The San Patricio Cathedral in Manhattan has presented a 7.6 meter high mural in tribute to immigrants in New York City.
Located at the entrance of the iconic Church of New York, the mural What is fun in peace, love and understanding? It portrays the appearance of Mary, José and San Juan Evangelista in the Irish people of Knock, as well as immigrants from around the world, including figures known as Dorothy Day, Pierre Toussaint and Alfred E. Smith.
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The mural also shows the first American Santa Native, Kateri Tekakwitha.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who blesses the mural this Sunday, said at a press conference on Thursday: “This became not only an ode to Jesus, Mary, José, San Juan and the faith of the Irish people who was so important in this archdiocese, also became an ode to those who followed them and found in this city, this country and yes, in this holy Mother Church, a hug of welcome.”
Dolan, who is accompanied in the official dedication of the rector of the Knock sanctuary in Ireland, said he intended to place the mural with the latest renovations in San Patricio in 2012, but advised him to wait.
“I’m glad now, because it matured; it was like a slow cooking pot,” he said.
Adam Cvijanovic, the mural painter, said: “When I started painting this mural I thought the important thing was that it focused on people and portraits. So all those who appear in this painting are real people. All are portraits. Even angels.”
The late mother of Dolan, Shirley, served as a model for one of the immigrants that Cvijanovic portrayed. The mural also shows emergency personnel.
Pinto also commented that it is “very important to talk about the people of the city, of all of them, and have it in a place where the people of New York could go and feel recognized in a context of respect and hope.”
The main benefactors covered the cost of the mural, according to Dolan.
The Rector of the Cathedral, P. Enrique Salvo, immigrant from Nicaragua, said about the mural: “If they had told me that I was going to be rector of the Cathedral of St. Patrick when I arrived in this country, I would never have believed it. But with God, everything is possible, and I hope it is an inspiration for all who enter, that we are not only welcome, but we are also invited to make a difference to make the difference.
Translated and adapted by the ACI Press team. Originally published in CNA
Low Elhabbal
Madalaine Elhabbal is a CNA journalist based in the Washington DC office in EWTN. He has published articles in Catholicvote and has also worked as a foreign language assistant in France. She is a graduate of Benedictine College.