Celebrating attitudes of gratitude for our common home

By Christina Bagaglio Slentz

As part of this year’s celebration of the Season of Creation, we again recognized two groups that reflect attitudes of gratitude for the gift of creation — our “Laudato Si” Champions and our youth art contest participants.

Ranging in age and expression, these members of our Catholic community reveal the diverse ways we can all engage with creation in a faith-filled manner.

This year, two schools, six parishes and several individuals received awards for taking action. And more than 75 students competed in our youth art contest, which had as a theme “For the Beauty of the Earth.”

May we all plant and serve as “seeds of peace and hope for creation,” as Pope Leo XIV has called us to do and to be.

2025 “Laudato Si” Champions

St. Charles Borromeo Parish

St. Mary Parish, National City

St. Brigid Parish

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish

Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish

St. Luke Parish, El Cajon

Notre Dame Academy

St. Michael’s School, Poway

Our Lady of Guadalupe Youth Group

Mater Dei Catholic High School

Cristo Rey San Diego High School

Kari Lorraine Scott

Grace White

Annika Mara

Marilyn Kott

Ramon Riesgo

Will Peterson

John Murcko

Patricia Ureña

Christina Rojas

Rachel Ireland

Rita MacIntyre

Lynn Kaufhold

Brinkley Johnson

Brilema Perez

Ray Almanza

Andrés Garcia

Judy Mitchell

Pia Kellem

Lee Hulburt

2025 Art Contest Winners

4^th-5^th Grade
Natalie Gunn, St. Didacus — 1^st place
Chloe Dao, St. Didacus — 2^nd place

6^th-8^th Grade
Curran Moreau, St. Mary Star of the Sea, Oceanside — 1^st place
Abigail Prill, School of the Madeleine — 2^nd place

9^th-10^th grade
Ana Sofia Casavantes-Miklos, OLP — 1st place
Riley Burns, OLP — 2^nd place

11^th-12^th grade
Kaelyn Saner, OLP — 1^st place
Nicole Espinoza, OLP — 2^nd place