A Story of Two Paintings

May 1, 2025

by Fr. Alain

This is a true story, not a tale, you can share with your children and grandchildren:

ACT 1- BIRTH OF ONE PAINTING
Mr. Orlando Lagman (Mr. OL), a world- famous portraitist and painter, approached me (Fr. A) eleven years ago:

Mr. OL: I can paint for you anything you want for your church free of charge.

Fr. A: What about a painting of St John Bosco’s spiritual vision of Our Lady Help of Christians?’

Mr. OL: Just show me a picture of that vision.

This was the birth of the large painting we now have in the Sanctuary, just opposite of the beautiful statue of the Holy Family, which was the vision of Father Crowley, our third pastor at OLHOC (2004-2010).

ACT 2: BIRTH OF SECOND PAINTING
Mr. OL: Come and visit my home/studio so you can see many of my paintings.

Fr. A: Can I come tomorrow?

I was amazed by the creativity of Mr. Lagman. So many beautiful portraits and paintings. He was very proud to show me pictures of his visits with many famous people (Kings, Princes, Presidents of the United States, NFL Hall Of Famers) and presenting the portraits he had made of them.

He had just finished a large painting of our then recently elected Pope Francis ((March 2013).

Fr. A: I love that painting.

Mr. OL: I can loan it to your parish so all your parishioners can appreciate my work while I begin to work on the painting of Our Lady Help of Christians.

Fr A: Great! I accept your loaning it to our parish temporarily.

Mr. OL: It is yours on two conditions: you must return it to me if you leave the parish or when Pope Francis dies.

Fr A: It’s a deal! Conditions accepted!

This was the birth of his second painting at OLHOC. As you know, this large painting of Pope Francis is still with us. It was displayed in our Narthex since 2014: a smiling Pope welcoming everyone entering our Church. Only last week was it moved temporarily in the Sanctuary as we learned of the death of Pope Francis in the early hours of Easter Monday April 21st, the first day after our celebrating Our Lord’s Resurrection, Easter Sunday.

You may recall that the Holy Spirit at the end of the Easter Vigil inspired me to announce my stepping down from the position of pastor which I have held for the last 15 years at OLHOC. I knew this was going to happen at the end of June following my recent talk with our new Archbishop. But I had planned to announce it much later in May and certainly not while celebrating the Joy of the Risen Lord. I had no idea that Pope Francis would die the day after Easter. He was back to the Vatican from his two months of hospitalization with double pneumonia. He was again fulfilling his papal
duties from the Vatican..

Now with hindsight, maybe the above story of two paintings was unconsciously part of my surprising decision to announce my stepping down at Easter Vigil. I let you use your own imagination... The two paintings have now been displayed together in our sanctuary for the first time to honor the memory of Pope Francis while we are all mourning his death.

As you were informed through flocknotes we will have a memorial Mass for Pope Francis at 9 am this Saturday May 3rd. I hope we all will be united in prayer.

I am asking you pray for me and the 27 pilgrims leaving for our Parish Jubilee Pilgrimage to Italy this Tuesday, May 6. You can be assured we will bring your own intention prayers with us to Turin ( Our Lady Help of Christians) and to Rome when we pass through the Holy Door at St Peter’s Basilica.

May we also pray to God that the Holy Spirit will guide all the Cardinals currently in Rome, especially those who will enter the Conclave on Wednesday May 7.

One in Christ,

Father Alain