By KERI CHAMPION

Staff Reporter

PAULINA- A local youth whose faith inspired him to depict a creative interpretation of a call from Jesus has received national honors for his artwork.

Ben Detiller, of Gramercy will be awarded a cash prize of $100 for his entry in the national &#8220Try Prayer It Works” contest. Ben is in fourth grade at St. Peter Chanel School in Paulina. The contest is sponsored by Family Rosary. The school will receive $200 for being a sponsor with a winning entry.

Ben was the national first place winner out of all fourth grade entries received. The theme for this year’s contest was ‘There’s a Knock on the Door- It’s Jesus’. Ben chose to draw a picture with three doors with Jesus behind the doors in disguise calling upon him to serve. Family Rosary sponsors the contest every year and this was the 12th annual competition. The contest allowed students to enter prose, poetry or artwork for consideration.

He said he chose the door theme because of the theme title and because he believes that Jesus can come in all shapes and sizes.

&#8220Sometimes you don’t know it’s Jesus because he can be in disguise.” Ben said.

Two other students from St. Peter Chanel School also placed. Gillian Rose Miculek placed second in the third grade division for a picture in which a young man is called to the priesthood, and Mason Anthony Keller placed second in the first grade division for a poem and collage he submitted to the contest.

This is the second year that Gillian has placed in the competition. Last year, she won first place in the second grade division. Gillian said she loves to draw and enjoys entering the contest.

Mason said his favorite part about entering was gluing the collage pieces on the paper that his mom printed from the computer.

&#8220I am confident that a combination of talented students and the staff’s commitment to religion have attributed to the success of the students in the ‘Try Prayer It Works Contest’,” said Joannna Foltz, principal of St. Peter Chanel School.

This is the third year the school has entered the contest and they have had a winner each year they have participated.

&#8220Our staff is very spiritual and they have an outstanding commitment to catholic education and the development of the religious foundation of the children,” she said.

Catholic schools, organizations and church parishes from around the nations received 50,000 entries from students from which about 3000 of those entries were submitted for consideration for the cash prize of $100 for the respective winners.

Family Rosary is a division of Holy Cross Missions founded by Father Patrick Peyton who grew up in Ireland and later came to the United States. The mission of Family Rosary is to promote family spirituality and prayer in our everyday lives, particularly by learning to pray the Rosary.

Peyton was responsible for coining the popular phrase &#8220The Family That Prays Together Stays Together.”