On Sunday, May 4, 2025, after the 11am mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Baytown Texas, parishioners entered the school gym where 28 paintings were all veiled except for one, the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Fr. Thuc Nguyen, pastor of St. Joseph, led us in prayer.
I said to the audience “those present here are meant to be here” and sure enough, the graces started to flow on all of us there. I was so eager to get to the 28th painting because it was the painting for their church. I didn’t have a title for it because it was part of the gift for the pastor and parishioners to come up with it. I asked Fr. Thuc to come to the stage and unveil it for everyone. The collective gasp and beautiful reactions from Fr. Thuc and the audience were my Holy Spirit gifts. Father asked the parishioners to submit their title suggestions. The audience were telling him loudly their choices. So lovely to hear it from where I was standing.
It was followed with the door prizes I normally gift to the audience and the winners were a 6yo, 7 yo and a 91 yo artist! It made my heart sing for joy!
I explained that I gift original paintings to clergy and religious sisters only and scanned the audience. I saw sitting in the audience a beautiful religious sister, wearing a blue habit. I later discovered that she is the principal of the St. Joseph Catholic School, Sr. Maureen Nwajiobi. She’s a member of the order of the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy and a visionary! There were no other clergy except Fr. Thuc who cleverly said “this painting is for the church, will I get one for myself?” Absolutely! I replied. They both picked their favorites of the Holy Family (Fr. Thuc) and the Ark of the Covenant gift (Sr. Maureen). Afterwards, Sr. Maureen graciously invited me to return so I could present the paintings to their middle school children, who would be the same age as the Child Jesus in the exhibit. I happily accepted her invitation.
The event if I had to describe it in in a couple of words. It would be “grace filled”. Praise God! Praise be the Incarnate Word!!
It was because of them that brought the paintings to St. Joseph Catholic Church.
From L-R, Zoe Krizak, Sam Vallagomesa, Beth Vallagomesa, Fr. Thuc Nguyen, Scott McCoy, me, Maria and Brian Connealy.