Your Diocese

FRANKFORT—The sound of holy water pouring from one tier of the baptismal font to another reverberated Feb. 8 in the empty worship space at St. Anthony Parish in Frankfort. About 10 feet away from the white baptismal font, Carla Shaugnessy quietly brushed acrylic paint over a mural depicting Jesus in prayer; the piece is located on the wall to the right side of the altar.

A 10-year veteran of the choir, Shaugnessy paused in between strokes Feb. 8 to discuss how she hopes her latest mural will inspire others. She said she hopes to seed inspiration within the choir. Because the choir is situated on the side of the altar, Shaugnessy suggested that they might be at a slight disadvantage in terms of capturing the full visual effect of the Mass.

Shaugnessy, who lends her voice to the alto section, explained that she wanted to offer her fellow choir members a better spiritual environment during Mass. She said she hopes that in turn, it would enhance the quality of the liturgy. She said, “This is not entertainment. We’re not a concert. It’s part of a liturgy. There’s too much action going on back there and sometimes, we just need to still ourselves and realize this is where we’re at. ... We’re here to worship.”

The artist has received positive feedback for previous artistic ventures at church. On an intermittent basis over the last four years, Shaugnessy has unveiled three separate murals—a 4-by-3 mural of the Blessed Mother adorns the area around the intention candles next to the day chapel and two others of Jesus flank the upper walls above the altar. Presently, her goal is to offer choir members a quiet place of reflection. She said, “It’s been huge for me. I see the looks on people’s faces and I see the meditation. And I realize I brought so much more to this church than a picture.”

Although Shaugnessy received some payment for additional murals—St. Elizabeth Seton, St. Francis, angels and Jesus surrounded by children, which decorate the parish’s Padua Center, the murals in the church were completed pro bono. She said she appreciates God’s grace as it is revealed in her artistry—voice and painting. Shaugnessy said she feels compelled to be a good steward with them. She said, “It’s humbling. I can’t explain it. I have racked my brain—‘Why has he given this to me?’ This is beyond a blessing.”

She anticipated that this current endeavor would take her about 30 hours to complete, but explained that the first mural she completed took about 17 hours. The first mural, which spans about 4-feet high and 6-feet wide, depicts Jesus looking over the city of Jerusalem. It is accompanied by the Bible verse John 3:16 and was inspired by the artwork of Greg Olsen entitled, “O Jerusalem.” She said, “I’ve always liked that picture. The colors, everything, are very serene in that picture. It’s very thought provoking and it shows a very human side of Christ.”

The famous religious artists of the Renaissance admittedly have stirred the heart of this 21st century, Frankfort-based artist.

Shortly after starting that mural in 2003, Shaugnessy earned a certificate in faux finishes from the Chicago Institute of Fine Finishes. Looking upward at her work, she acknowledged that her skills have evolved since her novice beginning. The mother of two has always had a love of art. She fondly recalled a certain feeling of satisfaction overcoming her when she was merely 5 years old. She said, “One of the first things I remember drawing is a frog.”

She studied art while attending Reavis High School in Burbank and briefly enrolled in art classes at the University of Illinois at Chicago. However, she said she quickly discovered that certain artistic talents are something that is very hard to teach and learn. She said, “It’s a skill. You can teach somebody to faux finish, you can teach somebody to paint a landscape. You can’t teach somebody to draw or paint a person. … You either have the talent or you don’t.”

After marrying in 1989, the 40-year-old entrepreneur has kept a focus on raising her children; her son, Nathan, is 15 and her daughter, Sondra, is 12. Shaugnessy said she has contributed to the family’s income by cleaning houses for over a decade.

But it wasn’t until she steeped herself in a volunteer mural project—one dedicated for the purpose of assisting others in worship—that she opened her own business, “Art and Walls by Carla.” She operates the small business directly out of her home. Generally, she does faux finishing, paintings and murals in residential settings. Still, she makes time to continue the mural work at the parish that has been so well received.

“Not everybody realized she had that artistic talent,” acknowledged Father Thomas Corbino, pastor of St. Anthony Parish during a telephone conversation with the Explorer. He agreed that it was a leap of faith when she approached him with the idea for painting murals on the open space in the sanctuary. The muralist, who had not presented him with a certificate of formal training or examples of previous work in other worship spaces, had suggested painting the Good Shepherd and Jesus overlooking Jerusalem.

Despite the risk, he remained true to his belief in utilizing local artists by pitching the idea to the liturgy committee. During his previous stint as pastor St. Irene Parish in Warrenville, Father Corbino headed up the construction of a new church, where works of local artists are displayed on the pillars at the church’s entrance. The local origination adds something extra, added Father Corbino. He commented, “They know it’s something coming right from the community and it’s an expression of the community itself.”

So far, the completed murals have withstood the test of time. Crowds pouring in to participate in liturgies and other ceremonies have affirmed the efforts of local artists, he added. On Shaugnessy’s behalf, the pastor said he has received numerous compliments about the murals from parishioners as well as from visitors who come for weddings, funerals and ecumenical services. He said he often hears phrases, such as, “This is so beautiful.”

The murals not only serve as a beautification tool for the church, but they offer inspiration for those in meditation along with people participating in catechetical opportunities. Father Corbino said he often points to the mural of the Good Shepherd during baptisms to augment his homily.

The pastor and the rest of the parish community will ultimately decide how many more of Shaugnessy’s murals will grace the walls of the church. However, the muralist said she hopes to continue sharing her God-given gifts. She plans her next mural to be an image of the Holy Spirit; it is slated for a slot above the crucifix at the center of the altar.