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New Sculpture of St. Brigid for Solas Bhride Centre and Hermitages
Sculpture of St. Brigid by artist Tim Schmalz was commissioned by Fr. Dennis O’Neill St. Martha Catholic Church in Morton Grove (a northwest suburb of Chicago), Illinois, USA. The sculpture is to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the relighting of the flame of St. Brigid in 1993 by the Brigidine Sisters and in memory of his parents, aunt and uncle.
Fr. Dennis explains the reason for his decision:
“After a long and unsatisfying quest to find a depiction of Brigid that encompasses everything I love about her – and never quite finding it – I have commissioned Canadian sculptor Tim Schmalz to do a nine foot bronze sculpture of her. I have, for many years, been devoted to St. Brigid. So it was with great delight that I learned in 1993 that you had returned to Kildare and relit her fire. I was with you to celebrate her feast in 2000 and was immensely moved by it.”
The sculpture will be situated in the new Solas Bhride Centre and Hermitages in Kildare town and will be a source of inspiration to pilgrims and visitors. Construction for the new Centre begins in February 2013 and it is hoped it will open in early summer 2014. The sod turning ceremony took place on Friday, February 15th.
Photo: Sculptor Tim Schmalz with the sculpture of
St. Brigid
(Photo courtesy of Tim)
