For this Junior Saints, students were invited to draw a picture of Jesus during Holy Week or Easter, and write about what Easter means to them.
Little Flower School, Great Mills, Maryland
“I decided to draw Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane because it shows a part of Easter that most people tend to forget. Easter is about Jesus’ resurrection, but it is also about Jesus’ courage and perseverance despite His fear. He was scared of the pain that awaited Him, but He still went through it all because His love for us overpowered everything else. Jesus was half human, so He was tempted to run away from His fate. Yet, He took all the suffering so we could be forgiven for our sins. He never held us in contempt and continues to forgive us every day.” – Artwork and writing by Taylor Lee, seventh grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills, Maryland
“One of my teachers said, ‘A lot of people have been crucified but only one has come back.’ I had never thought about it like that until she said it, and I immediately knew what I wanted to draw. I wanted to draw what Jesus saw when He walked out of the tomb. I wondered what He saw when He was brought back and wanted to see what He did, so I drew this. I love Easter and when I think of Easter, this is what I will see.” – Artwork and writing by Samantha Bowes, seventh grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
“As Easter approaches us, I start to think about the true meaning of it, it’s not the Easter bunny or candy; it’s the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. This event is very special, this is when Jesus rose from the dead and saved us all. Jesus is my rock. This action shows me that I’m loved and that all things are possible in Jesus Christ. So, before you go to sit down for your Easter dinner, make sure to pray and thank Jesus for all he did for us.” – Rylee Goddard, eighth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills, Maryland
“Easter to me is a time to reflect on what Jesus did for us. I drew a picture of Jesus getting condemned to death. Many times in life we are judged and condemned to taking up our own crosses. During the Easter season, we shall pray to God to help us with our daily struggles. Lord God, strengthen me against temptation and sin and help me prepare for your coming this Easter.” – Artwork and writing by Colt Keen, eighth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
“To me, Easter means it is a time to repent. The whole reason Jesus died was to save us from sin. Even though He went through all that pain and suffering for us, we sin every day. If we don’t go to Confession, that sin builds up and makes His cross heavier. And the more we sin, the farther from God we go. The only way we can come closer to God is to repent, and to actually mean it. That is what Easter means to me.” – Artwork and writing by Aidan Beyer, seventh grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
“I chose Ash Wednesday because it’s the beginning of Lent and my favorite part of Lent. On Ash Wednesday, we remember how Jesus was tempted by Satan before He started preaching. On Ash Wednesday, the priest puts ashes from burned palms on our foreheads in the shape of a cross. The primary objective of Ash Wednesday is to pay homage to Christ’s 40-day fast and the practice of self-discipline in the desert before His mission.” – Artwork and writing by Litsy Valenzuela Quinta, seventh grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
“To me, Easter means seeing family, spring and rebirth. No matter what, we always visit my grandparents every year for Easter. On Good Friday, we go to church or these past couple of years during the pandemic, we watched it on TV, so we didn’t get sick. We usually go to my grandpa’s church for Good Friday, and my grandma’s church for Easter morning. We have lots of our family over for dinner, and sometimes we make dinner together. This year is my niece’s first Easter, and I can’t wait.” – Kaeli Beyer, seventh grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
“Jesus’ ascending into heaven means to me that whenever you are going through trials, you will always get out of it. Jesus was being tortured, but He made it through in the end. You always have to trust in God because God has a plan. No matter what you go through, remember that Jesus will get you through it; use Jesus as an example.” – Addy Abgoola, sixth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
“Easter can mean different things to people, but to me it’s not about the eggs and the bunny but Jesus. Jesus sacrificed everything to relieve our sins. Many people mistake Easter for the Easter bunny or going on a hunt to find eggs. The real meaning of Easter is Jesus dying for us on the cross. Sadly, the meaning of Easter is getting changed and the real meaning is fading away.” – Artwork and writing by Jonathan Primm, eighth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
“Easter is a time when we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, and how He gave His life for us by dying on the cross. Also, Easter is a time when we go to church with our family and pray together. In Lent during the 40 days before Easter, we give up something following the example of Jesus who gave His life for us.” – Artwork and writing by Madelynn Beall, seventh grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington, D.C.
“I drew Mary crying for her son who had died on the cross.” – Drawing and writing by Saron Mesfin, fifth grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington, D.C.
“Palm Sunday is when Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem. People waved palm branches as a greeting. It also offers a reminder for everyone to welcome Jesus in their hearts and to be willing to follow him.” – Drawing and writing by Batel Raday, fifth grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington, D.C.
“Palm Sunday is a reminder for all to open and welcome Jesus Christ into our hearts and minds.” – Drawing and writing by Abigail Xavier, seventh grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington, D.C.
“This picture is important to me because Jesus died for our sins.” – Drawing and writing by Amelia James, fifth grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington, D.C.
“What Easter means to me is Jesus died on the cross to wash away our sins and to give us eternal life.” – Kenechukwu Anikwe, fifth grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington, D.C.
“Easter is a time to rejoice in Jesus Christ.” – Drawing and writing by London Mattox-Roach, fifth grade, St. Augustine Catholic School, Washington, D.C.
St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
“To me, Easter is a time that I can spend with family and get closer to Jesus. It also is a time of celebration, because Jesus rose. But most importantly, Easter is a time when we can be thankful for Jesus’ sacrifice. He died for our sins so that we can spend eternal life in heaven with Him. Even though He knew the process would be painful, He still walked the road of Calvary and died on the cross. This is how we know that He loves us. Overall, to me Easter is a time for family, but most importantly to remember Jesus’ sacrifice.” – Zoey Crecelius, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
“Holy Thursday is when Jesus gathered with His disciples to institute the Eucharist through the Last Supper. He gave us a piece of Him to give us grace and to be fed spiritually. He did this as an act of love and service. Every time we receive the Eucharist, we are reminded of God’s unconditional love and mercy. We are reminded of the suffering Jesus went through because of us. We are reminded of how He rose again, allowing us to have eternal life with Him in heaven. This is what Easter really means to me.” – Gigi Stefko, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
“Easter reminds me that Jesus died on the cross for us.” – Jacoby Kehres, first grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
“Easter means love and joy because Jesus died on the cross for us. Since He died for us, we can go to heaven instead of hell...” – Victoria Nguyen, fourth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
“Easter is not about searching for eggs. We should be searching for love and the Holy Spirit during the Easter season. Easter is a time of reflection on what Jesus had to go through for us. The sacrifices Jesus made for our sins show the everlasting love He has for us. Easter isn’t about the Easter bunny, but the one who created all for us. Jesus died for us, may we give up this time for Him. As we look for Easter eggs, may we also search for God in all that we do.” –Ashlyn Lagana, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda
“Easter means so much more to me than chocolate eggs. Easter means to me celebration because of Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus resurrecting marks one of the most important moments in our faith. The reason we celebrate Easter is to honor Jesus and his resurrection. Easter means to me that Jesus is always here, and we celebrate and are happy about him resurrecting and coming to save us all!” – Artwork and writing by Coco Chiu, seventh grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda, Maryland
“To me, Easter is a time of peace and great joy. Jesus has risen! It is a time to be thankful and a time to be happy with your family.” – Artwork and writing by Daniel Delaney, sixth grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda
“(The Third Station of the Cross) Jesus falls the first time, shows how Jesus fell but never gave up.” – Panav Gambhir, fifth grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda
“To me, Easter is a time to celebrate Jesus for giving up his life to save us because he loves us unconditionally. During Easter, I celebrate with my family. I love racing around my siblings collecting Easter eggs and laughing about one year when one of the eggs was hidden so well that we found it a few days late. Easter is a time to be thankful and joyful. I am so glad Jesus died for us because everyone deserves eternal happiness in heaven with God.” – Caitlin Buber, seventh grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda
“Easter means to me that it is a time to rejoice because Jesus just risen and has come to save all of us! It’s a fun time to spend time with your family and be happy and celebrate with your family for Jesus. I am very grateful that Jesus came down to save all of us, and that we can experience heaven with Jesus. We should always be thankful for Jesus because of what he suffered for us, so we should do everything in Jesus' name, including by helping the homeless, and feeding the hungry! You also don’t have to be recognized on Earth, because you already got your reward, God was able to see that nice thing you did and rewarded you up in heaven. And this is what Easter means to me.” – Veronika Eslava, seventh grade, St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Bethesda
St. Mary’s School, Landover Hills
“The crucifixion is the part of Holy Week that emphasizes the great sacrifice Jesus made for us. As Christians, we should take into account what Jesus did for us, and we should be who He wanted us to be like, His father in heaven. The crucifixion holds deep significance for me. It represents the ultimate expression of God’s love and grace towards humanity. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross serves as a profound reminder of God’s willingness to go through immense suffering to offer salvation to humanity. The crucifixion symbolizes the forgiveness of sins and the possibility of redemption for all who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior. As a Catholic, I view the crucifixion as the central event in human history, demonstrating God’s plan for reconciliation and restoration. It inspires me to live a life of gratitude, love, forgiveness and service, reflecting the example of Jesus Christ and spreading the message of his gospel to others. The crucifixion will always serve as a source of hope and comfort, reminding me of God’s presence in times of trial and suffering, and the promise of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.” – Artwork and writing by Maxin Mathew, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School, Landover Hills, Maryland
“Easter is an important time of joy and celebration. This holiday season isn’t only about the Easter bunny or finding eggs. Catholics celebrate the Easter season with prayers, liturgies and rituals that highlight the concepts of rebirth, regeneration and fresh starts. Easter to me is about celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus was crucified on Good Friday and rose from the dead on Easter Sunday. Easter is a time that I go to church with my family and reflect. During this time, I remember how Jesus died and was resurrected to save us from sin. It is also a time of prayer and reflection.” – Drawing of Veronica’s veil and writing by Imanie Mayi, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School, Landover Hills
“Easter to me is the celebration of Jesus resurrecting. Although when some people think of Easter, they think of bunnies and egg hunts, but to me, Easter is more about spending time with your family and remembering what Jesus did for us. Jesus did a lot for everyone. He died on the cross for our sins; that alone says a lot about His love for us. It’s not only what Jesus did, but it’s also what God did for us. God sacrificed His only son for our sins. Those things alone make up what Easter means to me, a day of love, reflection and hope.” – Amaya Elias, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School, Landover Hills
St. Peter’s School, Waldorf
“Easter is a time of joy and family. Together, we can understand the lengths Jesus went through to save us from our sins. We can rejoice that He has risen.” – Artwork showing the empty tomb and writing by Isabella Pinola, sixth grade, St. Peter’s School, Waldorf
"Easter is a time of reflection and remembrance. At this time, Jesus was resurrected, so we should take Easter as a time to reflect on Jesus' sacrifice. His sacrifice also freed us from our sins, so we should celebrate that, too." – Joshua Sabado, eighth grade, St. Peter's School, Waldorf
"To me, Easter represents a time of rebirth, a time when Jesus was resurrected to ensure his promise to the apostles. It is also a time to show we can change and become better." – Paul Fet, sixth grade, St. Peter's School, Waldorf
Father Andrew White, S.J. School, Leonardtown
“What Easter means to me is that Jesus was crucified on the cross and three days later he rose from the dead. It also means that we celebrate Holy Week and Palm Sunday. We go to Stations of the Cross every Friday. It means to me that Jesus gave up everything to save the world and to forgive everybody’s sins. It showed us that he loves us and that he would give up everything for us. One of my favorite things about Easter is that we go to the Stations of the Cross. I love Palm Sunday Mass as well. When we give up something for Lent, it means to me that we give something up to get closer to Jesus, and that Easter is not just about the Easter bunny, it’s about Jesus.” – Drew Barnes, fifth grade, Father Andrew White, S.J. School, Leonardtown, Maryland
“Easter is special to me. Every kid loves candy or the egg hunt. The thing I love the most is when my family comes together, family that you have not seen in a long time, or you just go to a lot of places. Then on Easter you have fun eating together... You also celebrate that Jesus has risen. You can celebrate in many ways like praying at the table, going to church and praying the rosary. Family members are the people who love you and they are there for you no matter what happens, just like Jesus, who loves you no matter what happens. He died for us, and he helps us every day. So Easter can be about candy or egg hunts, but the big thing is that Jesus has risen.” – Charlie Valeski, fifth grade, Father Andrew White, S.J. School, Leonardtown
“What Easter means to me is that Jesus died on the cross for us and rose again. A lot of kids are excited for the Easter bunny because they get candy and toys. Easter is a day where we should be happy. Jesus died for us and that means a lot. When Jesus died on the cross he got punished for our sins. He did this so we could experience God’s mercy and grace. On Easter I go to church. I dress up in Easter colors. When I listen to the gospel, I feel happy because Jesus did something amazing for us. It is really sad what he had to go through. It was probably really hard for Mary. She knew that what he was doing was right. When I got to the Stations of the Cross I look at the pictures. Some can be really sad. Every time I go I notice something I didn’t notice last time. Jesus did something that no other person would do. When I make my Lenten promise, I think about that, how he survived 40 nights in the desert and died on the cross for us. That is what Easter means to me.” – Reid Curry, fifth grade, Father Andrew White, S.J. School, Leonardtown
“What Easter means to me is that we get to spend time with Jesus and pray with him and remember that he died for our sins. We also have Lent, and we get to go to Mass and Stations of the Cross, and we have Ash Wednesday. Leading up to Easter, some members of my family and I go to Mass, and we pray to Jesus. Some of us have a Lenten promise. Mine is giving up brownies, but this is important because it brings us closer to God. We also do almsgiving, and what I do is give money to the homeless and give them food. Then we also have prayer, and what I do is pray the rosary every morning so it brings me closer to God… Every Friday leading up to Easter, we go to the Stations of the Cross with my class. Some people go to bed on Easter eve excited to get candy and toys but also excited to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus is my Lord and Savior; he died for us on the cross. That’s what Easter means to me.” – Luna Farr, fifth grade, Father Andrew White, S.J. School, Leonardtown
“The meaning of Easter to me is that Jesus died for our sins. Most kids think that Easter is just about waking up and seeing what candy or toy they got. But to me Easter is about going to church and celebrating Jesus’ resurrection. Every Easter we go on a vacation to celebrate Jesus. On Easter morning, we get up and go to church. Easter to me is also about spending time with my family. Every Friday until Easter we go to Stations of the Cross. A special Station for me is when Mary is with Jesus when he is taken down from the cross. To me that Station is special because it showed how much his mom loved and cared about him, just like my mom. Easter is also special because it showed me what wonderful things God can do. I think it is amazing that Jesus gave up his life to save the world and make us free from sins. That’s what Easter means to me!” – Chandler Johnston, fifth grade, Father Andrew White, S.J. School, Leonardtown
Academy of Saint Matthias the Apostle, Lanham
Blessed Sacrament School in Washington, D.C.
“Easter is such a special holiday in the time of spring. It is when Jesus rose from the dead after dying on the cross. Easter is very meaningful to me and my whole family. On Easter Sunday, we always go to Mass and fast for one hour before it. Then we go out to brunch and have a big meal. There are crêpes, muffins, eggs and a lot more! After that, we go to our relative’s house. I hang out with my family, friends, and a lot of relatives, and we have a huge, long, fun party! We have an Easter egg hunt, then go home. At home, we have fun doing activities and thank God for what He has done. Finally, we have dinner and go to bed. This is what Easter is for me.” – Artwork and writing by Nafkot Elias, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
“Palm Sunday is the Christian feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, it is an event mentioned in each of the gospels. Its name originates from the palm branches waved by the crowd to greet and honor Jesus as he entered the city…” – Michael Oluigbe, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
“To me, Easter means family because we always go to celebrate together. Easter also means Jesus saved us on the cross, and we should all worship Him and love Jesus every day, especially Easter. It also means going to Mass to celebrate Easter and Jesus. I love to celebrate Easter, and it means so much to me and I hope you think that too!” – Allyson DiBenedetto, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
“Easter means Jesus’ glorious resurrection to me. I don’t think Easter is just about having Easter egg hunts, eating chocolate bunnies, or eating Peeps. I think it’s about celebrating Jesus rising from the dead after dying to take away our sins and to open the gates of heaven for everyone…” – Artwork and writing by Eldana Tilahun, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
“Easter is the most celebrated holy day in the Catholic Church. Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, which is the day Jesus traveled to Jerusalem. The people laid their palms down while Jesus entered the city as an act of respect. On Holy Thursday, he had the Last Supper with his apostles and was betrayed by Judas. Jesus was crucified on Good Friday and rose into heaven on Easter Sunday. Easter for my family is a quiet holiday. We are Orthodox Christians, so many of the traditions are different. We dye Easter eggs red, and we make crosses with parchment paper. After the holiday, we often travel to Deep Creek in Pennsylvania to enjoy God’s gift of nature.” – Raina Michaelidis, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
“Easter means many things to me. For me, Easter is a day we celebrate Jesus’s resurrection. Easter is also a day when we go Easter egg hunting to have a great time. Easter is also when we go to Mass to pray for Jesus to improve our relationship with God, and it's also when we don’t need to keep fasting.” – Artwork and writing by Vincent Neree, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
“Easter is a very special time to learn and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus with various festivities. During Easter, I enjoy the symbolic food traditions and church services at my church. Also, I have a nice Easter meal, spend time with my family, and learn more about Easter during Bible study at church. Jesus accepted the pain of the cross without a plea to show us how much He loves us and to save us from sin and death. So for that reason, that’s why I think Easter is a fun and very important time to remember Jesus Christ for all He has done for us.” – Liyu Berhanemeskel, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
“Easter to me isn’t about what I get in my basket from the Easter bunny. Easter is spending time with family and friends. It’s also a day to think about what Jesus has done for us. My family and I go to Easter Mass and then go eat lunch. After we go to my grandparents’ house with our cousins and have an Easter egg hunt.” – Elle Jones, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
St. Columba School in Oxon Hill, Maryland
“Easter to me is all about quality time with my family/friends/parish. It’s a time to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. My family celebrates with a huge egg hunt and gathering.” – Artwork and writing by Madison Pleta, eighth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill
“To me Easter means to celebrate the resurrection of Christ and all He’s done for us. Not only that, it is also a day to be thankful and rejoice. Easter also means to love others, because Jesus loves us all and He showed this by dying on the cross for us.” – Dakotah Lovelace, eighth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill
“Jesus died on the cross just so we could be without sin. Even though Jesus suffered, he still wanted to follow God’s plan.” – Lianna Gonzales, eighth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill
“To me, Easter means the resurrection of Jesus. While Easter is filled with candy and egg hunts, people seem to lose sight of why we celebrate.” – Artwork and writing by Sonali Jenkins, eighth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill
“Easter means spending time with my family and remembering how Jesus died for us but then rose again.” – Artwork and writing by Lynne Gonzales, sixth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill
“What Easter means to me is that Jesus died for us. Yes, Jesus rose from the dead on Easter, but three days before that, he was executed because of our sins, and I am so happy and thankful for what He has done for us…” – Artwork and writing by Maya Hipolito, seventh grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill
"To me, Easter means new beginnings, as Jesus died to give us new beginnings. Easter is about gratitude and the celebration of our Lord saving us from sin and death. Without Holy Week, there would never be an Easter. The Way of the Cross was filled with so much suffering, and it displays how much God loves all of us. For Him to send down His only Son just for the salvation of His people is the ultimate blessing. We should be thankful for the reminder that we are saved from evil. Easter isn’t just about Jesus’s resurrection, it is also about us being saved and our gratitude for that.” – Artwork and writing by Nicaeya Florentino, eighth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill
“To me, Easter is a holy time. We should be praising the Lord…” – Artwork and writing by Betselot Abey, sixth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill
St. John the Evangelist School, Clinton
“Easter means new life to me. Jesus went through pain and suffering for us. On Easter, he rose just as He had promised. This shows that Jesus is true to His word, and He will always be with us. I love Jesus and trust Him. I always appreciate what He did for me. –Artwork and writing by Angely Zacarias, seventh grade, St. John the Evangelist School, Clinton, Maryland
“To me, Easter means the love and sacrifices Jesus made for us. He went through a lot during Holy Week, including dying on the cross for us. He died to save us from sins and to lead us to God and heaven. To me, that shows the true love He has for us. Easter to me is also about happiness, knowing that Jesus has risen from the dead. In my opinion, everyone is happy during Easter, just like Jesus would want us to be.” – Artwork and writing by Abby Martin, seventh grade, St. John the Evangelist School, Clinton
“Easter, for me, means that Jesus loves us, and it also marks the resurrection of Jesus three days after his death by crucifixion. It means that we always have someone that truly loves us. Easter, for us, is all about celebrating Jesus’s resurrection.” – Artwork and writing by Angie Callejas, seventh grade, St. John the Evangelist School, Clinton
St. Elizabeth School, Rockville
“On Good Friday, Veronica wiped the face of Jesus. To me, this event is connected to what Easter means to me. Easter, to me, is all about seeing the piece of God in everyone. That’s what Veronica saw in Jesus; she saw his divinity and his humanity. Veronica wanted to wipe away the blood, the pain that Jesus had. I believe we should do that with our peers, see the Jesus in them and allow them to grow.” – Artwork and writing by Tania Rivera, seventh grade, St. Elizabeth School, Rockville
“Easter means a lot to me. The night of Easter my family and I go to the Easter Vigil, which is a very lovely Mass. Next we go home, take Easter pictures in our nice Mass clothes, then get into our pajamas. My siblings and I then set our Easter baskets up on our table. We then have a nice Easter dinner, and then we watch the movie ‘Hop,’ which we watch every year. We go to bed and wake up to many fun things in our Easter baskets!” – Frances Locraft, seventh grade, St. Elizabeth School, Rockville
“To me, Easter means celebrating Jesus’s resurrection and also spending time with my family. I love going to Easter Mass with my grandmother and doing fun religious activities in class. Easter is a time of happiness for me, because we are saved, and I get to visit family for the special time. Easter is one of my favorite holidays, and it means a lot to me. There are so many things to love about it, but my favorite part is just being able to spend time and make memories with the people I love.” – Artwork and writing by Daphne Kaczowka, seventh grade, St. Elizabeth School, Rockville
“To me, Easter is a fresh start during which my family and I rejoice and focus on our personal relationships with God. After a long period during Lent, when we abstain from certain foods, fast, and give up things that keep us away from God, we are ready to grow. Our prayer life is in a position where it can flourish, which ultimately leads to true, deep happiness. Easter, like the season of spring that comes with it, is truly a gift from God. At Easter, we can spend time with our families and embrace our gratitude, hope, optimism, and joy.” – Sarah Marie Amjad, seventh grade, St. Elizabeth School, Rockville
“To me, Easter is a time of rebirth of the soul, and it is also a season of celebration and giving thanks to Jesus because He rose from the dead. Jesus did this for us, because He loves us and would die for us, like He did on the cross. Easter is a time of new life and joy with God.” – Diego Pantoja, eighth grade, St. Elizabeth School, Rockville
“Jesus’s agony in the garden is one of the most impactful moments of Holy Week. It is the time Jesus is betrayed for money. Easter shows that Jesus will forgive even the ones that killed him. Easter, to me, is a time of forgiving. It is a time that the ones who hurt us are then together with us. We are all a family, even if we have to forgive each other, we are family.” – Aidan Frownfelter, eighth grade, St. Elizabeth School, Rockville
“Easter is the day when Jesus resurrected. He died for our sins, and that proves how much He loves us and cares. Even though people are excited for the fun events in Easter like scavenger hunts and Easter eggs, we most importantly have to remember Jesus’s resurrection. We have to be grateful for Jesus and remember what He did for us. We should always keep Easter holy.” – Natalia Martinez, sixth grade, St. Elizabeth School, Rockville
Our Lady Star of the Sea in Solomons, Maryland
“Easter means to me celebrating Holy Week and thanking God for all that He’s done to save us from our sins. I love being able to go to Stations of the Cross throughout Lent. I will try my best to pray more and give alms.” – Artwork and writing by Kalina Dillard, fifth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons, Maryland
“Easter is a time for my family to come together and go to Easter Mass together. Easter is also a time to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection after the third day. On Easter Sunday I pray the rosary and five Our Fathers to get closer to Jesus and God because the Lenten season is over. I rejoice on Easter Sunday because Jesus’ crucifixion was done and Jesus had risen on the third day.” – Monroe Bailey, fourth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons
“To me, I don’t think Easter is about getting chocolates from the Easter bunny. To me, Easter is about Jesus’ resurrection, and on Easter, I think we should celebrate it not by a party but by going to Mass. On Easter, we should pray a lot and thank God for sending a Redeemer to save us from our sins and open the gates of heaven. That’s what Easter means to me.” – Lillian Palmer, fourth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons
“I love celebrating Easter because it is a time about Jesus and prayer! Although the traditions are fun, we still need to remember what Easter is about! Christmas is not all about presents, and Easter is not all about rabbits hiding eggs. Though it is hard to do, we still need to remember to praise God during these holidays. Easter is my favorite because it’s about Jesus.” – Sadie Grey, fifth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons
“The thing I like about Easter is the journey through Lent. Every time our class goes to the Stations of the Cross, we are reminded of the real reason why we celebrate Easter in the first place. Not because of coloring eggs from the Easter bunny but because Jesus saved us from sin.” – Valentina Cruceta, fifth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons
Topic for next Junior Saints
In the month of May, we will celebrate Mary and Mother’s Day. For the next Junior Saints, students are invited to draw a picture of Mary and write about what you admire about Mary, or draw a picture of your mother and write about what you admire about your mother. The drawings and writings should be emailed to ZimmermannM@adw.org by Wednesday April 24, 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. Please no long essays. Thank you!
