This fall, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., along with the Auxiliary Bishops of Philadelphia and the Archdiocesan Office of Catholic Education (OCE) announced an inaugural “Christmas Card Design Event” in the 217 parishes, 17 high schools, 122 elementary schools, and 4 schools of special education in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. 

School administrators, teachers, Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) teachers, and parents were invited to encourage students to create an original design for the Archbishop’s official Christmas card cover to depict “The Joy of Christ’s Birth.”  The winning entry was designed by Bishop Shanahan High School (Chester County) Junior, Erin Layton.

Over 550 designs were received from students in PREP, Kindergarten through 12^th grades, and the Schools of Special Education.  Staff members from the OCE were tasked with judging entries.

In addition, to Ms. Layton’s winning entry, five additional students were recognized with Honorable Mention for their designs in the contest in the following categories:  PREP, Olivia Tarasiewicz, grade 6, Saint Michael the Archangel Parish (Bucks County); Kindergarten through 4^th grades, Corina Burton, grade 4, Saint Mary Catholic School (Montgomery County); 5^th through 8^th grades, Isabella Zepeda, grade 6, Saint Anthony of Padua Regional Catholic School (Philadelphia); 9^th through 12^th grades, Anna Sherman, grade 10, Cardinal O’Hara High School (Delaware County), and Schools of Special Education, Rebecca Bell, Saint Katherine Day School – Radnor Campus/High School Program (Delaware County).

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Bonnie Olinger
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747 (office)