Kutztown University students gathered after Mass on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 27 to dedicate a new mural they created on the wall of the St. Christopher Catholic Newman Center on campus.
“Today we praise you for the gifts of the Holy Spirit bestowed on the saints depicted here, in whose honor we dedicate this image,” said Father Matthew Kuna, Chaplain of the Newman Center, during the mural’s blessing. “May we follow in the footsteps of the Lord, keeping before us the example of these saints.”
The 18 saints on the 11-by-20-foot mural “will be a constant reminder to us of who we are called to be,” Father Kuna told those gathered. The depicted saints are “figures who have gone before us,” he said, “who have lived their faith, who by their lives have proclaimed the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and who have shown us the path that we are all on.”
Kutztown senior Kaleigh Timothy of Broomall was the principal creator and leader of the project. The ink and pastel mural was created on a large sheet of paper, then mounted on the wall and covered with layers of clear protectant.
Timothy said she worked an average of 20 hours per week for several months, and was joined by other Kutztown students who colored inside her ink outlines under her direction.
Students worked together during faith-sharing sessions at the Newman Center to pick the saints that would be depicted. “This project helped bring all of us closer together,” said Timothy. “It also brought us closer to our faith as we researched and dug into the history and lives of these saints.”
“The communal effort of this project not only built a sense of ownership,” said Lisa Grabowski, Director of the center, “but also deepened the spiritual connection between the artwork and the community it represents.
“This mural is more than an art piece. It is a profound expression of faith, discipline, and cultural unity. It will remain a cherished symbol of devotion, and its story will continue to inspire all who encounter it for generations to come.”
Photo by Paul Wirth.
Featured on the mural are, from left: St. Therese of Lisieux; St. Elizabeth of Hungary; St. Sebastian; St. Maximillian Kolbe; St. Edith Stein; St. Augustine; St. Jane Frances de Chantal; St. Peter; The Holy Family – Mary, Joseph, and Jesus; St. Pope John Paul II; St. Maria Goretti; St. Christopher; St. John Henry Newman; St. Thomas Aquinas; St. Padre Pio; St. Catherine of Bologna; and St. Patrick.
In the photo, Father Matthew Kuna, Chaplain of the St. Christopher Catholic Newman Center at Kutztown University, blesses the mural of 18 saints. Its principal creator, senior Kaleigh Timothy, stands to his right.
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