Father Damien Artist’s Notes: The best known photograph of Father Damien, a Belgian priest assigned to the leprosy colony at Moloka’i, Hawaii, was taken before his death. This painting is based on that photograph. The nodules and the deformed nose and ears are done with broad, fragmented brushstrokes meant to evoke the shimmering Hawaiian light. To the left of Father Damien, a hot sun (Son of God) blazes down on his face and distinctive hat, while on the right side, there is the suggestion of death in the shadows—gravestones in front of a hut. In searching for a companion piece to Father Damien’s portrait, I discovered Helio Koa’eloa, who was a married layperson in the Diocese of Hawaii. It is said he converted 4,000 Hawaiians to Catholicism in Maui, after having paddled to Honolulu for personal instruction. He is called the “Apostle of Maui”, and a cross was erected in Wailua Valley in his memory in 1931. Since I couldn’t find a photograph of Helio, I decided to portray him facing a crowd of converts in Hawaii’s misty paradise, using a pixelated style that evokes flashes of sunlight and fragmented vegetal images." " - Marcia Whitney-Schenk, artist. Visit the "Communion of Saints" exhibit in the Mary Frances and Bill Veeck Art Gallery at CTU ctu.edu/event/communionofsaints/

"Maryam and Mary: A Bridge Between Muslims and Christians." Tuesday, December 7 7:00 CT Log on for an exciting and deeply reflective discussion on the role of Maryam/Mary in the Islamic and Christian traditions and how this important figure can serve as a bridge between Christian and Muslim communities. Rev. Leslie Weir, Presbytery of Chicago Dr. Syed Rizwan, Director of Catholic-Muslim Studies Program at CTU. Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago Fourth Presbyterian Church Muslim Community Center (MCC)