Henry Wingate, the artist working on the four commissioned oil paintings for our sanctuary, brought his two initial actual-size sketches to St. Mary Parish to see how they would look. Fr. John Burns, who began this project, along with Msgr. Ross Shecterle, Fr. Andrew Linn, our Directors of Music and the faithful parishioners who have generously sponsored this sacred project, met to discuss the artwork and any modifications with Mr. Wingate. 

The sketch on the left side of the sanctuary shows Mary’s fiat, or “yes”, at the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel spoke to her. The sketch on the right side of the sanctuary depicts the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth, who, at the sound of Mary’s greeting, feels the infant John leap in her womb. 

While this is a long process, the final artwork will take your breath away! Mr. Wingate hopes to have these paintings ready by fall, at which time he will commence work on the images for the west wing and alcoves by the confessional... (a teaser - two of St. Joseph)! 

After the meeting, the sketches were taken down so that Mr. Wingate could begin work on the modifications and head home with his teenage daughter Cecelia, who endured the long drive to keep her dad company. 

St. Mary Mother of God, watch over Henry in his sacred artistry for our parish.