I recently had the great pleasure of leading my second communal mural project at Notre Dame University. The first mural project was for the Transformational Leadership Program (TLP) in the main building under the iconic gold dome. The new one graces a wall in the Campus Ministry Center, bringing not only lots of joyful, vibrant color but evidence for all those who see it of the enthusiastic communal spirit that filled the room for three whole days. Just as happened in the TLP wing, great numbers of students and staff alike flowed in and out, eager to pick up a brush and add their own touch of paint.
“May love of God and neighbor be the inspiration that urges us on.”
The quote in the center of the mural comes from a Holy Cross Servant of God named Theotonius Ganguly, CSC an archbishop from Bangladesh who did his PhD work at Notre Dame. It reads, “May love of God and neighbor be the inspiration that urges us on.” Because Theotonius was from South Asia and because Notre Dame is seriously committed to promoting diversity and inclusion, I was asked by Mike Buckler, my campus ministry host, to include saints and other servants of God in my design who exemplify those principles in the modern world. (I felt confident that St. Francis de Sales would understand why he didn’t make the final cut, at least I hoped so!)
Our saintly and multi-cultural cloud of witnesses are on the mural (above) and include on the left: St. Kateri Tekakwitha, who was Mohawk and Algonquin; Dorothy Day, founder of the Catholic Worker Movement; the martyr Lorenzo Ruiz from the Philippines; Venerable Augustus Tolton, the first recognized African-American priest; and St. Therese of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church. On the right, we see St. Oscar Romero, martyred in El Salvador; Thea Bowman, the great singing evangelist; and Theotonius himself on the lower right.
Some of the biggest highlights of the week for me personally were meeting up with Oblate-educated or connected students and staff members. One young man named Keo was excited to tell me that he wouldn’t be the person he is today if it hadn’t been for Salesianum, a school he still dearly loves and which did so much to help him discover his faith and talents. He continues to hold the Oblates he knew there in great esteem and affection.
Mike is a married dad and member of the Campus Ministry Center staff who works hard at helping students come to grips with the many challenges facing them today. I liked him even before he told me that he attended, and loved, St. Francis High School in Toledo, OH. We shared familiar names and made fun connections with the Oblate teachers and administrators whom we each admire and hold in loving regard.
Kathy was a student of mine at De Sales University back when it was still Allentown College. She now works in development at Notre Dame and has not lost a bit of her loving and lighthearted joy of life, and even has a college-aged daughter of her own! Lastly, I was thrilled to reconnect with two Notre Dame sophomores, Emmy and Cat, who went to Camden last summer to help Fr. Mike McCue, OSFS, at DeSales Service Works, and who helped me move parts of my studio to Childs, MD.
‘Turns out the Communion of Saints painted on the wall weren’t the only ones in the room!
Bro. Mickey McGrath, OSFS
Salesian Artist
Camden, NJ
