Sacred Heart Church Mural in Punta Gorda Dedicated

The story as I remember it goes back to a blank wall that was the back and only remnant of the old Sacred Heart Church destroyed by Hurricane Charley. Father Jerry Kaywell, Pastor of Sacred Heart in Punta Gorda, wanted to fill the huge, bland space with art and approached parishioner artists, who had volunteered to paint something for the new Sacred Heart church, about a mural.

Fran Petrow and Maggie Ruiz anxious to give something back had envisioned a lot smaller painting inside the new church when Father Jerry brought Fran to the wall and pointed to their new canvas, the largest project that her and fellow-muralist Maggie Ruiz would ever tackle.

Fran then contacted the Punta Gorda Historical Mural Society, who stepped up to volunteer the paint, scaffolding, and support to help make the 31 by 85 foot mural a reality. “It’s a gift for Father Jerry,” Fran has said. Well, Father Jerry will officially receive that present this Thursday, April 30, at 5 PM at the mural ribbon-cutting at Sacred Heart in Punta Gorda.

The mural depicts the four churches of Sacred Heart over the course of the parish’s 80- year history:  the original church destroyed in a fire, the church which replaced it, the renovated church with additions, and the new Sacred Heart Church built after Hurricane Charley.

As Fran and Maggie put the final touches on their massive work of art on Tuesday, they told me that there were two secrets within the mural--surprises. See if you can find them. I promised not to tell.  

More on the Sacred Heart Mural at http://youbelonginpuntagorda.blogspot.com/2009/04/sacred-heart-mural.html.