Faculty, students and staff within the Diocese of Gary celebrated Catholic Schools Week in various ways Jan. 25-31, but three separate Masses held during the week saw students from different schools coming together as one Body of Christ.
Bishop Robert J. McClory presided over Masses at Andrean High School in Merrillville, Bishop Noll Institute in Hamond and Marquette High School in Michigan City. Diocesan elementary students arrived at each of the faith-based institutions to join the high school students at each location in praising God and celebrating their Catholic identity.
During his homilies, Bishop Robert McClory referenced tables that were set up just inside the entryway that students passed on their way into Mass. He explained the artwork on those tables were from elementary and middle school students in the diocese who creatively depicted their answer to the question, “What does God’s love look like in your life?”
Bishop McClory complimented the artwork that was submitted and asked the students to share aloud a few of the ways God’s love is seen in their lives. Responses from the students included staying healthy and safe, waking up each morning, and being surrounded by friends and family.
The bishop said sometimes it's important for us to remind ourselves of God’s love. He stressed that it’s not a generic love but that God loves “each and everyone of us individually in accordance with our needs and with everyone around us in so many ways.”
“And what can happen is sometimes we can get into, what we might say is, a ‘funk,’" he said. “We can kind of go into a downward spiral and begin to think ‘I don't think I'm loveable’or ‘I don't feel loved.’ We may even feel a little lonely or isolated.”
Bishop McClory encouraged the students to, rather than just think about the troubles, problems and challenges they might be facing, look at the bigger picture – and know God loves them.
“We can all look back in our life at the moments where we knew God’s love, right now and in the past,” he said. “And so that really requires just kind of a simplicity to say, ‘I know life is tough but God loves me.’”
The bishop also encouraged the students to consider how they can be an instrument and share God's love with others. He stated that if it is true that people experience God’s love through family and friends, then they are called to share, as family as friends, God’s love with each other.
“God says, ‘I want to use you. I want to show you how you can be loving to others,’” Bishop McClory said.
Bishop McClory added that everyone has gifts and is asked to use them to serve one another.
He said, “As we think about our gifts as being neither mine nor yours, we begin to learn that we can share our real gifts with each other. We realize that what I have is not diminished by sharing. And the gifts that we have are not just stuff or material possessions, but the knowledge that the Lord knows us and loves us.”
At the end of each Mass, Assistant Superintendent of Catholic Schools Dr. Jodi McLawhorn took to the ambo to share details of this year’s inaugural Catholic Identity Art Content.
McLawhorn noted that she had the pleasure of working with the teachers from three Catholic high schools to bring forward the important initiative in the diocese. She took a moment to recognize those students and the educators who helped bring the project to life.
McLawhorn provided some of the background of the contest, explaining that in September 2025, the diocese decided to launch its first ever Catholic Identity Art Contest. The initiative invited students from diocesan elementary schools to reflect creatively on their faith and what it means to live as disciples of Christ. Through artistic expression, students were asked to respond to a simple, yet profound question, “What does God's love look like in my life?”
Over the past several months, the art teachers from the diocesan high schools worked intentionally and collaboratively to make the vision a reality. They thoughtfully developed the contest guidelines. They partnered with the elementary schools, gathered submissions and carefully reviewed each piece of student work.
“These are visible signs of faith, creativity, and most importantly, student voice,” McLawhorn said. “We are deeply grateful for our leadership’s time and dedication to nurturing both artistic talents and spiritual growth across our diocese of schools.”
McLawhorn took time to acknowledge the high school teachers involved Dana Moore (Bishop Noll), Jennifer Gwiazda (Bishop Noll), Hannah Lareau (Bishop Noll), Christa Manthe (Andrean), Bridgette Gintzler (Andrean) and Matthew Raney (Marquette).
The assistant superintendent then turned the attention to the students who she commended for their incredible effort, prayerful reflection and talent they poured into their artwork. Their submissions, she said, reflect not only strong artistic skill, but also a deep and thoughtful understanding of the Catholic faith.
McLawhorn paused to recognize all students who submitted their art for the contest and who could see their work displayed within the high school hallways and also on the diocesan website (https://dcgary.org/schools-art-contest).
She said, “These works stand as a beautiful testament to the faith, creativity, and formation that is taking place in our Catholic schools.”
McLawhorn announced the winners and invited them to come forward to be recognized. Each was individually congratulated by Bishop McClory, Superintendent Dr. Colleen Brewer, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jorge Peña and Education Resource Coordinator Ingrid Znika. They were honored with a certificate and a small gift bag of coloring utensils.
One of the winners, Jennifer Zepeda, an eighth grader at St. Thomas More School in Munster, explained her artwork shows God helping someone out of the water.
“He is saving them,” she said. “I hope that people know that God is always by their side and He will be there for you when they look at my drawing.”
STM Art Teacher Cindy Del Rio believes the project was very thought-provoking for the students. She said the students were challenged to deeply reflect on what their faith means to them in order to express it through their artwork.
“This encouraged meaningful introspection and personal engagement with their beliefs,” Del Rios said. “The students expressed themselves through a wide variety of artistic media and perspectives, which showed a rich diversity in how they understand and live their faith. Seeing the many unique ways students interpreted and depicted their faith can inspire others to reflect on their own faith journeys and consider what matters most to them in their relationship with God.”
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ART CONTEST WINNERS:
Bishop Noll Institute Submissions
Grade 6-8: Jennifer Zepeda
St. Thomas More School, 8th Grade
Title: "Never Alone"
Medium: colored pencil.
Grade 3-5: Osvaldo Gonzalez Vallejo
St. Stanislaus School, 5th Grade
Title:"God's Love Lights Your Path"
Medium: 2D Drawing
Grade K-2: Olen Maldonado
St. John the Baptist, 1st Grade
Title: "I See Love in God's Creations"
Medium: 2D Drawing
Andrean High School Submissions
Grade 6-8: Sophia Rios
St. Michael, 7th Grade
Title: "The Visitation"
Medium: Color pencil
Grade 3-5: Meilynn Guo
St. Michael, 5th grade,
Title: "God's Creation"
Medium: Watercolor Paint
Grade K-2: Damian Zamarlo
Kindergarten, St. Michael
Title: "Falling Leaves"
Medium: Tempera and Watercolor Paint
Marquette High School Submissions
Grade 6-8: Selena Loza
Nativity of Our Savior, 5th Grade
Title: “Gone but Never Forgotten”
Medium: Paint/Cardboard on Canvas
Grade 3-5: Sophia Molina
St. Paul, 5th Grade
Title: “The Love of the World”
Medium: Paper Collage
Grade K-2: Lacey Gonzalez
St. Patrick, 2nd Grade
Title: “We Pray to God”
Medium: Marker
