Here at The Catholic Register, we make it a key part of our journalistic mission to find and communicate beauty even in a fallen world, which is why at the joyous Christian seasons of Christmas and Easter we save some of our pages for art created by elementary school students as part of our twice-yearly drawing contest.

This year we received more than 100 entries for the Easter portion of the contest, all of them beautiful and obviously heartfelt images showing unique understanding of the Passion narrative, joyful creativity and above all love for Jesus Christ.

There are truly no firsts or lasts in the contest but in their human, all too human, fallibility the judges chose Isabella Samy, an eight-year-old Grade 3 student, to showcase our Grades 1-3 category, and Eliana Antar, a 10-year-old Grade 4 student to represent the Grades 4-6 category. Finally, we chose Rhianna John, 13 and a Grade 8 student, for our Grades 7-8 entries.

We were astonished to discover on checking that Rhianna was also chosen in her category for our Christmas and Easter contests last year. No wonder there was no doubt about featuring her impression of the Risen Lord on The Catholic Register cover this year.

Beauty will save the world but it also makes a powerful statement for a Catholic newspaper

Grade 7-8

Rhianna John, Grade 8 (Winner)

Audrey Vlach, Grade 8

Maggie Brooks, Grade 7

Alexis Dasilva, Grade 7

Alexandra Blasutti, Grade 8

Manuella Daher, Grade 7

Grade 1-3

Isabella Samy, Grade 3 (Winner)

Yohanan Laurie, Grade 2

Tobi Ijalana, Grade 2

Myra Koosees, Grade 2

Makayla Beaudry, Grade 2

Jasmia Unilowsky, Grade 3

Grade 4-6

Eliana Antar, Grade 4 (Winner)

Chiara Valenti, Grade 5

Blessing Kuoadio, Grade 6

Gwyn Lizeth Carino, Grade 5

Olivia Batiuk, Grade 4

Thank you and Happy Easter to all the participants.