January 15, 2010
Crucifixion mural
Clements family donates antique mural in honor of late son
Father Paul Ferguson, pastor at Holy Redeemer Church, Evansville, stands in front of a 14 foot by 8 foot antique mural of the Crucifixion. “This gift defines our Catholic faith,” he said of the mural which was donated by the family of the late Jerry Clements. “Our church is Holy Redeemer, and we are redeemed through the Cross of Christ.” (Message photo by Mary Ann Hughes) Click for a larger version.
By MARY ANN HUGHES (Message staff writer)
Back in the early 2000s when Jerry Clements was ill with cancer, his family received much love, comfort and support from their fellow parishioners at Holy Redeemer Church in Evansville.
After Jerry died, family members decided they wanted to do something special for the parish; it was where he had attended school and it was where he had married his bride, Jackie.
“We wanted to give back a portion of what was given to us,” explained his parents Ambrose and Marilyn.
Last July, Jackie suggested that her in-laws contact their pastor, Father Paul Ferguson, to see if there was something they could do for the church.
At the time, he was in the process of finding items for the new perpetual adoration chapel, and when they walked into his office he was looking at a website featuring church supplies.
He showed them a photograph of an antique oil mural of the Crucifixion. It had been rescued from St. Andrew Church in Blossburg, Pa., before the church was closed.
Father Paul was taken with the beauty of the mural, and even considered purchasing the mural himself for the parish. “I had found it, and thought, ‘I will pray about it.’ When Ambrose and Marilyn came in, I showed them the artwork, and they started crying.”
They remember, “We found in this mural just what we were looking for: love, comfort and peace.”
They called their daughter-in-law who told them, “It looks like that is what we are supposed to do.” That’s when Ambrose decided, “Let’s do it.”
The family purchased the mural, and when it arrived in Evansville it was damaged, perhaps from being removed from the Blossburg church. Evansville artist Nancy Peters was asked to refurbish it.
A cabinet was built to encase the mural; it is made of oak, and stained to match other items in the church. The cabinet and the mural were recently placed on the wall immediately behind the altar.
The mural is 14 feet tall and eight feet wide, and believed to be 70 to 100 years old. There is no information about the artist. “It’s the Crucifixion, with Mary, St. John and Mary Magdalene at the foot of the cross,” Father Paul said. “Jerusalem is in the back. When you walk down the middle aisle, it’s like you are walking down to Calvary.”
The artwork is “timeless,” he said, and has “brought a lot of awe. People are crying. It draws you in. The first time I saw it, it spoke to my heart.
“It’s just been amazing. You see something different every time.”
The mural, he believes, “has been a godsend. It seems like a completely different atmosphere now. You have something to look at. It draws you in spiritually.”
Ambrose said the process “just fell into place. The Holy Spirit was truly at work.
“We’ve gotten several phone calls from people who say, ‘we feel like we are in a Catholic church now.’ I think it’s what we were called to do.”