For the Christmas Junior Saints in December 2023, students were invited to draw a picture of the first Christmas, and write about what Christmas means to them. 

St. Mary’s School, Landover Hills

“To me, Christmas is a joyous celebration where we come together to celebrate the birth of Jesus. During the Christmas season, we are all united to sing God’s praises. Christmas is a time for prayer, family, fun, bonding and joy. I love Christmas because it is the time when I feel especially connected and closer to Jesus. Christmas is also an important time to give back to others and share.” – Artwork and writing by Imanie Mayi, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School, Landover Hills, Maryland

“I drew the birth of Jesus with Jesus in the center, Mary on his right, and frankincense, myrrh and gold that the three kings presented to him. Christmas is one of the most celebrated holidays in the world. To me, Christmas is about being with the ones you love and giving to others, things that they do not have. I love Christmas because of the beauty it holds, it is a season of giving and receiving, but it is also a season of the Lord. Jesus Christ was born on this day, he is the reason Christmas exists. Christmas is the day that we all gather and sing hymns of praise to God. To me, Christmas means love, patience, joy and camaraderie. When in the Christmas spirit, we forget our worries and remember that we are all one and a part of God’s plan and family. Friends come together, family comes together, and we feel the joy that Christmas brings.” – Artwork and writing by Destinee Bengangacha, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School, Landover Hills

“Christmas to me is like a magical story unfolding every year. It’s not just about the presents or the festive decorations; it’s a time to remember the humble beginnings of something extraordinary. The nativity story is like the ultimate underdog tale, where a tiny baby in a simple manger becomes the symbol of hope and love. It’s about coming together with family and friends, sharing warmth and being kind to others, just like those wise men and shepherds did. Christmas teaches us that even in the simplest moments, there can be something truly special and meaningful.” – Artwork and writing by Max Silva, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School, Landover Hills

Artwork by Zara Larry, first grade, St. Mary’s School, Landover Hills

Artwork by Adrian Vasquez, first grade, St. Mary’s School, Landover Hills

Blessed Sacrament School, Washington

“Christmas is one of my favorite holidays, and it means so much to me. One thing I love is spending time with family and friends and celebrating Jesus being born. Another thing I love is Christmas dinner, because most of my family is together, and I love seeing my cousin, grandparents and aunts and uncles. I also love hearing the story of Jesus being born, and I love decorating the tree…” – Artwork and writing by Molly Calamis, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.

“Christmas is an exciting time of the year. Not only do we spend extra time with our families, exchanging gifts and eating special foods, it is the celebration of the birth of Jesus. At home, we decorate our tree and find a special place for the Christmas manger. At church, we light the Advent wreath, listen to Christmas readings and sing carols about the wondrous birth of Christ. At school, we collect essential items like toothbrushes, hand sanitizer, lotion and clothing for the homeless. We also collect canned food and donate it to families who are less fortunate. Christmas is a wonderful time for families in our Blessed Sacrament community, but we must remember that many people are also suffering. Some families live in countries at war. Others live in places that are not safe. Many families are hungry and poor. We should always try to think of others before ourselves. We should be generous in many ways, especially at this time of year.” – Reid Mullins, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington

“What Christmas means to me is spending time with family and recognizing the birth of Jesus Christ. It also means being thankful that you are with family and friends. On Christmas Eve, you go to Mass and pray on the day Christ was born…” – Liesel Jaeger, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington

“Christmas is a magical time to me, and it means a lot. Christmas is one of my favorite times to celebrate with family. I also enjoy going to church, because I like to be as close to God as I can every day, but especially during Christmas time. During Advent, I feel joyful, loving, peace and hopeful…” – Evie Dobbins, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington

“When it comes to Christmas, I get excited! Christmas is a time of year when I get to spend time with family and friends. Some family and friends come from far away, while others are close and in the neighborhood. We all come together to be together. We gather and have fun and spread joy and not hate or sadness. Christmas is a time when we remember the birth of Jesus Christ and celebrate it. Christmas is a special time that I look forward to every year.” – Jordyn Godette, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington

“Christmas to me is spending time with family and showing your appreciation for other people while celebrating Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. So I guess that’s what Christmas means to me.” – Sebastian Nagel, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington

“To me, Christmas means that I get to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and show how thankful we are for Jesus…” – Artwork and writing by Ariadne Marquez, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington

“I really look forward to Christmas. My family is Macedonian, and we eat different foods during the holiday. We decorate our tree and put fun lights up outside. Christmas always seems so relaxed and cozy. It is easy to get into the Hallmark holiday aspect, but there is a more important meaning at Christmas for me. Christmas is a time to remember the gift of baby Jesus and how he came to Earth to save us from our sins. It is also a time to remember all the people who might not know where they will be sleeping tonight. Many families are suffering, and this time of year can be really hard for them. We should be thankful for what we have and be generous with our time and our gifts.” – Raina Michaelidis, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington

“Christmas is my favorite holiday season. I love choosing the perfect Christmas tree, decorating it with lights and ornaments, and smelling the pine scent in my house all month long. I love shopping for gifts, wrapping them in pretty paper and then watching the smiles as they are opened on Christmas morning. I love the sweet taste of holiday cookies, peppermint candy canes and hot chocolate with marshmallows.

“Christmas at my house begins on Dec. 1. That is the day we open our Advent calendar and begin the countdown to Dec. 25. At church, the Christmas season begins on the first Sunday of Advent. My favorite part of preparing for Christmas in church is the Advent wreath. It has four candles, each to mark a special event in the Christmas story, and it is usually at the front of the church on a bed of pine branches. There are three purple candles and one pink candle in a circle. In the middle of the circle there is a white candle, which is known as the Christ candle. Each candle has a different meaning and tells the story of the birth of Jesus. The lighting of the candles is done by the altar servers and usually happens at the beginning of Mass during the Sundays of Advent. This year, I became an altar server, and I hope to have the chance to light our Advent wreath.” – Keely Murray, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington

“Christmas means many things to me. Christmas means it is time to welcome our Savior into the world. Christmas is the start of the life of the best person who ever walked the Earth. It is the start of the life of Jesus, who saved our world!” – Artwork and writing by Jack Jacobs, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington 

“Christmas has been a joyful day for most everyone around the globe and continues to keep giving joy. Christmas means so many different things to me, but one thing it means to me is memories with my family laughing with each other and enjoying each other’s company. To me, it is also the day we celebrate Jesus, the man who saved all of us, and just like how you celebrate your birthday, we celebrate his. On Christmas, some people don’t have a family to celebrate with or no gifts under the tree or a tree for that matter, so the one thing you can do is be a friend to those who don’t have one, and be the gift that keeps giving. Christmas should be the day you help people and give joy and hope to the world.” – Caroline Buckley, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington

“Christmas begins for me when school lets out for Christmas break. During the next two weeks, I get to see family and friends and go skating and snowboarding. We bake Christmas cookies and drink hot chocolate. We watch Christmas movies like “A Christmas Story,” “Home Alone,” and “Elf.” On Christmas Day after we open presents, we have a special breakfast, get dressed up and go to Mass. It is there that I learned that Christmas is about more than getting presents and eating special treats. What Christmas is really all about is celebrating that on this day, a Savior was born, Christ the Lord.” – Alexander Komives, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington

“Christmas means a lot to me. It is when you do your favorite traditions and bake cookies. One of my personal favorite traditions is when my parents put an elf in a funny position overnight, and then my brother and I come down to try to find him. I also have great memories of making cookies…” – Elena Patterson, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington

St. Mary’s School, Bryantown, Maryland

Artwork and writing by Caroline Lynch, third grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown

Artwork by Aurora Martin, fourth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown, Maryland

“Christmas is special to me because Jesus was born on Christmas.” – Charles Waters, second grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown

Artwork by Taylor Dent, fourth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown

“Christmas means to me that the King was born, and it is love to me. Family is more important than presents.” – Vincent Barrows, third grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown

“To me, Christmas means family. At Christmas, we all gather together to open presents. We also go to Mass to celebrate Jesus’ birth…” – James Brewer, fourth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown

“What Christmas means to me is joy, love and hope. The reason why is because it’s the birth of our Lord. Christmas is not about receiving, it’s about giving. Christmas is also about hope because even in the darkest times, Jesus brought light. Christmas is also about the tree… If you put a star on the Christmas tree, that represents the star that guided the three wise men to Jesus Christ.” – Charlotte Cusick, sixth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown

“To me, Christmas is beautiful. It’s a time when family and friends come together to celebrate the birth of our Savior. It’s a special time where we are filled with reverence and awe as we remember the nativity and remember the love God has for us, when He gave us His only Son. Christmas to me means that we give ourselves to God the same way the three kings gave their best to God.” – Artwork and writing by Gigi Stefko, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown

Holy Redeemer School, College Park, 

“Christmas means we get to celebrate Jesus’ birthday!” – Artwork and writing by Alice deBruyn, kindergarten, Holy Redeemer School, College Park, Maryland

“Christmas is about love.” – Amelia James, kindergarten, Holy Redeemer School, College Park

“Christmas is about Jesus being born, and everyone celebrates because he is the Savior of the world.” – Perry Tilkens, kindergarten, Holy Redeemer School, College Park

Artwork by Michael Henry, kindergarten, Holy Redeemer School, College Park

“Christmas means we get to open presents and sing happy birthday to Jesus!” – Ellie Schaefer, kindergarten, Holy Redeemer School, College Park

“Christmas is the most important holiday of the year because Jesus was born.” – Tess Kaczmarski, kindergarten, Holy Redeemer School, College Park

Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons

“Christmas means to me that we give thanks to God that Mary gave birth to Jesus. We are grateful for spending time with our family. We give thanks for our religion and for being Catholic. We give our love and help to our family and friends.” – Artwork and writing by Meshach Dippold, fourth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons, Maryland

“To me, Christmas means joy, happiness and Jesus. The reason we celebrate it is because Jesus was born… Jesus loves us all, and we should all love him, too… We should all be joyful and happy to celebrate the coming of Jesus.” – Lilly Smith, sixth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons

“Christmas is special to me because we are celebrating the birth of the most important person in the world, Jesus Christ our Savior. The presents and giving are good, but Christmas is really about Jesus. Jesus is the true reason for the season. In Christmas movies, they say that giving and family are what Christmas is about, but even though those are great, it’s not what it’s about.” – Andrew Thomas, seventh grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons

“People love Christmas for many different reasons, but I love Christmas for its festivity for Jesus. The spirit of Christmas and the joy it brings to some people is honestly fun to see. Celebrating Jesus’ birth to the fullest with gifts, prayers, Christmas trees and lights are the best things to see. It’s sad how people don’t get to celebrate Christmas, but we can still share Jesus’ love.” – Za’Hanna Walker, eighth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons

“Christmas means to me the day of giving and gratefulness and Christ’s birthday and love. Also it means time with family and love for everyone, and giving and making people feel loved… Seeing people’s beautiful smiles makes me smile.” – Artwork and writing by Lou Hudson, sixth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons

“Christmas can mean a lot of things, but Christmas to me is when God became man as a baby, so he can later teach the people how great heaven will be.” – Valentina Cruceta, fifth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons

“To me, Christmas isn’t just about the presents, but how Jesus was born and how great Jesus really is. The presents are great and make it nice, but sometimes we kind of forget what it’s really about...” – Charlotte Adams, seventh grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons 

“What Christmas means to me is the loving of my family. Jesus gives me everything I need. It is not food. It is not water. It is love. Every time I get someone a gift, I feel good inside, but when I get a gift, it does not feel as good inside, because Christmas is about others, not yourself. Think about when you give someone a gift, you want them to open it first. That’s how I feel about Jesus giving us the love of Christmas.” – Artwork and writing by Annabel Kortokrax, fourth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons

“Christmas for me means spending time with your family and being thankful that Jesus sacrificed so much just so you could live happily in this moment that we call Christmas. It’s important to remember that Christmas isn’t just about presents, but more about giving, because God loves when we share these Christmas joys with kids who are less fortunate than us. Giving doesn’t have to be buying expensive presents for people, giving can be donating, or even making a cool craft or card for someone. We should go through the month of December looking forward to Jesus’ birth and not just presents.” – Sadie Grey, fifth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons

Academy of St. Matthias the Apostle, Lanham

Artwork by Isabella Sylvia, fourth grade, the Academy of St. Matthias the Apostle, Lanham, Maryland 

Cardinal Hickey Academy, Owings

“Christmas means having joy, happiness and being nice.” – Artwork and writing by Teddy Schiavone, kindergarten, Cardinal Hickey Academy, Owings, Maryland

“Christmas means celebrating Jesus’ birthday.” – Cecilia Hoyt, kindergarten, Cardinal Hickey Academy, Owings

“Christmas means loving my family.” – Artwork and writing by Sebastian Eggleton, kindergarten, Cardinal Hickey Academy, Owings

“Christmas is my favorite holiday because I can go see my family.” – Artwork and writing by Mildred Jernigan, fourth grade, Cardinal Hickey Academy, Owings

“To me Christmas means to celebrate and have joy in your life and be thankful in the Lord.” – Kellan Goodwin, fourth grade, Cardinal Hickey Academy, Owings

“Christmas means a time to really connect with Jesus and my family. I like this time of the year because it lets me reflect on Jesus’ life and his birth.” – Sydney Stevens, fourth grade, Cardinal Hickey Academy, Owings

“Christmas means to stay home for the holidays and give presents to the people you love. But the most important thing about Christmas is celebrating Jesus Christ.” – Artwork and writing by Jake Busse, fourth grade, Cardinal Hickey Academy, Owings

St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda

“Christmas means to me that Jesus has come to save us. For me, going beyond the commercial element, Christmas is about Jesus’ birth, the day we were all saved. When Jesus came, only a few people realized that the little baby would save the world. It is a time of celebration about the little baby who came as the Messiah for all.” – Artwork and writing by Coco Chiu, seventh grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda

Artwork by Reagan Perraut, fifth grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda

Artwork by Sarah Juzbasic, fifth grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda

“What does Christmas mean to you? Every person gives a unique answer. For me, Christmas is hope and love. We all hope for the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus. We hope that Jesus will save us from sin and fulfill God’s promise of eternal life. We get together to celebrate the birth of our Lord with loved ones. Love is very important to the season of Christmas. Love is the reason Jesus died for us, the reason heaven was opened. Love and hope is what Christmas means to me.” – Artwork and writing by Andres Strother, seventh grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda

“This Christmas season, we will spend some time with family, have fun and have a Christmas feast. What it means to me is we wait for Jesus’ coming with family, waiting for the day our Lord and Savior was born. It means to me that we should have a day to just celebrate Jesus and his coming lovingly, happy and joyful.” – Veronika Eslava, seventh grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda

“To me, Christmas means a season of happiness and preparing ourselves for Jesus’ birth. Christmas has a long season with songs, decorations and happiness. In my house, we always decorate early so we can bring the spirit early, and it always makes me and my family happy. We also prepare ourselves by praying more and doing good deeds for Jesus. It also means family to me. I always think about my family more during the Advent season and how we are going to celebrate on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day. What Christmas means to me is family, happiness, and Jesus’ birthday.” – Artwork and writing by Claire Schreiber, seventh grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda 

“Christmas is a time when families gather together after months, even years, a time of joy and cheers. It is a time of excitement for young children looking forward to Santa Claus bringing them presents of their request. But for most people, it is the birthday of Jesus Christ, it’s the only time they get to see their family members. Whether you are religious or not, Christmas is always a time of happiness for everyone, even those who don’t celebrate it.” – Liam Raeder, seventh grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda

“Christmas means family to me. It is also a time for a family to celebrate the birth of Jesus. I think of it as a time to bring yourself closer to Jesus.” – Jacob Lang, sixth grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda

Artwork by Sophia Delaney, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda

“The meaning of Christmas is spending time with my family and friends, and being joyful. I love making cookies and opening gifts with my family on Christmas and Christmas Eve. Christmas is a time full of love and kindness when everyone is joyful.” – Caitlin Buber, seventh grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda

“Christmas means to me to celebrate the birth of Jesus and to be with family and friends. What I like about Christmas is going to church and giving presents to my family and friends.” –   Zoe Arango, sixth grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda

St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

“One of the things I love is the month of December. It’s because I get to spend the time with my loved ones and my friends. Instead of me getting the presents, I would rather get presents for others. I love the way people cherish my gifts. It makes me proud for what I have done to make them smile. It means a lot to me.” – Artwork and writing by Maya Hipolito, seventh grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

“To me, Christmas means spending time with my friends and family. I love making gifts for them more than receiving them myself.” – Katherine Contreras, seventh grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

“Christmas means family and being thankful for everything our parents do for us, and everything God did for us when he saved us by giving his life for us.” – Artwork and writing by Maryssa Anthony, eighth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

“Christmas is the time of year when we celebrate Jesus’ birth. God gave us his only son just so he could save us from sin. Jesus was born to save us from sin by dying on the cross and opening the gates of heaven.” – Artwork and writing by Lianna Gonzales, eighth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

“Christmas to me means being able to spend time with my family and God. Christmas and the Advent season as a whole are very special times in my family, as we are very fond of gift giving and our love for each other. We always make sure to include the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ, by setting up our nativity scene and celebrating Christmas Mass together. It’s a very happy and important time for our faith as Christians, and we should always remember to include God whenever we can.” – Artwork and writing by Nicaeya Florentino, eighth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

“Christmas to me is about family and the birth of Jesus. On Christmas, I think about the amazing blessing of family and being loved.” – Artwork and writing by Audrey Liao, eighth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

“What Christmas means to me is celebrating the birth of Christ and spending time with my family. Christmas is a very special holiday to me.” – Evelyn Marcial, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

“Christmas isn’t about presents. It’s about the people who are present in your life.” –Artwork and writing by Elizabeth Sebastian, sixth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

“To me, Christmas means spending time with my family and remembering Jesus’ birth and my grandpa’s birthday.” – Artwork and writing by Ka Yi Chau, sixth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

“Christmas means a lot to me, because this is the time we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Joseph and Mary’s journey to Bethlehem was hard, they knew God was with them.” –Leena Gonzales, sixth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill

St. Elizabeth School, Rockville

Artwork by Isabella DeLucca Escarra, St. Elizabeth School, Rockville, Maryland

“To me, Christmas means celebrating with family, and the birth of our Savior. We celebrate him because he is the reason we can go to heaven. I love celebrating with my family, because I love spending time with them and getting to see them on a special day.” – Luci Snow, sixth grade, St. Elizabeth School, Rockville

“To me, Christmas means spending time with friends and family to celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. It is a time of rejoicing and prayer. It is also a time to thank God for all he has given us, such as Jesus…” – Victoria Noel, eighth grade, St. Elizabeth School, Rockville

Artwork by Isabella Thanh, sixth grade, St. Elizabeth School, Rockville

“Christmas to me is a time of giving, not just of material goods, and a time of love and celebration. We give our friends and family presents, but the best present is God’s love and the world he gave us. Christmas is a time to be just as thankful as you are during Thanksgiving. Oftentimes, Christmas becomes more heavily focused on the traditions we have on Earth and drifts from the true focus of Jesus’ birth. Christmas is the time to celebrate and love Jesus and all he has done for us.” – Lauren Donahue, eighth grade, St. Elizabeth School, Rockville

“Christmas is such a special holiday. Many people see it as a holiday for presents when the real meaning of Christmas is Jesus. Christmas is a time where we can become closer with the church and with God. Over the year we go to church regularly, but during Christmas time, we celebrate Jesus’ birth and Mary’s bravery.” – Megan Mulholland, St. Elizabeth School, Rockville

“To me, Christmas is the best day of the year. But Christmas is not about receiving gifts, it’s about remembering the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Jesus is our role model. To me, Christmas means the day when Christ was born. On the days leading up to Christmas, I usually go to Mass to prepare for Jesus’ birth. It is such a special time of year, so we need to prepare for Jesus’ birth properly.” – Artwork and writing by Ioanna Davydov, eighth grade, St. Elizabeth School, Rockville

“Christmas means to me that it’s not all about the getting, and more about the giving. Although I do like the excitement of opening gifts early on Christmas morning, but I think about how Jesus died for us. He gave up his life so we would be happy. I love Christmas and the happiness and enjoyment of giving and getting, plus the sacrifice Jesus made for us.” – Harper Griffin, sixth grade, St. Elizabeth School, Rockville

“Christmas is a time for incredible joy and happiness brought by the baby Jesus on that first Christmas. I really like a line from the song, ‘O Holy Night’ which says, ‘the weary world rejoices.’ The world was a dark, sad place before Jesus brought his light into it. In my picture, I show that all around the Holy Family is darkness, but they have a light around them. The joy we feel at Christmas was brought by Jesus.” – Artwork and writing by Emily Beavers, eighth grade, St. Elizabeth School, Rockville

“To me, Christmas means that it is Jesus’ birth. It’s a time full of happiness and celebration. People are joyful about Jesus’ coming. During Christmas, my family goes to midnight Mass and we celebrate together. Christmas time is a time of togetherness and love for your family. It is an opportunity to tell the people you love that you love and appreciate them. If people live far away, Christmas is a time to catch up with them. It is a time of joy and fulfillment.” – Allie Velasquez, eighth grade, St. Elizabeth School, Rockville

St. Peter School, Waldorf, Maryland

Artwork by Matthew Paul, second grade, St. Peter’s School, Waldorf

Little Flower School, Great Mills

“Christmas, to me, is a time to shine light on Jesus’ birth and give thanks to God for sending his son to save us from our sins. There are millions of people who feel as if Christmas is about gifts and who gets the biggest, most expensive gift. However, I believe there needs to be more recognition of the religious aspect of the holiday. Our Savior was born on Dec. 25, that is why it is called Christmas! As a community, we should advertise and celebrate Christmas for what it really is.” – Artwork and writing by Colt Keen, eighth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills, Maryland

“During Christmas time, children and even adults get so caught up in gifts, Christmas lights and the good food that we start to forget the true meaning of Christmas. To me, Christmas is about the birth of Jesus, without Jesus there would be no gifts, lights, or good food. There would not even be a Christmas. So during this time, we should really reflect on all that Jesus did for us and thank him for it. Instead of getting caught up in the gifts, grab a Bible and pray with your family. Look to Christ first because he is our light and anything is possible in the power of him.” – Rylee Goddard, eighth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills

“Christmas means a lot to me. It is a time to celebrate the most important time of the year. Most people get so tied up in buying and selling presents they forget what they are celebrating. We are celebrating the birth of the Lord, our God, Jesus Christ. When we say Christmas, you hear what you are celebrating, Christ. Jesus is the most important person in a lot of people’s lives. I think Christmas means to celebrate Jesus Christ and remind people what really happened that day.” – Artwork and writing by Lucas Longmore, seventh grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills

“I think people forget what Christmas is about. To me, I think Christmas is about giving to others. It does not matter how expensive the gift is, it is the thought that counts. People care that you took the time to think about them as a person so that they will like the gift. To me, that is what Christmas is about.” – Emily Wagner, seventh grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills

“To me, Christmas is the time to remember the birth of Jesus. It is a holiday that is best spent with family. Many people are distracted by Christmas shopping and receiving presents. While those things are fun, it is important to remember what Christmas is really about. One way to do that is going to church on Christmas. That is something you can do even if you don’t have anybody to spend the holiday with. Jesus will always be there for you. It is important to be there for him, too.” – Artwork and writing by Taylor Lee, seventh grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills

“During Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus. What Christmas is to me is celebrating the birth of Jesus and spending time with family. Generosity is the virtue of December; Jesus was very generous with everyone and a way to show generosity is to give people presents on Christmas, which a lot of people do already. I think everyone should show generosity every day!” – Artwork and writing by Litsy Valenzuela Quintana, seventh grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills

“Christmas kind of brings my family together. We gather to celebrate Jesus’ birthday. I have always celebrated Christmas with family, and that means a lot to me. It also reminds me of the journey they took to Bethlehem. Everyone gathered for the birth of Jesus, like the shepherds, wise men, and angels.” – Artwork and writing by Adalene Jones, seventh grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills

St. Patrick’s School, Rockville, Maryland

“To me, Christmas is a time to see family and friends and to give to people who are less fortunate than us. Christmas is also a time to celebrate Jesus’ birth and all that He has done for us. It is also a day for celebrating, decorating and caroling. To me, Christmas is the best holiday of the year, because of all you do and all the family you see… Jesus is the reason for Christmas, so we must rejoice and praise Him.” – Riley Parkhurst, eighth grade, St. Patrick’s Catholic School, Rockville, Maryland

“The birth of Jesus Christ is a vibrant time for everyone, although for me, Christmas is the time for Jesus’ birth. A couple of years ago, my younger sister was recovering from her third open heart surgery. Her recovery was taking a long time, and the doctors had told my family and me that we were going to spend Christmas in the hospital. On Christmas Eve, I thought my parents, sister and I would be alone, however, our family visited, and we waited for Christ to be born. We may not have had a fancy Christmas Eve dinner or party, but we still sang songs and told stories. Then to my surprise, on Christmas morning my sister was discharged from the hospital, and I understood that Jesus is born to us in many ways.” – Eliana Zelaya, eighth grade, St. Patrick’s Catholic School, Rockville

“Whenever I hear about Christmas, I think of Jesus’ birthday. When it is Christmas time, I enjoy spending time with my family and doing coat drives for the homeless. This year, I collected about 15 coats and gave them to the Stepping Stones shelter. When I dropped off the coats and saw the kids playing, I felt very fortunate that I had food on my plate and a home to live in. I always want people to be warm for the winter and to be comfortable and enjoy the Christmas spirit. I always want to give back to the community and make the world a better place.” – Carson Byrnes, eighth grade, St. Patrick’s Catholic School, Rockville

“Christmas is the most popular holiday in the world due to the large number of Christians. It is unique for this reason, that despite being a holiday based on a certain faith, many other people will still partake in it. It is also an opportunity for Christians like myself to come together and embrace our faith. Christmas has always been a very special holiday for me. My family does the standard things like opening presents and decorating the tree. However, we also do our own things, such as my siblings and I invent our own play and perform it for our parents…” – Bauti Salvado, eighth grade, St. Patrick’s Catholic School, Rockville

“Christmas is a time when I give back to others. One of my favorite service acts is collecting winter coats and scarfs and hats for those in need of warmth. Another way I serve others in need is by donating to the Salvation Army. It is easy and gratifying to put some of my hard-earned money in little red buckets by stores. Lastly, I help my grandparents by setting up their Christmas tree. I help put up ornaments, wreaths and garland on the banister. Christmas means a lot to me, because helping others is what makes me happy.” – Kent Cushenberry, eighth grade, St. Patrick’s School, Rockville

“Christmas means a break from school. I really enjoy having two weeks off to rest and spend time with my family. The presents are also nice. But really the true meaning of Christmas is the birth of Jesus. It is important to remember the reason for the season. Every year during Mass on Christmas Eve, I think about God’s gift of Jesus to us.” – Tommy Swanda, eighth grade, St. Patrick’s Catholic School, Rockville

January 2024 Junior Saints

In January, we celebrate Catholic Schools Week. For the January Junior Saints, draw a picture and write about something that you like about your Catholic school, parish religious education class, or Catholic homeschooling. The drawings and writings should be emailed to ZimmermannM@adw.org by Wednesday Jan. 10, 2024 to Mark Zimmermann, the Catholic Standard’s editor, and they should include the name, grade and school or parish of the student printed clearly.

Due to time constraints involved with reviewing the volume of submitted work, it is requested that schools or parish religious education programs limit their entries to 10 drawings and 10 writings from their students. The best formats to send are jpegs for artwork and word documents or pdfs for writing, if possible. Thank you!