Read the full Fall 2020 issue here

Sometimes, in the midst of stress and despair, we need to be reminded of the blessings that surround us. The beauty of art can be a powerful antidote to anxiety and hopelessness.

Artists, in the words of Pope Francis, “are called to shine beauty, especially where darkness or gray dominates.” They are “custodians of beauty, heralds and witnesses of hope for humanity.” His words, spoken in 2016, have a deep resonance for us now. “I invite you,” he added, “to cherish beauty, and beauty will heal the many wounds that mark the hearts and souls of the men and women of today.”

In this year’s CYO Virtual Art and Essay Contest, the students of the Archdiocese of New York offer us healing through the beauty of their works. With humor, insight and artistic talent, they have let their light shine on the love of God that lies at the heart of creation. Their entries also helped raise funds to feed hungry New Yorkers during the current crisis.

We hope you enjoy the sampling in these pages. Galleries of all the entries can be found here (art) and here (photography).

Editor’s note: Due to the success of the virtual format, CYO has announced a fall 2020 contest in addition to the traditional spring competition. For information, go to cyony.org.

  • Vivianna Chin,
    Air Balloons in the Sunset ,
    4th grade,
    St. Augustine School, Ossining
  • Auden Kinahan,
    Alone in the Field,
    7th grade,
    St. Denis – St. Columba, Hopewell Junction; 
  • Ryan McLaughlin
    Apple for the Teacher 
    4th grade
    Sacred Heart, Suffern
  • Maya Schnell,
    Flowers ,
    6th grade,
    St. Paul School,Valley Cottage
    (Archways Hon. Mention)
  • Hunter Moore,
    Lavender Friends ,
    11th grade,
    Monfort Academy, Mount Vernon
  • Cecilia Moreno,
    Our Lady of Guadalupe,
    8th grade,
    St. Augustine School, Ossining
  • Faye Ferrer,
    Psalm 91:11 ,
    6th grade,
    St. Rita School, Staten Island

  • Faye Ferrer,
    Pandemic Haircut,
    6th grade,
    St. Rita School, Staten Island
    (Archways Hon. Mention)
  • Benjamin Muecke,
    Virgin Mary,
    7th grade,
    St. Augustine School, Ossining
  • Mackenzie Fitzpatrick, You Are Not Alone, 4th grade, Notre Dame Academy, Staten Island (Archways Hon. Mention)

2020 CYO Virtual Art and Essay Contest Winners

ART

Small Fries (1st and 2nd grades)

First Place: Abigail Bratt

Mother’s Day Sunset  |  2nd grade

St. Augustine School, Ossining

Second Place: Antonia Schnell

My Visit to the Dentist  |  2nd grade

St. Christopher School, Staten Island

Third Place: William Muecke

Parrot  |  1st grade

St. Augustine School, Ossining

First Place (Sculpture): Luke Thengampallil

Pinecone Bouquet and Pollinators  |  2nd grade
St. Paul School, Valley Cottage

Second Place (Sculpture): Ale Vigna

Hot Dog with Bun  |  1st grade

Our Lady Queen of Peace, Staten Island

Beginners (3rd and 4th grades)

First Place: Ryan McLaughlin

Apple for the Teacher  |  4th grade

Sacred Heart, Suffern

Second Place: Vivianna Chin

Air Balloons in the Sunset  |  4th grade

St. Augustine School, Ossining

Third Place: Freya Wouter

Self-Portrait  |  3rd grade

Kingston Catholic, Kingston

Learners (5th and 6th grades)

First Place: Piya Goyal

Mother–Daughter at the Beach  |  5th grade

St. Augustine School, Ossining

Second Place: Arianna Chin

Blessed Mother of Mary  |  6th grade

St. Augustine School, Ossining

Third Place: Faye Ferrer

Psalm 91:11  |  6th grade

St. Rita School, Staten Island

Masters (7th and 8th grades)

First Place: Auden Kinahan

Alone in the Field  |  7th grade

St. Denis–St. Columba, Hopewell Junction

Second Place: Cecilia Moreno

Our Lady of Guadalupe  |  8th grade

St. Augustine School, Ossining

Third Place: Benjamin Muecke

Virgin Mary  |  7th grade

St. Augustine School, Ossining

Experts (9th and 10th grades)

First Place: Brian Mahaney

The Charmer  |  10th grade

Monfort Academy, Ossining

Second Place: Lucia Bautista

Angel in Disguise  |  10th grade

Monfort Academy, Ossining

Elite (11th and 12th grades)

First Place: Natasha Pabon

Moon Eyes  |  11th grade

Academy of Mt. St. Ursula, Bronx

Second Place: Hunter Moore

Lavender Friends  |  11th grade

Monfort Academy, Ossining

Third Place: Christopher Elias

Skeleton in Catacombs  |  12th grade

Salesian High School, New Rochelle

PHOTO

First Place: Jackson Murphy

Small Joys  |  8th grade

Our Lady of Good Counsel, Staten Island

Second Place: Samantha Murphy

Dog at Work  |  6th grade

St. Augustine School, Ossining

Third Place: Victoria Lewis

92 Daze  |  9th grade

St. Joseph by the Sea High School, Staten Island

POETRY

Middle School

First Place: Matthew Califano

“Shepherd’s Respite”  |  8th grade

Home school, Rockland

Second Place: Alexander Califano

“Centennial Field Speaks”  |  8th grade

Home school, Rockland

Third Place: Matthew Mendoza

“NYC Vision 2020”  |  5th grade

Our Lady of Good Counsel, Staten Island

High School

First Place: Jean Cajamarca

“The Skin Is Not Wicked”  |  12th grade

All Hallows High School, Bronx

Second Place: Alexandra Cordato

“The Waiting Room”  |  11th grade

St. Joseph Hill Academy, Staten Island

Third Place: Noah Barrett

“Darkness”  |  11th grade

Our Lady of Lourdes High School, Poughkeepsie

ESSAY

First Place: Alexander Califano

“Pandemic Dire Warning”  |  8th grade

Home school, Rockland

Second Place: Matthew Califano

“Lessons from the Pandemic”  |  8th grade

Home school, Rockland

Third Place: James Hook

“Experience That Influenced His Development”  |  8th grade

St. Charles School, Staten Island