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By Currents News and John Alexander

DYKER HEIGHTS — Students from several diocesan schools celebrated a significant achievement May 6 as St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy in Belle Harbor, Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Academy in Forest Hills, St. Peter Catholic Academy in Bensonhurst, and St. Saviour High School in Park Slope each had multiple winners in The Tablet’s “Christ Is Risen” Art Contest.

Students use their artistic gifts to create art that celebrates the glory of Christ’s resurrection. Some dappled their canvases with paint, some used charcoal, and others demonstrated their skills through elaborate sketches and other forms of traditional art.

Nearly 200 entries were submitted from students attending Catholic schools and academies within the Diocese of Brooklyn.

For over 20 years, The Tablet has collaborated with the Archbishop John Hughes Knights of Columbus Council No. 481 for the Easter season tradition. It started when The Tablet’s Editor Emeritus Ed Wilkinson formed a camaraderie with then-Grand Marshal of the Knights Camillo Casano, wherein the Knights donated awards and cash prizes to students who crafted faith-based artwork inspired by the Scriptures.

The awards ceremony began with prayers and comments from the clergy in attendance, including Father Jeremy Canna from The Shrine of St. Bernadette in Dyker Heights, Father John Maduri of St. Bernard Clairvaux Parish in Bergen Beach/Mill Basin, and Father Guy Sbordone of Our Lady of Grace in Gravesend.

Father Sbordone reminded the students of the true inspiration for their work.

“The Holy Spirit is the driving force of our Church that leads us and guides us in everything we do as we think about the inspiration that you received to create these beautiful images and the award that you will receive for the talent that you have shared with us in creating this image of Christ being raised from the dead,” he said.

This year, 20 students were honored for their artwork.

The Tablet’s Editor, Michael Gray, emphasized the essential role of The Tablet.

“The Tablet is your voice on any topic,” Gray said. “Whether it’s religion, politics, faith, we speak to you and we get your opinions out, and we give you news that’s important for your Catholic life.”

Distributing the awards at the ceremony were the Knights’ financial secretary, Joe Sbarra, and its faith director, Steve Bilardi. Sbarra said he was impressed by the submissions.

“The talent is getting better and better. I’m always impressed when I see the artwork, especially from the younger grades,” he told the audience. “I think this year is a banner year that is going to set records as the bar keeps on reaching higher and higher.

“This contest is very special to the Knights, and we hope that it will continue for many years to come.”

St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy principal Chris Scharbach said that whether it’s the school’s own monthly art contest or The Tablet’s Easter one, “it’s nice to see [students] being inspired and expressing their faith in this way.”

Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School ninth grade winner Erica Avendano said that she “didn’t expect to win,” but was excited when she found out she did.

“I really like art and it inspires me,” Erica said.

Erica was cheered on by Michael Savoca, the head of the Art Department at Monsignor McClancy, who attended to support his three students who won first place and earned two honorable mentions. “The kids are amazing,” he said.

“God gives us so many gifts, and he’s the greatest artist, and how wonderful that he shared that gift with us, and we are able to reciprocate that,” Savoca added. “I’m just lucky I have wonderful students.”

And the Winners Are:

Kindergarten: