Love of drawing unites Register Christmas contest winners [w/ slideshow]

Jade Cruz entered The Catholic Register’s Christmas drawing contest to show that we celebrate Christmas because it’s Jesus’ birthday.

Her drawing was one of more than 700 entries to the inaugural contest.

Cruz, 11, is one of the three contest winners depicting the Nativity of Jesus at the first Christmas of Bethlehem. The Holy Spirit Catholic School of Scarborough student took the top spot for the Grades 4 to 6 category.

“We should be thankful for Him because He always protects us and blesses us,” she said.

“We should also learn who His parents are and why He is the right hand of our Lord.”

Allegra Fiorino, 13, won the Grades 7 to 8 category. She said she loves to draw.

“We have art a couple times a week and I’m really enjoying it so far,” said Fiorino, a Grade 8 student at St. Bartholomew Catholic School in Scarborough, who was surprised to hear she had won.

“Quite honestly, I’ve drawn quite a lot of things, but more animals and cartoons than people.”

The winner of the Grades 1 to 3 category is six-year-old Anna Kubovych of Metropolitan Andrei Catholic School in Mississauga, Ont.

Along with publication of their drawings on these pages, the winners receive a $100 gift certificate from Broughton’s Church Supplies, Religious Books & Gifts.

A slideshow of some of our favourite images is below.