By Kateri Mancini, diocesan director of Social Concerns
The Diocese of St. Cloud’s Office of Social Concerns is celebrating an exceptional year for creativity and faith. This year’s Catholic Campaign for Human Development “Art on the Margins” contest saw a record-breaking 55 students from 10 different communities spanning Catholic schools and faith formation programs submit works that explore the profound depths of our faith and shared humanity.
From kindergarteners to sixth graders, these young artists utilized everything from traditional paintings and poetry to digital media and original songs to express a singular, powerful truth: we are all made in the image of God.
This year’s theme, “Made in the Image of God,” challenged students to reflect on the concept of Imago Dei. In Catholic teaching, this isn’t just a theological phrase; it is the foundation of all justice and peace.
To be created in God’s image means that every human person – regardless of their circumstances – possesses an inherent, untouchable dignity. Students were asked to show how we serve as God’s representatives on earth, sharing in His abundant love for all and recognizing the face of Christ in ourselves and our neighbors.
Before the winners were announced, the submissions served as a visual prayer for the diocese. The artwork was displayed at the Diocesan Pastoral Center and featured prominently during the “Made in the Image of God: Seeing Ourselves and Others as the Body of Christ” retreat in April. Diocesan staff and retreat participants were invited to reflect on the pieces, eventually casting votes for the works that most powerfully resonated with them and captured the essence of the theme.
Three students were named as winners in this year’s contest, with an additional three honorable mentions. This year’s winners included:
First place: “What God looks like” by Clare Reichert, sixth grader at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Richmond
Second place: “Shadow of Life” by Blakely Scherping, sixth grader at Sacred Heart School in Freeport
Third place: “The Mirror of God’s Image” by Clayton Pohlmann, second grader at St. Mary in Melrose
Honorable Mentions:
- “Light of the World” by Leah Herickhoff, sixth grader at Holy Family School in Sauk Centre
- “God’s Creation: Made in the Image of God” (power point) by Carter Ellingboe, fifth grader at St. Paul’s Parish/St. Peter’s Faith Formation
- “We Are God’s Masterpiece” by Cora Sjoquist, fourth grader at St. Katharine Drexel School, St. Cloud
Social Concerns intern, Lexi Torres, and Kateri Mancini, director of the Office of Social Concerns, visited schools to present awards to the winning artists. These awardees’ parents joined their teachers and classmates for the surprise. All expressed gratitude for the contest, and the conversations that it has and will continue to open up for students.
“Throughout the year, our novel studies have continually pointed us back to one central idea: every person has inherent worth because they are created in the image and likeness of God,” said Christine Zink, sixth grade teacher at Sacred Heart School in Freeport. “Across the stories we’ve read, students have encountered characters who are marginalized, misunderstood, or treated unfairly, and each time, we’ve paused to ask what this reveals about human dignity.
“This ongoing focus came to life in a meaningful way through the diocesan art contest centered on this theme. After spending the year discussing dignity through literature, students were able to take those ideas and express them visually. Their artwork reflected deep personal thought, showing how they understand their own identity as children of God and the value they see in others,” Zink said.
This is the goal of the contest, to invite students into reflection, and to offer a way for them to depict their ideas in a personal and creative way.
“Getting to be a part of Art on the Margins has reshaped my understanding of what it means to be made in the image of God,” Torres shared. “When Kateri and I arrived at the classroom to present the award to Clayton, I saw his eyes light up as we held up his artwork and announced that he was one of the winners. Clayton beamed as he stood in front of his classmates to explain his art, a simple mirror in the center of the page with words written on it: ‘Loving, Kind, Friend, Good, and Happy.’ These words reflect who God is for us, but also who we are called to be through His love. Clayton, along with his classmates brought to life a powerful image of what it means to be God’s children.”
While the Art on the Margins contest was begun by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as a national initiative for high schoolers, the Diocese of St. Cloud has successfully brought the mission to the local level, and by expanding the contest to elementary and middle school students, the Office of Social Concerns hopes to foster greater understanding and reflection of Catholic Social Teaching themes and a culture of justice exploration from a young age.
“One student wrote, ‘All people matter, even when others don’t see it right away,’” Zink shared. “It has been special to watch their thinking grow in this area.”
The impact of the contest has been clear: when young people look into a mirror or at their neighbor and see the “Shadow of Life” or “God’s Masterpiece,” they aren’t just making art. They are building the Kingdom of God.
Pictured above: Bishop Neary presents Clare Reichert with her first-place certificate. (All photos courtesy of Kateri Mancini)
