Painting of saint adorns chapel at Newman University
BY JOE RODRIGUEZ
The Wichita Eagle
Wendi Saunders considers her artistic talents a gift from God. So she didn't hesitate with her answer two years ago when asked if she would do a painting for Newman University's St. John's Chapel.
"I love to be able to use this (ability) for him," said Saunders, 31. "What I get out of this is a joy to be able to visually express his love for others."
On Tuesday, Saunders' painting was installed in the chapel. The 12- by 4 ?-foot painting is of St. Maria De Mattias, founder of the university's Catholic order of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ.
It was the first time Saunders had created such a large painting, which took her about two years to complete. She worked on it in the living room of her home in western Sedgwick County.
Saunders says her focus is to do religious artwork, mainly paintings. It's not work she gets paid for. The mother of three usually gives away her paintings.
It was a bit of good timing -- and coincidence -- that led her to do the work for St. John's Chapel.
About five years ago, Newman University decided to re-establish its chapel solely as a place of worship. Before that, part of the chapel had been used for other purposes, including space for a conference room.
In 2002, the Rev. Sherman Orr, who at the time was Newman's chaplain, was looking for art to put in the chapel.
"I think artwork is a key for prayer because it kind of draws us into the mysterious, into God's life," he said.
"Great religious art and beautiful architecture speaks to people for generations."
Orr saw a painting of the Virgin Mary by Saunders in the rectory at St. Peter Catholic Church in Schulte, where Saunders is a member. He asked her if she would be willing to do a painting for the chapel, and she agreed.
Orr, who is now pastor at St. Peter, wanted De Mattias to be the subject. She was being canonized about that time.
De Mattias is regarded as an educational pioneer who ministered especially to young women and the poor. She founded schools and the Adorers of the Blood of Christ congregation in 1834 in Acuto, Italy. In 2003, she was declared a saint by the Catholic Church.
In Saunders' painting, De Mattias is shown teaching students. "Mostly, I wanted to show how God works through the lives of those who are willing to follow him," Saunders said.
Saunders said she didn't want any payment for the artwork. Instead, she wanted to do the work to fulfill a "personal promise" to do God's will.
This week, as Orr stood in the chapel, he said the painting is "much better than I had in mind."
"I think that she really thought about it, prayed about it, reflected a long time on what this painting should encapsulate and have," he said.
"And I think she did it all right there."
Saunders is about to take on another project for the chapel: a painting of Father Emil Kapaun, a military chaplain who was born in the Marion County town of Pilsen and died in a Korean prisoner-of-war camp in 1951.
Kapaun was ordained in the chapel, Orr said.
Reach Joe Rodriguez at 268-6644 or jrodriguez@wichitaeagle.com