St. Augustine of Canterbury R.C. School unveils portrait of St. Lucy Filippini.
By: Tammy Tibbetts
When students tugged gold sheets off a wall of St. Augustine of Canterbury R.C. School’s gathering area Sunday, they unveiled a portrait of St. Lucy Filippini that awed a crowd of more than 200 people.
The 7-by-13-foot mural towered above the seven students who, along with the school’s five nuns and vice principal, were depicted in the artwork, personalized touch added by Polish artist Andrzej Praszczyk in his version of an untitled work that hangs in the Chapel of St. Lucy in Tarquinia, Italy.
The focal point of the painting, which was done as three panels and hangs in the entranceway, is the illustrious portrait of St. Lucy, known for educating others about God during her life from 1672 to 1732. She holds an open book imprinted with the words "Love God" and is flanked by angels on both sides.
"It’s very breathtaking," said the Rev. Robert G. Lynam, the church’s pastor.
He came up with the idea after seeing the original during his trip to Italy a year ago and asked Mr. Praszczyk to adapt it for St. Augustine’s.
Father Lynam said a portrait of St. Lucy is important for the public veneration of a woman who dedicated her life to teaching others, particularly women and children, about God. With the painting in such a prominent spot, he said, it would remind all passersby of how much the saints love them.
At the reception following the blessing of the portrait, Claire Schuller, trustee of the pastoral board at St. Augustine’s, said, "It’s a gentle reminder that religious vocations are still out there."
Fittingly, she said, the unveiling occurred on National Vocation Awareness Sunday.
Sitting across from her at a table, Theresa Jenkins, whose children graduated from the school and is an alumna herself, added that she valued the historical background on St. Lucy, which vice principal Kathleen Lakarosky related during the dedication, because it gave "a sense of ministry."
Ms. Lakarosky said that Pope Pius XI canonized St. Lucy in 1930 because she was tireless in her proclamation of God’s love for man. One of her crowning achievements was helping to found an institute of Catholic women schoolteachers that later became the Pontifical Institute of the Religious Teachers Filippini.
"She’s the heart of who we are as religious women," said Sister Mary Louise Shulas, St. Augustine’s principal. "I’m honored to be a part of a painting that depicts her."
Mr. Praszczyk digitally imposed photographs of the faces of St. Augustine’s students and nuns on those featured in the original painting, and then set to work on painting the three panels that would adorn the wall of the school. Sister Shulas is the nun standing closest to St. Lucy.
While he could not estimate the time he spent painting, explaining that it is hard to keep track of when doing six or seven projects at a time, Mr. Praszczyk said that the effort would be worthwhile if he sees "happy faces." With all the oohing and aahing and flashing of cameras at the unveiling, there was no shortage of people offering him their compliments.
"This is a nice community," said Mr. Praszczyk, who lives in Essex County. "I love to work for these people."
In the last four years, he has done two other paintings for St. Augustine’s.
His artistic career is not limited to painting though. He holds a master’s degree in glass design and has worked on sculpture and castle restoration, as well.
For the students immortalized in a painting that will hang in their school long after they graduate, it was nothing short of an honor. Seven of the eight students were chosen at random, following a prayer by the sisters.
The eighth, seventh-grader Richard Lee, was specially chosen. He fell ill with a brain hemorrhage in September of 2003 and was absent from school until June 2004. The school community prayed for him and sent him "happy bags" filled with goodies to cheer him up. Thanks to their support, he is now healthy and back at school. When he found out he was selected for this tribute, he said he was happy and surprised.
"The painting is going to become more meaningful because of the significance of the faces of the people represented," said Sister Ascenza Tizzano, provincial of the Religious Teachers Filippini, who oversees 245 nuns and 37 parochial schools.