TOLEDO—Catholic elementary students in the greater Toledo area can share both their artistic talent and their faith in the “Keep Christ in Christmas” poster contest.

The grand prizewinner has his or her artwork displayed on a billboard on the Anthony Wayne Trail near the Toledo Zoo for a month. The Christmas 2006 winning poster is to be on the billboard this Christmas, and next year, the Christmas ’07 winner’s poster is to be displayed.

“I feel it’s an important program because many people get lost in the commercialization of Christmas and they forget what it’s all about,” says chairman Jonathan Boyle. “This program serves not only as a reminder to the children, but also to the community that Christmas is about Christ.”

Each of the 13 councils in the Greater Toledo Chapter of the Knights of Columbus can submit one poster for the final round of the contest and a panel of judges from the art department at Lourdes College is to choose the grand prizewinner. Each council may also choose additional local winners.

Councils may set up their contest in any way they choose, Mr. Boyle says. He suggests both Catholic school students and public school students in religious education programs be invited to enter. He says his council usually receives about 200 entries.

Councils may also set up whatever categories they choose, he explains, whether choosing first, second and third prizewinners from each grade or from grade-groups. Award ceremonies for local prizewinners are each council’s option.

One way to spread the message throughout parishes, Mr. Boyle says, is for local councils and parishes to publicly display either the winning entries or all entries from their area in parochial schools, nursing homes or other places in the community.
Mr. Boyle says his council made a Power Point presentation of digital photos of the three top posters from each grade at Toledo Pope John Paul II Elementary School and showed it at a Mass for the entire community to see.

All of the top poster winners from each council, their families, pastors and the Grand Knights from their councils are invited to a breakfast sponsored by the Greater Toledo Chapter and the West Toledo Chapter of the Knights of Columbus Jan. 6, at which the Christmas 2007 winning entry is announced.

Mr. Boyle says the poster contest is only one way Knights of Columbus chapters are trying to publicize their message. Various councils have used yard signs, magnets and Christmas cards to remind people to put Christ first in their Christmas preparation and celebration.

Frank Buckman, former chairman of the poster contest, agrees. “We’re trying to do as much as we can in different ways to spread the message,” he says. “I think it’s just gotten some momentum. There’s more and more of a realization that we need to get this message out.”

Rules for the contest require the words “Keep Christ in Christmas” be part of the poster. Each entry must be 10 inches tall and 16 inches wide so it can be reproduced on a billboard if it wins.

Any medium — chalk, paint, crayon, colored pencil or other art form — may be used; but tracing, cutouts or paste-ups will be disqualified. All submissions must be the child’s original work.

Posters must include the name, phone number, grade level, school or religious education program, school room, teacher, parish and Knights of Columbus Council name on the back.

Councils may set their own deadlines for their program, but one entry from each council must be submitted to Mr. Boyle no later than Dec. 20.

For official rules for the poster contest, deadlines and other information, contact the nearest Knights of Columbus council.