Nearly 300 submissions celebrate creation’s beauty and the lives of St. Francis and St. Clare through art, poetry, and other creative expressions.
Katie Zakrzewski | 501-618-0234 | katie@catholicclimatecovenant.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 27, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Catholic Climate Covenant is pleased to announce the winners of its St. Francis and St. Clare Youth Art Competition, Creation Sings!, a celebration of the Jubilee of St. Francis of Assisi that invited young people to explore the beauty of God’s creation through creativity, faith, and care for our common home.
The competition received nearly 300 submissions. Young artists created original works inspired by the lives and spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare, whose examples continue to inspire Christians to recognize creation’s sacredness and their responsibility to protect it.
Catholic Climate Covenant congratulates the following young artists on their outstanding work and creative interpretations of the “Creation Sings!” theme:
High School
- First Place: Francesca Gajarsa, J. Serra Catholic High School
- Second Place: Maria Bungabong
- Third Place: Ellie Prichard, St. Pius X High School
- Honorable Mention(s): Katherine Vides, St. Patrick Parish
Middle School
- First Place: Leilani Bowman, Archbishop Neale School
- Second Place: Sharon Babalola
- Third Place: Juniper Bodine, St. Benedict’s Parish
- Honorable Mention(s): Khatu Ngnyen and Sarah Juzbasic, St. Bartholomew; Blake Bowling, St. Leo School; Parisa Gambhir
Grades 3-5
- First Place: Blakely Sahifeld
- Second Place: Kai Robison, Mary Queen of Martyrs
- Third Place: Belle Rice, St. Pius Regional School
- Honorable Mention(s): Ava Rogan, St. Mary’s Catholic School; Ellie Mack, St. Thomas More
Grades K-2
- First Place: Henley Mancino, St. Pius X
- Second Place: Juan Madrigal, St. Joseph Catholic School
- Third Place: Lucy Batten, Immaculata Catholic School
- Honorable Mention(s): Owen Killen, St. Patrick Catholic School; Luca Tobin, St. Francis of Assisi; Noah Robison, Mary Queen of Martyrs
First-place winners will receive $100, second-place winners $75, and third-place winners $50. All winners will also receive certificates of recognition. Submissions included visual art, media, poetry, and other literary works, reflecting the many ways young people express their faith and connection to the natural world. A judging committee selected winners in four age categories: high school, middle school, grades 3-5, and grades K-2.
The winning artwork will be displayed at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Catholic Social Ministry Gathering, Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2027, in Washington, D.C. The national gathering brings together Catholic leaders to reflect on Catholic Social Teaching and the Church’s social mission.
The exhibition will give participants an opportunity to experience young people’s creativity and faith and reflect on the importance of caring for our common home. The competition also supports Catholic Climate Covenant’s broader commitment to engaging young people in climate leadership and Catholic Social Teaching. By creating space for young people to share their perspectives, the Covenant hopes to encourage a lifelong commitment to creation care.
The Jubilee of St. Francis of Assisi provides a fitting occasion for this celebration. Inspired by St. Francis and St. Clare, the Creation Sings! competition invited young people to reflect on the relationships among faith, creation, and the call to live with reverence for all God has made.
“We are thrilled by the creativity, thoughtfulness, and enthusiasm young people brought to the Creation Sings! competition,” said Dan Misleh, Founder and Executive Director of Catholic Climate Covenant. “Every work of art represents the time that a young person spent thinking about creation and faith. These works remind us that care for creation begins with wonder — with learning to see the beauty of the world around us and recognizing our responsibility to protect it. We are grateful to every young artist, family, educator, and faith community that helped make this competition such a success.”
Catholic Climate Covenant thanks all the young artists, their parents and guardians, educators, parishes, and schools that helped make the competition possible. The Covenant looks forward to sharing the winning artwork and continuing to support young people as they discover their voices and leadership in the Catholic creation care movement.
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About Catholic Climate Covenant
Catholic Climate Covenant inspires and equips Catholic individuals, families, parishes, schools, institutions, and organizations to care for creation and respond to the climate crisis through education, advocacy, and community engagement, grounded in Catholic faith and social teaching. Learn more at catholicclimatecovenant.org.
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