Joyous celebration with the poor
January 9, 2018
Administrators must answer for wretched Windies
January 9, 2018
Jirelle Celeste Baptiste has the distinction of having one of her drawings featured in the – Living Faith Kids Daily Catholic Devotionals for the first quarter of this year.
In an interview at the office Catholic Media Services Ltd (CAMSEL), Independence Square, her father Gary Baptiste said she did all the puzzles and activities in the quarterly booklet, which he has been purchasing for more than five years. The 11 year-old said she was prompted to submit something because, “I love to draw and I wanted to draw Jesus”. She also noticed drawings from children of other nations “but none from my country”.
The piece created is based on an image of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane which she saw in a calendar. The original picture had landscape but Jirelle’s focus is on Jesus. He is praying against a dark background, highlighting him as light against the darkness.
Jirelle worked on the drawing when she had time and took about two weeks. Baptiste said, “She is determined when she puts her mind to something she sees it through.”
The completed piece was sent in April last year and there was no feedback however, it was only after purchasing the Living Faith Kids last month and browsing through it that he saw a familiar drawing on the ‘Your Page’ section on page 102. Baptiste, a teacher at the Sangre Grande Secondary said he felt very happy it was included and was maybe more excited than Jirelle.
The proud father spoke of her talents in creating clay figures, drawing on the computer, playing the harmonium; she is the lead harmonium player in her school, and writing her own songs. He described her as “exceptional” in Mathematics.
Jirelle has taken part in CAMSEL’s Create a Crèche competition 2015 and 2016. Although seemingly shy during the interview, there was no hesitation when asked if she would submit artwork to other competitions, “yes!” – LPG
