CANTON -- A kindergarten student from St. John the Evangelist School, Kelly Morrissey, was recently awarded second place in the national “Try Prayer! It Works!” contest.

“Try Prayer! It Works!” is a national competition that encourages students to express their faith through art, poetry and prose. Each year, children and teens from various Catholic organizations utilize their creative skills to illustrate a different faith-based theme. This year’s theme was “There’s A Knock on the Door esus!”

Six-year-old Kelly was selected from more than 3,000 entries and more than 50,000 participants in the 12th annual contest.

For her award-winning entry, Kelly submitted a colorful drawing of two children who answer the door and find Jesus there.

“The contest enables children of all ages to express creatively the importance of Jesus and Mary in their daily lives,” said Father John Phalen, CSC, President of Holy Cross Family Ministries. “Accepting Jesus as our savior can change us in profound ways and is a marvelous occasion for children to examine their faith. They can look at the miracles around them and show how they have an impact upon each of us. All of the entries demonstrate how prayer, thought and creativity are an inspiration to young and old.”

The competition awards up to three winners per grade. First place winners receive $100, while the sponsoring organization earns $200. Runners-up win a set of Family Theater Productions movies.