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Junior Saints: How students are drawing closer to Jesus during Lent

“During Lent, I am trying to grow closer to Jesus by praying more and spending quiet time with God. I take time each day to pray and read the Bible so I can learn more about Jesus and His teachings. I also try to be more patient and kind to others in my everyday life. Lent reminds me to slow down and focus on my faith. By doing this, I feel closer to Jesus and stronger in my own relationship with Him.” – Artwork and writing by Karla Osorio, seventh grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill, Maryland

(For this Junior Saints, students were invited to draw a picture and write about what they are doing to draw closer to Jesus during Lent.)

St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

“For Lent I want to go to church more often so I can grow in my faith and my relationship with God can thrive.” – Betselot Abey, eighth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

“One way that I can draw closer to Jesus during Lent is doing Confession. Confession helps me take out guilt feeling of committing a sin. It reminds me of how much Jesus loves me, and that Jesus would always forgive my sins as long as I am sincere in asking for forgiveness. Doing this makes me nervous, but it makes me happy and feel good to let it out and repent for what I have done. It also helps me do my best not to sin again.” – Artwork and writing by Lorris Pangilinan, seventh grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

“During school, I’ve recently started to enjoy reading scripture during my free time. I find all of Jesus’s adventures and the time leading up to it interesting, and it helps me to learn more about God.” – Sophia Parapana, seventh grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

“For Lent I’m going to pray every night. And talk to God more.” – Artwork and writing by Carson Salazar, sixth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

“This Lent, I'm giving up eating sweets, for example, candy, to give all my attention to God. Giving up those distractions means I will be brought closer to God. As I give up candy this Lent, I will make more of an effort to pray more and read the Bible, since I know I can learn a lot from Scripture. Lastly, I will try to pray the rosary a few times a week.” – Artwork and writing by Cali Delaney, sixth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

“To draw closer to Jesus, I'll attend church every Sunday. I already practice this, even when it's not a special liturgical event. But Masses, especially when it's near a Christian holiday, give me a significantly euphoric feeling. The church hits different — a faithful, awaiting atmosphere present as I pray.” – Artwork and writing by Charli David, sixth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

“To get closer to Jesus during Lent, I will give up cereal for three days. May the Lord answer my prayer. Amen. – Ngozi Goins, sixth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda

Artwork by Parisa Gambhir, seventh grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda

“For Lent I am going to try and grow closer to God by praying every day and going to Mass weekly. Another thing I can do to grow closer to God is by making sure my words and actions I choose every day reflect God and his message for us. I want to be a better, kinder person and treat other people with kindness and respect. Just as Jesus did for us when he died for us on the cross, he was thinking of us!” – Artwork and writing by Reagan Perraut, seventh grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda

“For Lent, I will limit my screen time and engage in more activities away from my phone.” – Artwork and writing by Sarah Juzbasic, seventh grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda

“This year, I'm going to encourage people to participate during Lent. It is important to participate during Lent to me because when Jesus was in the desert, he did not eat for 40 days and was tempted by the devil. So, Lent reminds me to stay strong even when it is hard. During this year’s Lent, it is going to be special. I want to make sure that everyone at my St. Bartholomew School can be their own person, to stay strong, even when it is hard, just like Jesus. I cannot wait to start celebrating because there should be no barrier from loving God.” – Colton Karr, fifth grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda

“I drew a picture of my rosary on clouds with the sun shining on it. For Lent I want to pray the rosary more and get closer with Mary and Jesus. Mary is the first and best disciple, so we should thank her and pray to her.” – Artwork and writing by Claire Andonyadis, seventh grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda

“For Lent, I would like to read the Bible more, become closer to God, be kinder to others, and go to Mass every Sunday.” – Artwork and writing by Caroline Dubinsky, seventh grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda

“Lent is an amazing way to celebrate 40 days of fasting. We shall all pray more to God every single day and begin to fast.” – Artwork and writing by Oliver O'Connor, fifth grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda

“This artwork deeply connects to the idea of Jesus’s second coming by symbolizing the full cycle of His mission – His first coming, death, resurrection, and the promise of His return. The phrase ‘After his sacrifice’ refers to Jesus’s first coming and His completed work on the cross, where He took on humanity’s sins and conquered death through His resurrection, represented by ‘He is risen.’ This resurrection wasn’t just a past event; it is the foundation of Christian hope and the assurance that Jesus has power over life and death.

“Now, relating to His new coming – often called the Second Coming – this image can be seen as a reminder that what Jesus finished and began in the first coming will ultimately culminate in His return. The cross dividing the dark, painful past (His sacrifice) and the flourishing, life-filled future (resurrection and new life) points toward the hope Christians hold for a future where Jesus returns to fully restore creation, bring justice, and establish eternal peace.

“The blooming flowers and the vibrant side of the cross symbolize the new creation and renewed life that believers expect at Jesus’s second coming. It reflects the promise that death and suffering will finally be overcome completely, and eternal life will be fully realized. This image is not only about what Jesus accomplished in history but also about the hopeful anticipation of His new coming, where the victory He won is fully revealed and shared with all who believe. The artwork invites believers to live in this tension of completed redemption and future hope – celebrating what Jesus has done and looking forward to the fulfillment of His promises when He comes again.” – Artwork and writing by Elena Millan Obregon, seventh grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda

Artwork by Noelle Shorb, seventh grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda

“My art piece was created in my mind when I thought, ‘How can I overcome the struggles I face in my everyday life to be closer to God?’ That’s when I thought of stairs. Climbing a couple of stairs is easy for some, but when it comes to a flight of stairs, everyone can have a little trouble. What about climbing up a flight of stairs, but every time you take a step, something tries to drag you down. This Lent I want to grow closer to God, but am I ready to climb up all those stairs? I hope so.” – Artwork and writing by Siena Auzoux, seventh grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda

St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville

“During Lent, my way of drawing closer to Jesus is fasting for meat and dairy, going to church, and praying more. My church has services every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in Lent, which I attend every year. I also want to pray every night and morning. I believe that with these things, I can grow closer to Jesus during Lent, because I am suffering from not eating meat and dairy just like Jesus suffered from dying on the cross.” – Artwork and writing by Lydia Toumi, sixth grade, St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville, Maryland

“Every Lent, I tell myself the same thing, ‘I’m going to give up candy and soda!’ And every year I usually fail. So this year, I’m going to try and give up something greater. I’m going to give up lying and excuses. I will try my best to pursue this and live with God. Jesus went through so much for us, so we should push ourselves, too.” – Abby Harkins, eighth grade, St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville

During Lent, I can self-reflect and spend time worshiping God. During Lent, I will give up something that is pulling me away from God and replace it with something that will bring me closer to Him. I will go to church and reflect on my sins and try to prevent them from happening. I will pray more and use this time to worship God in my everyday life.” – Artwork and writing by Olivia Olson, eighth grade, St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville

During this Lent, I will come closer to Jesus and God by praying more, reading Scripture, and spending less time on my phone so that I can do these things. I will also eat less sweets and junk food during Lent. All of this will help me prepare to celebrate the Easter season.” – Artwork and writing by Maggie Mongelli, seventh grade, St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville

This Lenten season, I will be avoiding junk food and limit my screen time. While I’m not using my phone, I will pray and read Scripture. It is always good to pray, because it helps you build a strong bond with Christ. I will donate my old toys and belongings to the less fortunate when I clean for spring cleaning. I don’t need the extra things, but others might need them. I will be following the three pillars of Lent (prayer, fasting and almsgiving) in hope of growing closer to Christ.” – Milly Abdo, seventh grade, St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville

“I will try to get closer to God by praying more. For example, when I see somebody that needs help, then I will pray for them. I will also try to act like Jesus and care like Jesus. For example, forgiving people that you may not like since someone may have treated them poorly or bullied them.” – Artwork and writing by Lucy Tark, sixth grade, St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville

“During Lent, we spend time praying and fasting in anticipation of Jesus’s resurrection. Lent is a time to pray and reflect on our life. By fasting we endure hunger pains, just like Jesus endured pain for us. Lent is also a time for almsgiving. We give what we have to those who don’t have so much. To fast, I can give up too much screen time. I can pray for people, and I can participate in the food drives at my parish. All these things will help me grow closer to God.” – Matthew Cooksey, sixth grade, St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville

During Lent this year, I hope to grow closer to Jesus through productivity, Mass attendance, and not being lazy. I haven’t been too good with remembering to come to Mass on Sundays, so I’d like to work on that. Additionally, I want to work on my physical and mental strength. I want to work on my procrastination, studying, and my productivity. I hope to better myself and help, or motivate others to reach their Lenten goal.” – Artwork and writing by Zara Umeh, sixth grade, St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Rockville

Cardinal Hickey Academy, Owings

“I will give up watching TV. I will read the Bible instead.” – Drawing and writing by Nora Bowers, first grade, Cardinal Hickey Academy, Owings

“I will wash the dishes without being told.” – Drawing and writing by Elora Goddard, first grade, Cardinal Hickey Academy, Owings

“I will give up TV and help my mom clean dishes instead.” – Drawing and writing by Waverleigh Ulrich, first grade, Cardinal Hickey Academy, Owings

“I will give up candy.” – Roman Muell, first grade, Cardinal Hickey Academy, Owings

St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington

“To draw closer to Jesus this Lent, I will start practicing self-love. Jesus is someone I look up to and aspire to be like. Since God made all of us in His image, we need to practice loving ourselves just like we love God and our neighbors.” – Artwork and writing by Nathanya Kidane, eighth grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington, D.C.

“Over Lent, I will increase my participation in class, Mass, and other places. I will also respect my friends, like I won’t say bad things to them. I will follow directions the first time, for example, if my mom gives me an order, I will immediately jump to action. I will raise my hand before speaking or leaving my seat. I will always be prepared for class. For example, if someone needs something, I will be ready and prepared. And I will study more to make my teacher and parents proud.” – Yordanos Assefa, third grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington, D.C.

How I would draw closer to Jesus is to be a good student. How? I will give peace to my teacher and every adult. For example: My teacher doesn’t have to tell me I am not sitting, my mom doesn’t have to keep telling me to keep studying, and I am really grateful for having an AMAZING life… AMEN.” – Artwork and writing by Efrata Teketel, third grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington, D.C.

One way I can be closer to God is by saying one positive thing about others.” – Artwork and writing by Haset Yonas, sixth grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington, D.C.

“One thing I can do to draw closer to Jesus during Lent is to fast. The reason why is because when you fast, you try to reject temptation and not give in. Just like when Satan was tempting Jesus with bread on Mount Sinai, Jesus stood firm and did not get tempted. I also chose to fast because it helps you build self-discipline and not get tempted with certain things you may struggle with and find hard to stop doing. Fasting will also help me strengthen my relationship with God and draw closer to Him. It will help me have more conversation and prayer with my Lord.” – Segen Tewelde, sixth grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington, D.C.

“During Lent I will pray more and give up breakfast for time to pray.” – Artwork and writing by Fabiola Rushing, seventh grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington, D.C.

“I think that I should start going to church more often, so I could get closer to God by praying. I’m also trying to start fasting more often, because fasting is one of the many things that brings us closer to God. I think I should start studying more, because at the start of the year I had made a promise to study as much as I can; so I think keeping a promise is also one of the things that brings us closer to God. I think I should stop wasting my time by doing something useless, so I’m giving up watching TikTok or anything in social media to use my time. By doing this, I could also have more time to pray. I’m also thinking of giving up fast food, because even though it’s tasty, it is also unhealthy for you.” – Saron Assefa, seventh grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington, D.C.

I would like to pray to my guardian angel more and more.” – Artwork and writing by Kalkidan Engidaw, seventh grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington, D.C.

This is me praying for 30 extra minutes at church during Lent so I can be closer to God during the Lenten season.” – Artwork and writing by Eliott Dempsey, seventh grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington, D.C.

To draw closer to Jesus during Lent I am going to church every day, praying, not lying, respecting my elders, having mercy, and receiving Holy Communion. – Makbel Tirfu, eighth grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington, D.C.

“This Lent, I will get closer to Jesus by fasting from things I normally have or do, and praying for everyone.” – Artwork and writing by Lydia Williams, fifth grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington, D.C.

“I will try to be more honest to my parents and to the people around me.” –Daniel Owasa, seventh grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington, D.C.

“During Lent I will draw closer to God by praying every day and showing kindness to others.” – Artwork and writing by Maramawit Hordofa, second grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington, D.C.

During this season of Lent in the liturgical calendar, I plan to begin fasting, praying, and strengthening my relationship with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Lent is a long period of time, so I am open to my using and learning new ways to follow God and walking through the path of faith and light.” – Naomi Tewelde, eighth grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington

Little Flower School, Great Mills

“During Lent at my school, we do Stations of the Cross. Every week each class gets a chance to lead it. That brings me closer to God because it helps me understand and learn about Lent and Easter more. When it is my class’s turn, I study my part and do it to the best of my ability. I always look forward to going over to the church and learning about it. At the end of Lent, we do one with middle school where we act it out. It makes me so happy to do it. It looks so nice, and it is very respectful.” – Artwork and writing by Reagan Hawkins, eighth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills, Maryland

“During Lent, I’m going to try and do an act of kindness every day and reflect on my day. Being kind is very important and can change someone’s day. If someone is feeling sad and you give them a compliment, it can make their day much better. Jesus was kind to everyone so we should be too. I’m also going to try and reflect on my days so I can see if there’s anything I can do to improve my day and get closer with Jesus. I will really try to achieve these goals and get closer with Jesus. I think if I achieve these goals and get closer with Jesus, I will be more Christ-like.” – Isla Finbow, eighth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills

“I want to get closer to Jesus. I will pray every morning and every night. I will read more and watch less TV. I will be nicer. I will do little acts of kindness every day. I will appreciate more and complain less. I will talk to Jesus when I need help. I will treat and love everyone the way Jesus does me. Every day, I am going to act more like Jesus. I am going to do what Jesus wants people to do with the world. I am going to go to Mass every day. I am going to do all this because that’s what I’m supposed to do. I also want to be the best I can be. I also want to go to Heaven and be close with Jesus.” – Artwork and writing by Sarah Nelson, sixth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills

“For Lent to get closer to Jesus, I’ll try to think about Him more often. Many times, I think about bad thoughts, and thinking about Jesus will rid them and make me a better person. I’ll also try to write to Him in my journal. There, I can talk about things to Him, and I can get my mind off of the thing distracting me in my head… I’ll give up junk food. One of my favorite things to do is eat, especially sweets. By cutting down on it, I can sacrifice something for Him and work on my physical health. Lastly, I will try to commit to doing everything for Him and start routines to become a better person. By doing these things, I can grow closer to Him and become a better person.” – Zachary Phan, eighth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills

“For Lent, I want to read the Bible more. I want to read the Bible instead of being on my phone. This way, I can get closer to God. The Bible is very interesting so it would be fun. I also want to listen to the Gospel and homily more intently. There are a lot of life lessons that come out of the two. I love getting life advice especially from God. I hope by doing these things, I grow closer to Jesus.”Caitlyn Primm, seventh grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills

“During Lent, I am going to be going to Mass on Sundays... For Lent, I’m giving up my attitude; I need to tone it down... I feel like being kind and nice will help me grow closer to God. I’m also going to start praying more… I hope I can grow closer to God by doing these things.” – Artwork and writing by Olivia Pavel, seventh grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills

“To grow closer to Jesus during Lent, I will limit my screentime. I will be on my phone less. This will help me get closer to Jesus because it allows me to focus on Jesus more. If I’m not on social media as much, my mind won’t be filled with negative topics. Negative things on social media lead you farther from Jesus. If I’m on my phone less, I will also have more time to do productive things. Less time will help me not be lazy and not waste time. I will also have more time to pray and focus on Jesus. The more focused on Jesus I am, the stronger our relationship will grow.” – Valencia Irving, seventh grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills

“There are many ways I can draw closer to Jesus during Lent, like going to Mass, giving things up, fasting, and taking part in Lenten activities. Our school always has Lenten activities to help us come closer to Jesus. On Fridays we get pizza, but during Lent, we can only get cheese pizza. At school, we will write down what we’ll give up and why. My family always gives something up together. On Ash Wednesday, we go to Mass and get ashes… For me, my favorite one is giving things up, because Jesus gave up His life for us. I also like going to Mass.” – Artwork and writing by Camdyn Buckler, sixth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills

“During this Lenten season, I will grow closer to Jesus by trying not to fight with my siblings. I think this will be good, so I can have a better relationship with my siblings. Jesus once said, ‘Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.’ (John 15:13-14) Jesus told us to be kind to others. But we are human, we sin sometimes. That’s why Jesus suffered and died on the cross for us. During the Lenten season, I think I will accomplish my goals.” – Leo Hanson, sixth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills

“I can get closer to Jesus during Lent by giving something up that I do a lot. I will be giving up my PlayStation5, because I play it a lot, and it takes up time for me to do my homework, pray, talk to family, do chores, and many other things. This will help me get closer to Jesus because instead of playing video games, I could be praying and helping mom with chores. Giving up my game will make me a more peaceful person, because I get really mad when I lose, and giving it up for Lent will make me a better person. I think other people should give up something they do, eat, or say. Giving stuff up could really help you get closer to Christ during Lent.” – Bryson Gladden, sixth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills

Blessed Sacrament School, Washington

Artwork by Katherine Kearns, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.

“I am going to grow closer to Jesus during Lent by thinking about what he did for us. He died on the cross for us. He did all of these things for us. Catholics, do something for Him in appreciation. This year, I will be doing two things. I will give up sweets like I do every year, and the second thing I will be doing is to be much kinder, more caring, and, of course, be like Jesus, because everyone should want to be like Jesus.” – Alice Burns, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.

Artwork by Georgia Cleary, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.

“Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. When I think of Lent, I think of Jesus’ sacrifice. I think of how all of us give up something, even though it does not compare to His ultimate sacrifice. I try to pray more often and behave better. I will do what my mom tells me, the first time. I will not fight with my brothers.” – Juliet Murray, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.

Artwork by Hadley Bray, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.

“On Ash Wednesday, we start the season of Lent. We give up something for 40 days in remembrance of Jesus’s death on the cross. What I’d like to do to help me grow closer to Jesus is to pray every night…” – Emma Hopkins, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.

Artwork by Declan O’Shea, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.

“I will grow closer to Jesus this season by trying to pray to him daily, counting the things I am grateful for, helping my parents more, and being nice to my siblings. I will try to show Jesus how thankful I am for him this Lenten season.” – Greer Hetherington, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.

Artwork by Mary Clare Schwarz, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.

“During the season of Lent, I will go closer to Jesus by helping my mom with dinner and watching football with my dad. I can also be nicer to my siblings, so we don’t fight as much. I can also grow closer to Jesus by doing nice things for other people, like helping my mom around the house, helping my neighbors shovel snow, and cleaning up my brother’s toys.” – Navy Mullins, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.

Artwork by Brynn Boland, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.

“This Lent I will grow closer to Jesus by praying to Him every night. I will also help others, including helping around the house more. I can help others by understanding their needs. I will try to lend a hand when I can. I will also be more like Jesus by doing everything I can to help.” – Cecilia Narducci, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.

During Lent, there are so many different ways to grow closer to Jesus. This is how I plan to. I will pray even more each day and try to go to Mass more often. I usually sleep in on Sundays because I wake up early Monday through Saturday… I will also give up something I like, because Jesus gave up so much for us. I will also try to be extra kind to everyone. This is how I plan to grow closer to Jesus this Lenten season.” – Ella Meuwissen, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.

Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons

“For Lent, I have decided to try and give up some screen time. Instead of scrolling on my phone when I get home, I’ll do my homework. Screens are taking over our world. Putting our screens down can give us time for other things like playing outside, but more importantly, spending time in prayer. Taking a little bit of time out of our busy schedules for God can help us grow in our relationship with Him efficiently and effectively. I can’t wait to start this Lenten season. – Artwork and writing by Kalina Dillard, seventh grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons, Maryland.

“I can become closer to God by going to Sunday Mass, trying my very best, obeying the commandments, praying the rosary daily, remaining a good, holy Catholic and going to Confession… I'll try my best to get all of these goals completed during Lent and pray to God, asking for help through my journey to strength my faith.” – Shannon Arata, sixth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons

Artwork by Dolly Fejes, kindergarten, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons

“One of the major ways that I can draw closer to God is that I could stop watching television and instead focus on God’s word. Often, as screen time gets more demanding, we forget to have some quiet time with the Lord. I need to remember that TV is not a routine. It is merely a once in a while thing. I need to remember the Bible is the complete opposite. I can read it anytime, anywhere. Screens are an advantage that we have for after I finish the important stuff. Usually, I watch TV on the weekend, and then I do not use anything that takes away time with Jesus. I need to do self-reflection now and then. I can pause what I am doing, and ask myself, ‘Is this taking time away from my devotion with Jesus?’” – Emery Hughes, seventh grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons

Artwork by Ariella Kingsbury, kindergarten, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons

“This year to draw closer to Christ, I will focus on Scripture, reading theology, and prayer. As a Christian, I need Scripture to help me understand the story of the Bible and how we got here. Scripture helps me reflect on how Jesus lived, acted, preached, sacrificed, died, conquered death, and conquered sin…

“In fourth grade, I read the entire New Testament. Starting last year on Jan. 1, 2025, I began to read the Bible almost every day. So far, I’ve read about 90 percent of it. It truly is an amazing experience. Learning about kings, prophets and even ordinary people, truly, does change how you see things. It improves you.

“Now, as for theology, I find it interesting. Even though I’m not Catholic, I like learning about ‘what Catholics believe on ‘x,’ or what this pope did, or even the Crusades. The rich Catholic tradition is truly great.

“And finally, prayer. Prayer is likely the most important of these. It is a multi-millennial tradition, going all the way back to early humans like Adam and Eve, as a way to connect with God. Prayer allows me to connect, communicate, and reflect with the Lord. It’s almost like you can talk to God on a phone. When you close your eyes, you can feel His presence… and you know He’s watching you. Prayer is the most crucial part of Lent.” – Jaden Francois, eighth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons

March 2026 Junior Saints

For the next Junior Saints, students are invited to draw a picture of Jesus during Holy Week or Easter, and write about what Easter means to them.

The drawings and writings should be emailed to ZimmermannM@adw.org by Monday March 23, 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!



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