A collection of extraordinary visual art pieces inspired by the Saints were unveiled as part of this year’s Clancy Religious Art Prize and Exhibition.
The opening night of the exhibition, held at the McGlade Gallery at the Australian Catholic University on Friday 5 September, saw the announcement of 17 individual and collaborative awards, including the coveted Executive Director’s Award.
Marist Catholic College North Shore student Suki Delaney was the deserving recipient this year, with her painting of Saint Rita of Cascia being selected as the outstanding work by Sydney Catholic Schools Executive Director Danielle Cronin.
“Saint Rita’s life is a powerful testament to transformation, turning pain into peace, suffering into strength, and impossibility into hope,” said Suki.
“She shows us that hope is not something fleeting or fragile, but something anchored in a lifetime of faith and trust in God.
“This artwork is a tribute to her quiet strength and her unwavering witness to the divine love, even in the face of life’s greatest challenges.”
This year’s theme, Saints Anchored in Hope, was in alignment with the overarching theme of the Jubilee Year, Pilgrims of Hope.
The theme encouraged our young artists to reflect on the lives of the Saints who have gone before us, and draw inspiration from their unwavering faith, perseverance and trust in God’s promises.
The Clancy Prize was first launched in 1999 by Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal Edward Clancy, who recognised the importance of religious art as a powerful force in the service of humanity.
Today, it’s open to all Sydney Archdiocese secondary students, offering them a chance to celebrate their connection to God and the Catholic tradition, and to showcase their extraordinary talents in the visual arts.
The exhibition will remain open to the public until 19 September.
Well done to all students who submitted entries into this year’s competition and congratulations to those selected as winners.
2025 CLANCY RELIGIOUS ART PRIZE WINNERS
The Executive Director’s Award
Suki Delaney – Marist Catholic College North Shore
St. Rita
The Monsignor Doherty Prize
Ava Johnston – Loreto Kirribilli
Joan of Arc
The Monsignor Doherty Prize
Alessia Chiotis – St Ursula’s College Kingsgrove
Saintly Love
The Monsignor Doherty Prize – 2nd place
Evelyn Li – Loreto Kirribilli
A New Hope
The Monsignor Doherty Prize – Collaborative
De La Salle Catholic College Cronulla
St Aloysius
The Brian Jordan Prize
Veronica Lattouf – Our Lady of Mercy Catholic College Burraneer
Faithful Witness: Saint Jude
The Brian Jordan Prize
Mary Kayrouz – St Charbel’s College Punchbowl
Saint Rafqa
The Brian Jordan Prize – 2nd place
Elizabeth Moody – Loreto Kirribilli
The Little Rose
The Brian Jordan Prize – 3rd place
Isabella Ngo – Casimir Catholic College Marrickville
Her Gift of Hope
Br Kelvin Canavan Prize
Nethu Honda – Trinity College Auburn
Witness of the Flare
ACU School of Education Award
Lillian Wander and Katy Toole – Loreto Kirribilli
Burning Hope
ACU School of Education Award
Alyssandra Rosina – Marist College North Shore
Saint Lucia of Syracuse
ACU School of Education Award – Collaborative
Freeman Catholic College Bonnyrigg Heights
Threads and Letters of Hope
ACU School of Arts Award
Morgan Irvin – Kincoppal-Rose Bay
Chapelle Du Sacré-Cœur
ACU School of Arts Award
Nicole Cheng – Marist Sisters College Woolwich
Light Keeper
ACU School of Arts Award – Collaborative
Stage 4 – Kincoppal-Rose Bay
Wings of Courage
ACU School of Arts Award – Collaborative
De La Salle Catholic College Caringbah
Crafted in Hope
Packing Room Prize
Marcus Pareski – Patrician Brothers’ College Fairfield
The Power of the Blood of Christ
