day for me, because I get to celebrate the birth of Jesus and spend time with my family. It makes me really happy, because everyone comes together, and I get a little break from school and other activities. Also, I always look forward to Christmas because I get gifts from Santa. It is a very meaningful day to me, because it is a time when we share and show love and be grateful for everything.” – Lorris Pangilinan, seventh grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill
“Christmas means to me spending time with my loved ones, giving to people, and Jesus’s birthday.” – Artwork and writing by Carson Rae Salazar, sixth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill
“To me, Christmas means love, joy and hope. It reminds me of how Jesus came into the world to bring peace and show us how to care for others. Christmas is a time where I can show how grateful I am for the people I have in my life. When I think about the first Christmas, I remember that even something small can still change the world. Christmas inspires me to be loving and thankful!” – Artwork and writing by Bella Stanton, seventh grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill, Maryland
“Christmas means the birth of Jesus, and spending time with your family and those who mean the most to you. Also, it is a time to know about the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ, and how He came to earth as a Savior and redeemed humanity from sin.” – Cali Delaney, sixth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill
“To me, Christmas is remembering Jesus’s birth and the love He brought into the world.” – Artwork and writing by Lynne Gonzales, eighth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill
“Christmas to me is a time to remember how much God loves us by sending Jesus into the world, and to celebrate the time with my family. Most of my family lives in the Philippines, so it’s important for me to call them each year.” – Sophia Parapara, seventh grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill
“What Christmas means to me is playing in the snow, having fun with my sisters and my brother, watching movies, spending time with my entire family and being grateful for what I have.” – Ngozi Goins, sixth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill
“Christmas means more than gifts and presents to me. Even though I love opening them, what I love even more is celebrating Jesus’s birthday and spending time with my family. On Christmas I usually go to Mass and celebrate the birth of Jesus. I think that it is very important to center Christmas on His birthday. When I center my Christmas with Jesus, it makes me happy, because I can celebrate my Savior.” – Artwork and writing by Natalie Liao, eighth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill
“I don’t see Christmas as just gifts, trees, Santa or reindeer… It is about the birth of Jesus Christ… Aside from items as gifts, the real gift is Jesus Himself.” – Artwork and writing by Charlotte Angeli David, sixth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill
St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
Artwork by Isabelle Ridgeway, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown, Maryland
“What Christmas means to me is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. We need to take Advent as a time to prepare ourselves for the Messiah. We shouldn’t worry about what we want for Christmas, because it’s not about us. Christmas is about Jesus and Jesus only. Even though we all love Christmas, baking cookies, opening presents, shopping, and decorating the tree, we need to stop just for a moment and prepare ourselves.” – Claire Collins, sixth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
Artwork and writing by Carter Cahill, second grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
“Christmas is a time for giving and celebrating our Lord’s birth. My favorite thing about Christmas is not the gifts or the tree or the music. It is the fact that Jesus was born on this day many, many years ago. That is why Christmas is a special day to celebrate Jesus. Christmas means a lot to me.” – Cesare Flaim, fourth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
“Christmas is about caring and sharing and spending time together.” – Adrian Baden, first grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
Artwork by Oliver Brewer, fourth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
“Christmas means to me preparing for Jesus’s coming. We have to prepare for Him by going to Confession and getting forgiveness for our sins, so that we can prepare our hearts for Him. On Christmas morning before we open presents, we put baby Jesus in the manger to show that He has been born. This is one way that my family celebrates the birth of Jesus.” – Camille White, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
Artwork and writing by Grace Licona, first grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
“Christmas means a lot to me because it is the day when Jesus was born. We should not just think of Christmas as a day we get gifts, but a day to celebrate Jesus being born. We should also go to church on Christmas… We all need to focus more on Jesus during Christmas.” – Lochlan Maloney, sixth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
Artwork and writing by Everleigh Stoehr, third grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
“Christmas to me means family, and Jesus will soon be born. Christmas is a time for family, because this is when all of my family comes together… The most important part of Christmas to me is the coming of Jesus.” – Brittnye Reynolds, seventh grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington
Artwork by Tsion Alemayehu, eighth grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington
“What Christmas means to me is being happy and feeling loved… Christmas is for love, and the more love we share, the more happiness there will be in the world…” – Efrata Teketel, third grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington
“What Christmas means to me is the birth of our Savior who came to save us from our sins.” – Artwork and writing by Grace McFields-Vargas, fourth grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington
“The first Christmas was a time of joy for the coming of the Savior, Jesus Christ, to the world… Christmas is a time to get together with family, celebrate Jesus and embrace kindness by giving gifts.” – Bria Hughes, eighth grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington
Artwork by Naomi Tewelde, eighth grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington
“Christmas is a time when I am around family, and we celebrate Jesus being born and all the wonderful things that came with it. Even though gifts aren’t what make Christmas, I think they can be important. When you give a thoughtful gift to someone, it shows the person you pay attention to the things they enjoy and like.” – Artwork and writing by Giselle Tubbs, eighth grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington
“For me, Christmas is about the arrival of our Savior. It reminds us that even the most powerful and holy being started as a baby.” – Artwork and writing by Lydia Williams, fifth grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington
“What Christmas means to me is hanging out, playing, watching movies and opening presents with my family. Specifically, I love making food and baking with my family, including cookies, cakes, cupcakes, bread, mac and cheese and all the other good foods.” – Artwork and writing by Laila Abdul-Rahim, eighth grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington
“Christmas is a time of celebration, it is a time when families come together and celebrate the birth of Jesus. Christmas means a lot to me, because it is a time that my family and I use to visit my extended family in the South…” – Traivus Freddie, eighth grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington
Artwork by Gabriella Manuel, eighth grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington
“Christmas is to me a time for celebrating the birth of Jesus, spending quality time with loved ones and reflecting on the past year.” – Artwork and writing by Adona Debrework, fifth grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington
“The first Christmas means a lot to me, because it was the birth of Jesus Christ our Savior, who died for our sins and always loves, cares and forgives us.” – Makbel Tirfu, eighth grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington
St. John the Evangelist School, Clinton
Artwork by Kiara McCatty, fifth grade, St. John the Evangelist School, Clinton, Maryland
“For me, Christmas means that Jesus loves me with His loving heart. It means to me that God really wanted us to be saved.” – Marialujan Caballero, fifth grade, St. John the Evangelist School, Clinton
“Christmas to me is a day where you celebrate Jesus’s birth and give and not get.” – Ori Price, fifth grade, St. John the Evangelist School, Clinton
Artwork by Azucena Avelar Castro, fifth grade, St. John the Evangelist School, Clinton
“What does Christmas mean to me? Christmas means that I’m spending time with my family, embracing the Christmas spirit and remembering Jesus’s birth. Christmas isn’t just about giving and getting presents. It’s about celebrating our Savior Jesus Christ coming into the world on that Christmas 2,000 years ago, that’s the true meaning of Christmas.” – Mason Rutledge, seventh grade, St. John the Evangelist School, Clinton
Artwork by Emily Servellon Meza, fifth grade, St. John the Evangelist School, Clinton
“Christmas means to me that we are getting ready to receive Jesus in our hearts.” –Ashly Sales, seventh grade, St. John the Evangelist School, Clinton
Artwork by Ivannablessed Harris, fifth grade, St. John the Evangelist School, Clinton
“Christmas means to me that it is Jesus’s birth and we show love and kindness to each other.” – Ayana Velez, seventh grade, St. John the Evangelist School, Clinton
“Christmas means giving instead of getting and spending time with family.” – Javion Keyes, fifth grade, St. John the Evangelist School, Clinton
Artwork by Maria Reyes Lopez, third grade, St. John the Evangelist School, Clinton
“To me, I think Christmas is a time to gather with others to celebrate Jesus’s birth. It is about love, joy, and peace. Christmas is the celebration of Jesus and his kingdom. Christmas is a time of happiness and festivities. But most importantly, Christmas is about Jesus.” – Adrienne Espinosa, eighth grade, St. John the Evangelist School, Clinton
Artwork by Marianella Caballero, eighth grade, St. John the Evangelist School, Clinton
“Christmas is about Jesus and family, a happy time of year filled with joy.” – Sage Nicholson, third grade, St. John the Evangelist School, Clinton
Artwork by Tomas Ventura, fifth grade, St. John the Evangelist School, Clinton
“Christmas to me means hope, the hope of everyone in the world who needs happiness or hope to be given hope through the Lord or His people.” – Kendric Cromer, eighth grade, St. John the Evangelist School, Clinton
Little Flower School, Great Mills
“The first Christmas means a lot to me. It means Jesus’ birth, family time, and a time to celebrate my religion. Christmas is a big, meaningful holiday; it doesn’t just mean presents; it also means a celebration for Jesus. I think when people are opening their presents this year, they shouldn’t just think about what they got, but they should also think about Jesus… This year, when everyone is thinking about all the cool gifts they got, I am going to be thinking about Jesus and saying prayers.” – Artwork and writing by Norah Beauchamp, sixth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills, Maryland
“To me, Christmas means this was the day Jesus was born, and it is a day of giving, the day that our Lord and Savior, the Messiah, was brought into this world… Christmas is a day to be thankful, because this day changed everything. This day is the reason the world became a better place. Christmas means to me that anything is possible.” – Gody Hewitt, sixth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
“For me, Christmas is a time with family, a time when we can all be together and have a good time. Christmas is a day when we give gifts. It’s a time to be thankful, and not to fight or argue. I am so grateful that my family can get along and be happy like this, because I know some people can’t. Christmas is also a time to have faith and welcome Jesus into our hearts.” – Artwork and writing by Hadley Day, seventh grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
“Christmas means to me celebrating with family, going to church, and giving gifts. We visit our relatives and eat with them. But Christmas isn’t and shouldn’t be only about that; it should be about thanking Jesus, and going to Mass is good. I enjoy Christmas because of all the prayers and seeing my family. Knowing that I can help others on Christmas and giving money to the poor makes me happy, or sorrowful because I have shelter and warm meals, but they do not. God loved and cared for us so much He sent His Son here on Earth to save us. When Jesus was born, angels, kings, shepherds, and animals came to see Jesus; that is what we call it the Nativity. God still loves us and cares for us.” – Leo Hanson, sixth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
“For me, Christmas means celebrating Jesus’ birth. My family goes to Mass with my mom’s family, and then we talk about the birth of Jesus over breakfast. It also means spending time with family and friends. Mary and Joseph spent their Christmas together with strangers who they did not know. My family invites everyone to come, and cooks a lot of food so everyone can eat. We also play games as a group. The kids also lead the praying of grace before meals. We spend time together and make jokes, but we never forget about who and what Christmas is about.” – Artwork and writing by Madelynn Beall, eighth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
“It’s not just about the gifts; it’s about Jesus and family. The Christmas lights are like the star that led the Wise Men to Jesus. I spend time with my family decorating, watching Christmas movies, and decorating bread cookies. We share joyful moments with each other.” – Drake Gordon, seventh grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
“Christmas is a time for celebrating Jesus’ birth, not just eating meals with your family and opening presents. It is knowing why we are here and who made it possible for us to live and flourish. It is a time to thank God for sending down His only Son to die for us so we can all live together in peace. So we need to stop worrying about the presents we get and start celebrating what we should be. So on Christmas or Christmas Eve, go to church or pray with your family. Think about this as Christmas gets closer and see what you can change.” – Jack Taylor, seventh grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
“To me, Christmas is when you come together to celebrate Jesus’s coming. Just like the three Wise Men went to see Jesus, family from around the country go to spend time with each other during this special event. I think that resemblance is really cool. However, the one thing that is always a factor is family. Family is so important and a big part of my life. During Christmas, I feel like my family bond strengthens. The Holy Family is a good role model, and I always hope that my family and I can be like them. Christmas is my favorite holiday for this reason. Not only do I like the food, but I like the memories made. I can’t wait to celebrate it this year!” – Artwork and writing by Adalene Jones, eighth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
“Christmas to me means being with family, eating good food, and opening gifts. We all know that Christmas is not just about opening presents but remembering that Dec. 25 is the day of Jesus’s birth. On Christmas Day, we play fun games and exchange gifts. We make Christmas cookies and fried ham. On Christmas Eve, we open one gift at our house.” – Liam Winters, seventh grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
“What Christmas means to me is the celebration of Christ’s birth. Many people often forget the meaning and think it’s about gifts and Santa. It’s not. Yes, Christmas is a time for giving and family, but that should not be the main focus. Christmas is a time to remember Jesus’s birth, not Santa Claus going down the chimney. Mary and Joseph had a long journey through the desert for Mary to be able to give birth to Jesus. But still, people don’t remember the first Christmas after all the struggle they went through. Yes, the gifts are a nice addition to Christmas, but the sole purpose is to remember the first one!” – Addy Agboola, eighth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda
Artwork by Genevieve Alvarez, fourth grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda, Maryland
“Christmas means a lot to me. Christmas is the day I was born and the day Jesus was born. Christmas is a day to spend time with family and to celebrate Jesus. Christmas is not just a day, but a celebration of the day the Messiah was born. Christmas is a special time of the year when you see family, you give gifts and you receive gifts. Christmas is beautiful – everyone smiles, laughs and enjoys the moment when everyone is together, and you don’t worry or stress, it’s just complete peace. Christmas is the time of year when you look out your window and see Christmas decorations and sometimes even snow. Christmas reminds you that Jesus died for you so that you could have these things and be happy knowing you get a chance at eternal life.” – Noelle Shorb, seventh grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda
Artwork by Parisa Gambhir, seventh grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda
Artwork by Tyler Conley, third grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda
“I drew the Nativity of Jesus with all the animals surrounding him. I chose to draw this because it reflects the true meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate. I wanted this drawing to be centered on Jesus because he is our Savior, and the bright star in the sky shows he will always be there to guide us. I feel that Christmas is about giving because Jesus gave himself up for us.” – Artwork and writing by Reagan Perraut, seventh grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda
“To me, Christmas means opportunity, love and kindness. It means opportunity, because it’s an opportunity to return to Christ during this season, and it also allows me to give to other people. It means love, because it allows me to love my family even more deeply through Christ. Lastly, it means kindness, because it allows me to recognize my actions, enabling me to be kind to my friends, family, and everyone. During Christmas, I spend time with my family. I celebrate Christmas with my family by putting up the Christmas tree and decorating while listening to Christmas music. I also celebrate by going to Mass on Christmas Eve. During this Mass, there is usually a play; this Mass allows my family and me to spend time with Christ. All in all, Christmas means the world to me, and I get to spend quality time with my family.” – Artwork and writing by Jacob Lang, eighth grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda
Artwork by Claire Andonyadis, seventh grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda
Artwork by Arthur Alafoginis, second grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda
“Christmas for some people is all about the presents, carols, and so much more. But from a different perspective, Christmas is really about love, joy, charity and the birth of Jesus Christ. Let’s talk about the first Christmas ever, the day our Savior Jesus Christ was born in a manger not knowing what he was going to become. Christmas without Christ has no meaning. Jesus Christ made Christmas become Christmas and without Jesus it is not the same love, happiness and charity that you feel.” – Feyi Lawal, seventh grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda
“What Christmas is to me, is a time of the year, where I can spend valuable time with my family and friends, and make memories I'll never forget.” – Artwork and writing by Sarah Juzbasic, seventh grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda
Artwork by Myles Butler, eighth grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda
Holy Redeemer Catholic School, Kensington
Artwork by Reagan Speck, seventh grade, Holy Redeemer Catholic School, Kensington, Maryland
“To me, Christmas means family. Every Christmas, I am able to see all of my relatives and make new memories with them. I love to celebrate Jesus’s birthday on Christmas day.” – Drew Meringolo, sixth grade, Holy Redeemer Catholic School, Kensington
Artwork by Sophia Jackson, eighth grade, Holy Redeemer Catholic School, Kensington
Artwork by Caroline Frye, sixth grade, Holy Redeemer Catholic School, Kensington
Artwork by Annie Rubin, eighth grade, Holy Redeemer Catholic School, Kensington
Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons
“The meaning of Christmas to me is about the birth of Jesus, giving gifts to others, celebrating family traditions like watching Christmas movies, getting together with family and friends, singing Christmas songs, having a nice Christmas dinner and giving thanks for the gifts you open on Christmas morning.” – Artwork and writing by Olivia Lorenson, fourth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons, Maryland
Artwork by Dolly Fejes, kindergarten, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons
“To me, Christmas means preparing and just giving to others to share the special joy that comes once a year. Also, Christmas is a time for repentance and prayer. Christmas isn’t about the toys or the presents. It’s about Jesus’s birthday and making room in our hearts for God and Jesus!” – Artwork and writing by McKinley Dillon, fourth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons
“Christmas means that Jesus will be born on that day to me. Sometimes I think it means presents and candy, but when I really think about it, I think, ‘Yay! Jesus is born!’… I pray a decade of the rosary each night, but on Christmas Eve, I pray the whole rosary.” – Kara Matlack, fourth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons
“To some people, Christmas means getting presents or eating lots of candy, but to me, Christmas means more than just getting gifts. It means a lot of other things to me, like giving things to other people or charity, or spending time with your family and friends and getting together for a Christmas meal or just celebrating the birth of Jesus.” – Elli Hummer, fifth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons
Blessed Sacrament School, Washington
Artwork by Hunter Williams, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
“Christmas means to me a time when family comes together for fun and joy, and everyone celebrates the birth of Christ, and all get presents. I love our Christmas Eve tradition of going to Mass with my entire family and then going to dinner at my aunt’s house. We then wake up to Christmas morning and see what presents we received from Santa. Then we go to my Grandma’s house for Christmas dinner and more gifts. I love our traditions.” – Billy Monk, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
“Christmas means everything to me. It means family, it means friends, and it also means being alive. If Jesus was never born, then he would not have died on the cross to save us. Christmas is my favorite holiday. It means seeing my cousins and spending time with them. It also means friends. This is because I get to do fun things with them like (joining them at a) Christmas party, ice skating and many other things.” – Jane Johnson, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington
Artwork by Moore Avery, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
“To me, Christmas means the birth of Jesus, a time to give and receive, and (help with) the Greg Gannon Food Drive. At Blessed Sacrament School, we do many things to make Christmas time extra special while we are at school. The teachers will decorate the classrooms to make them pretty, and maybe even do ‘Secret Santa’ (gift exchange). But we have Christmas to celebrate Jesus’s birthday, which is also called the Nativity. We celebrate Christmas to understand and know what Jesus did for us. And it is a time to give, receive and make people happy. In my opinion, it is way easier to shop for others than for myself, and we should know the true meaning of Christmas.” – Katherine Kearns, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
“Christmas means to me the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ. He came to Earth as a man. The star led the three Wise Men to Bethlehem, and them brought Him three gifts – gold, frankincense and myrrh. The Jews had been waiting for Him. Christmas is a time of hope, love, joy and peace, the four candles of Advent.” – Bryce Raso, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
Artwork by Sunny Holian, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
“To me, Christmas means love and family. Yes, everyone loves all the presents and parties, but the real best part of Christmas is spending time with your family and making memories. Christmas is a time for love and a time to live in the moment, not to stress or to be sad. Yes, the presents are great, but on Christmas you should be thinking of the birth of Jesus Christ and all that He did for us.” – Nora Schlegel, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
“Christmas means a lot to me, and I love it when we celebrate with my family and do all sorts of games. I also love when I give presents to people, because it makes me real happy and grateful that I have people that are grateful for what they get. I am also happy about the beautiful Christmas tree that I have in my living room. Christmas also reminds me of when baby Jesus was born.” – Finn Crawford, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington
Artwork by Sibley Castellani, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
“Christmas is my favorite time of the year. People often celebrate with a big Christmas tree, twinkling lights or exchanging gifts with one another. To me, Christmas is more about our Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus was born on Christmas day, in a little town called Bethlehem. Christmas to me is also not about getting but about giving. Family and friends are very important to Christmas. They make you feel joyful, wonderful and cozy in your home. We all need to prepare for our joyous Advent season, the coming of Christ, the Lord.” – Lily Perkins, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
Cardinal Hickey Academy, Owings
“To me Christmas means celebrating when Jesus is born and spending time with family.” – Artwork and writing by Sadie Haywood, sixth grade, Cardinal Hickey Academy, Owings, Maryland
“Christmas to me is a time to celebrate Jesus and spend time with family.” – Artwork and writing by Sydney Stevens, sixth grade, Cardinal Hickey Academy, Owings
“To me Christmas is a celebration of Jesus. On Christmas we celebrate His birthday and thank Him for loving us. To thank Him on Christmas, my family and I make a birthday cake to thank Jesus for dying on the cross for us. But Christmas isn’t only about Jesus, it’s about Mary, too. Mary accepted God’s will by saying ‘yes’ to bearing Jesus.: – Artwork and writing by Charly Connolly-Schultz, sixth grade, Cardinal Hickey Academy, Owings
“Christmas is not about Santa, presents, and lights. It’s about a small baby that saved us all.” – Eva Delegan, eighth grade, Cardinal Hickey Academy, Owings
Artwork by Corbin Bennett Shah, kindergarten, Cardinal Hickey Academy, Owings
Artwork by Madelyn Beattie, kindergarten, Cardinal Hickey Academy, Owings
“I celebrate Jesus’ birthday by being in a Christmas pageant at Church. It reminds us of the first Christmas.” – Roman Woollen Gutwald, first grade, Cardinal Hickey Academy, Owings
“Christmas is loving Jesus.” – Charlee Lisko, first grade, Cardinal Hickey Academy, Owings
St. Bernadette School, Silver Spring
“I love Christmas because I can spend time with my family.”— Artwork and writing by Hazel Carlberg, fourth grade, St. Bernadette School, Silver Spring
“To me, Christmas means love, family and celebrating the birth of Christ. I also love presents and making cookies and eggnog.” – Artwork and writing by Aneesa Kalamadeen, third grade, St. Bernadette School, Silver Spring
“What does Christmas mean to me? It means to me to celebrate my culture and to pray to God!” – Artwork and writing by Owen Clark, third grade, St. Bernadette School, Silver Spring
“Christmas means to me Jesus’s birth. The day a new Savior comes to earth, when the stars shine really bright.” – Artwork and writing by Lucy Corrado, fourth grade, St. Bernadette School, Silver Spring
“I think Christmas to me means spending quality time with your family and celebrating the birth of Christ in the form of basically one big holiday for Him and yourself where you get presents and fun memories.” – Artwork and writing by Taylor Ward, seventh grade, St. Bernadette School, Silver Spring
“I love Jesus and celebrating him at Christmas. Also I love spending time with family, and I like all the Christmas movies and decorations. It’s a tradition to decorate a tree with ornaments.” – Artwork and writing by Tierney Madden, fourth grade, St. Bernadette School, Silver Spring
St. Mary’s School of Piscataway, Clinton
“Christmas means celebrating Jesus’s birthday, spending time with family, Santa, and giving and getting gifts.” – Artwork by Ava Clements, second grade, St. Mary’s School of Piscataway, Clinton, Maryland
“Christmas is about the birth of Jesus, our king. Christmas also brings joy, because I can spend time with my family.” – Artwork and writing by Catherine Brown, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School of Piscataway, Clinton
“Christmas means celebrating the day Jesus was born. It is a special day that makes me feel happy.” – De’Arie Hamilton, second grade, St. Mary’s School of Piscataway, Clinton
“What Christmas means to me is family. We always eat breakfast first and have family activities together. When it’s almost time for Christmas, I look forward to seeing my family more than presents. When I look at the Nativity scene, I see a loving Holy Family, which reminds me of what Christmas is all about.” – Artwork and writing by Lark Hibben, fifth grade, St. Mary’s School of Piscataway, Clinton
Artwork and writing by Skylar Seward, first grade, St. Mary’s School of Piscataway, Clinton
“… The birth of Jesus (that we celebrate on Christmas day), Dec. 25, is a day filled with love, caring, sharing, gift giving and being around family.” – Lillian Grace Cole, St. Mary’s School of Piscataway, Clinton
“To me, Christmas means spending time with family and friends, worshiping and celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, and showing love and appreciation to others by giving them gifts on Christmas day.” – Artwork and writing by Jasper-Rose Speight, sixth grade, St. Mary’s School of Piscataway, Clinton
“What Christmas means to me is a time when friends and family come together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. My favorite way of celebrating Jesus is an Advent calendar. Overall, what Christmas means to me is the joy we receive through the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.” – Wynter Hatton, sixth grade, St. Mary’s School of Piscataway, Clinton
“The meaning of Christmas is to remember that Christmas is not all about presents, it’s about giving thanks about the things that you get. Christmas to me is having fun and remembering it’s Jesus’s birthday. Christmas is about giving thanks and giving.” – Artwork and writing by Gabriel Brew, fourth grade, St. Mary’s School of Piscataway, Clinton
Artwork by Dreyton Young, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School of Piscataway, Clinton
“Christmas is about Christ our Savior’s birthday. It’s not about Santa and gifts. Christmas feels like joy to me, because it reminds me of God’s love for us. It is a time when families come together to celebrate Jesus and the blessings we have. Christmas also helps us remember to be kind, help others and spread the Gospel.” – Genesis Mone’ Hayes, fourth grade, St. Mary’s School of Piscataway, Clinton
St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville
“Christmas is a special time of year that doesn’t only mean opening presents, but also family and the coming of Jesus. Christmas time is the time that I also spend with friends, and we would go to Christmas Mass to celebrate Jesus. Family means everything for me. During Christmas, we have many traditions that make Christmas truly special.” – Artwork and writing by Bella Thanh, eighth grade, St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville, Maryland
“Christmas means more to me than getting presents; it’s about being with family and it’s about celebrating that Jesus died for us. I am lucky that I get to enjoy Christmas and celebrate it with loved ones, and it reminds me to be very grateful for what I have and what I get to receive on Christmas.” – Artwork and writing by Harper Griffin, eighth grade, St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville
“To me, Christmas means Jesus’s birth and his first coming in glory to save us from our sins. If he hadn’t been born and become incarnate, he wouldn’t have been crucified to forgive us. On Christmas, I go to church with my family to celebrate Jesus’s birth. Afterward, my friends and I exchange greetings and gifts. Then my family and I go home to have a small feast at night. My favorite thing to eat on Christmas is cheese, because I fast from all meat and dairy during Advent, and by the end of the fast, I crave cheese. On Christmas day, my family drives to Pennsylvania to visit my extended family and celebrate with them. Although many people think of Christmas as (being about) gifts and Santa Claus, I love Christmas because it brings me closer to Christ.” – Artwork and writing by Julia Toumi, eighth grade, St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville
“Joy is my word to describe Christmas. It gives me joy when baby Jesus is born on Christmas Day. We have joy for Christmas not only because we get presents, but we spend time together as a family. We go to Mass to celebrate his birth.” – Nicholas Ruddy, sixth grade, St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville
“To me, Christmas means celebrating the birth of Jesus with loved ones, my family and friends. Christmas isn’t only about presents and gingerbread. During Christmas, my family and I go to Christmas Mass to thank Jesus for all he has done. After that, we go home for a meal and hold hands to pray before eating. This lovely holiday brings families together all over the world to rejoice.” – Artwork and writing by Beverly Leary, eighth grade, St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville
“Christmas is not just a day where you get presents and decorate your whole house. Beyond all the fun, pine trees and colorful lights, Christmas has a meaning that connects to God and strengthens your faith. We celebrate the day our Savior, Jesus Christ, was born into this world. This means that the Earth received a gift from God which impacted our lives greatly. We should appreciate Christmas for Jesus instead of just gifts.” –Natalia Martinez, eighth grade, St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville
“Christmas to me is spending time with the people I love and celebrating the birth of Jesus. Going to Mass, singing Christmas carols, wearing matching pajamas and gathering with my family make the season magical. I love Christmas, because it brings happiness. I love how everyone smiles more, helps each other, and tries to spread kindness. We have to remember Christmas is about Jesus. We celebrate God sending our Savior into the world to bring peace, hope and love.” – Artwork and writing by Meagan Johnson, sixth grade, St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville
“To me, Christmas is a day to celebrate Jesus’s birth and for everyone to be happy. My favorite part of the Christmas season is when my church puts out a tree with paper ornaments. The ornaments have items listed that poor kids in the area need or want for Christmas. I get to pick three ornaments. Mom and I go buy the items to bring back to the church. I like that I’m helping the kids to get things that they need.” – Connor Hoye, sixth grade, St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville
“To me, Christmas means coming together. During Christmas, families come together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. We share our love and joy for the season and try to spread the love of God during this time. We have multiple Nativity scenes around the house and a few outside as well, so when people come into our house, they feel God’s love and the celebration for the coming of Jesus. Every year, my family goes out for three nights in December to pass out thank-you notes that share God’s love to people who have Nativity scenes outside, to show our appreciation for others sharing God’s love and the birth of Christ during Christmas and Advent.” – Artwork and writing by Caroline Wright, eighth grade, St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville
“For me, Christmas means a lot of things, like having a party and getting presents, but the most important thing is that Jesus was born. God sent Jesus to save us from sin. I think that it is a really, really big deal that God sent his own Son to save us. Christmas is also a time to stay with your family and go to Mass. Every Christmas, my family has a tradition to invite our friends to Mass. After that, we go home and build our Nativity scene.” – Artwork and writing by Greta Rose Vicidomini, sixth grade, St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville
Father Andrew White, S.J. School, Leonardtown
Artwork by Ryleigh Mack, fourth grade, Father Andrew White, S.J. School, Leonardtown, Maryland
Artwork by Stella Isleib, fourth grade, Father Andrew White, S.J. School, Leonardtown
Artwork by Giuliana Coyle, second grade, Father Andrew White, S.J. School, Leonardtown
Artwork by Robby Dent, fifth grade, Father Andrew White, S.J. School, Leonardtown
“What Christmas means to me is sharing and being kind to others. I can show that by sharing the good news about God and telling people the real meaning of Christmas, which of course is Jesus’s birth. I can be kind to others by giving the homeless food and toys that are still in good condition. Another way I can share is sharing the toys I get for Christmas with my other siblings. I also could be kind to others by taking care of the sick. I could also pray for them to get better or heal. Those are some of the ways I can share and be kind to others.” – Lucy Capobianco, fifth grade, Father Andrew White, S.J. School, Leonardtown
Artwork by Saoirse Mayo, first grade, Father Andrew White, S.J. School, Leonardtown
Artwork by Sadie Capobianco, third grade, Father Andrew White, S.J. School, Leonardtown
Artwork by Katherine Dyckman, seventh grade, Father Andrew White, S.J. School, Leonardtown
“Christmas means celebrating Jesus, going to church, reading stories about when he was born, praying to Him, and spreading the good news that He is born. He is the savior of the world so we should spread the good news. Going to church is good too, because you are learning more about Him. Reading stories about what happened is good because you are also learning what happened. Praying to Him is also good because you can wish him a happy birthday. And that is what Christmas means to me.” – Nina Coyle, fifth grade, Father Andrew White, S.J. School, Leonardtown
St. Michael’s Catholic School, Ridge
“The first Christmas was a very special day. The Savior was born, and His name was Jesus.” – Artwork and writing by Chloe Dameron, third grade, St. Michael’s School, Ridge, Maryland
“The light of the newborn king shines gently on all who gather, filling the night with peace.” – Artwork and writing by Jack Greenwell, eighth grade, St. Michael’s School, Ridge, Maryland
“In the quiet of Bethlehem, hope was born, and the world felt God’s love in a tiny baby.” – Sidney Griffin, fifth grade, St. Michael’s School, Ridge, Maryland
“This will be a sign to you. You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:12) – Artwork by Kyle Van Ryswick, eighth grade, St. Michael’s School, Ridge
Pallotti Early Learning Center, Laurel
Collaborative art project by students Anaiah E., Arius A., Joel S., Quinn D., Michael S., Annabelle K., Jesse M., Isabella G., Theodore M., and Thomas H. at Pallotti Early Learning Center at St. Mary of the Mills Parish, Laurel, Maryland
January 2026 Junior Saints
In January, we celebrate Catholic Schools Week. For the January Junior Saints, draw a picture and write about something that you like about your Catholic school, parish religious education class, or Catholic homeschooling. The drawings and writings should be emailed to ZimmermannM@adw.org by Wednesday Jan. 7, 2026 to Mark Zimmermann, the Catholic Standard’s editor, and they should include the name, grade and school or parish of the student printed clearly.
Due to time constraints involved with reviewing the volume of submitted work, it is requested that schools or parish religious education programs limit their entries to 10 drawings and 10 writings from their students. The best formats to send are jpegs for artwork and word documents or pdfs for writing, if possible. Thank you!
