Eucharistic Rally Contest winners announced

IC Photo/Laura Vallejo

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All contest entries were displayed in poster form at the Eucharistic Rally.

SANDY — Catholic students throughout Utah submitted entries for the Diocesan Eucharistic Rally arts contest.

With the theme “How Do I Encounter Jesus in the Eucharist?” the contest drew entries in English and Spanish in a variety of media: drawings, reflections, poetry, video and music. Contestants ranged from kindergarten students to those in college.

The winner of the video category, Joseph Patrick Oppedisano of St. John the Baptist Parish, said he chose that medium “because I wanted to show everyone how every different tabernacle is different.”

Oppedisano, an incoming freshman at Chesterton Academy, visited 12 Catholic churches along the Wasatch Front, taking pictures of tabernacles and monstrances; his video also included photos taken by other people. One special experience, he said, was at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Magna, because “my grandpa had all of his sacraments there, my mom was baptized there and received First Communion there, and my great-grandfather went to Mass there after raising 14 children in the Church, and was a sacristan until he was 100 years old.”

He encountered some difficulty in taking the photos, such as the time it took to drive to the various churches, “and after that the only hard part was editing the video to make it perfect,” he said.

Making the video deepened his faith, he said. “I felt closer to God every time I went to those different churches.”

Among the contest entrants were Piper Eller and Marianna Rose Eller; the sisters are St. John the Baptist parishioners. Marianna Rose won the K-3 category with a drawing she made of the epiclesis, which she said was her favorite part of the Mass. Piper entered a poem.

The sisters entered the contest on their own, said their mother, Genna Eller. Marianna Rose “literally sat down that second and was like, ‘I’m drawing the epiclesis,’” when her mother told her about the contest, whereas Piper said she might have a poem that she might want to turn in about 10 days later, Genna Eller said.

Having their girls be enthusiastic about the Eucharist “is really encouraging,” said their father, Craig Eller. “What you always hope for in raising your kids is that they’re going to have faith as they become adults, so to see them be engaged is really encouraging.”      

The contest drew 43 entries from 13 parishes, said Julie Boerio-Goates, the contest coordinator. Some were from “a group that I suspect was preparing for Confirmation. … Some did artwork and some did an artwork plus a reflection, and the reflections were incredibly profound,” she said.

All of the entrants were invited to present their work at the rally, held July 9 at the Diocesan Eucharistic Rally at the Mountain America Eucharistic Rally. All 43 submissions were displayed in a poster form outside the Family Zone entrance, and seven contestants accepted invitations to present in the oral sessions.

Best of Show

Isabel Bagnato (Original music reflection), St. John the Baptist Parish

K-3: Marianna Rose Eller,  St. John the Baptist Parish  

Grade 4-6: Monica Keegan, St. John the Baptist Parish  

Grade 7-9: Colton Gardner, St. Andrew Parish

Grade 7-9 Art and Reflection: Victor Garcia, Sts. Peter & Paul Parish

Grade 7-9 Reflection: Jewel Corona, Sts. Peter & Paul Parish

Grade 10-12: Grace Rasmussen, St. James the Just Parish

College Winner: Tynli Moore, St. Jerome Newman Center  

Video Winner: Joseph Patrick Oppedisano, St. John the Baptist Parish