Notre Dame Academy student emphasizes works of mercy in Thanksgiving card artwork

Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

Greidy Deleon’s watercolor depiction of Jesus washing the feet of the apostles has been selected as the artwork for Bishop John Iffert’s annual Thanksgiving card, sent to over 7,000 people throughout the Diocese of Covington. Ms. Deleon is a student of Notre Dame Academy, Park Hills, her artwork was selected from that of her peers to represent Bishop Iffert’s message of thanksgiving.

The Office of Stewardship and Mission services invites one of the nine Diocesan high schools to submit student artwork on the theme of thanksgiving to go on the Thanksgiving card. The chosen high school will submit artwork for two years before a new school is selected. This being Notre Dame Academy’s first year, they will invite students to submit artwork next year as well.

When Ms. Deleon heard about the open submissions from her art teacher, she did not have high hopes. “I didn’t really think I had a chance,” she said. When her art teacher, Hunter Fleury, told her that her artwork had been selected, “I was shocked because I didn’t really think I was going to make it,” she said.

Ms. Deleon’s artwork depicts Jesus washing the feet of an unknown apostle, an idea inspired by the virtue of thanksgiving. “My art teacher said to think of Thanksgiving as giving yourself and doing service. That reminded me of Jesus and washing the feet of the apostles,” she said.

“I feel like when people will see this, they’ll know that they should also give service because that’s what Jesus told us to do, and that’s the example he left here on Earth for us,” said Ms. Deleon.