Lighting the Way -- Iconic picture of Jesus an inspirational gift to school community
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By Lois Rogers | Correspondent
Websites devoted to the way 20th century artist Warner Sallman painted Jesus, record that 500 million copies of his works – including his iconic “Head of Christ” – have been sold around the globe.
To see photo gallery on this story, click here.
It's written that these prints inspired and calmed generations during the dark days of the Depression and the carnage of World War II. Throughout the decades, right up to today, they have greeted millions of faithful in rectories, convents, classrooms and church social halls worldwide, soothed the grief stricken who received them as prayer cards at countless wakes and funerals and hung on countless hospital walls where they provide a soothing countenance to the sick and dying.
Since June, one of Sallman's prints – a large rendition of his “Jesus, Light of the World” – has graced the entry way of Holy Cross High School, Delran.
How it came to be there is a story rich in the elements of faith, hope and love: the love of a man for his savior; the love of a family for their brother; their abiding faith and their hope for the future of the Catholic school that nourished them all.
The painting's road to Holy Cross began some time back when Don Kuzy, a Holy Cross Alumni, Class of 1980, noticed it was missing from its prominent location in the Havertown YMCA where he spent many hours volunteering.
Kuzy's reaction was shared in a eulogy prepared by his four brothers for his funeral after their brother died at age 52 from an aneurysm Jan. 10.
His four surviving siblings – a sister Beth Kuzy Harrigan died in 2009 – described Don as a man who led a principled life, often choosing the more difficult path by saying and doing what was right as opposed to choosing the path of least resistance.
On the day that their brother entered the YMCA and noticed the portrait, normally positioned in the center of the foyer was missing, he inquired as to its whereabouts.
“He learned the portrait was taken down, tucked in a closet with no real plan to return it to its position and a vague reason as to why it had been taken down,” the eulogy reads.
“Don quickly sprang into action, and spoke to the Board of Directors and anyone who would listen as his view was that the 'C' in YMCA stands for Christian – as in Young Men's Christian Association.”
He urged that the YMCA, as a private organization, “should embrace its roots and celebrate Christianity while simultaneously including and respecting” those of other faiths.
After some convincing, the portrait was hung up again, the eulogy continued, but not at the entrance where it had been. Rather, it was displayed “off to the side, around a turn and in a corner.”
Kuzy, his family noted, then “took matters into his own hands,” by taking the print down, moving it himself to its original location and proclaiming: “No one puts Jesus in the corner.”
Shortly before he died, Kuzy gained stewardship of the portrait while the Y was undergoing renovation and displayed it in his own home, vowing that it would never be tucked away in a corner or closet again.
In the months that followed, his brothers, Michael, '78; Rob, '1981, Rich, '83 and John, '85; his family, including 13 nieces and nephews, and members of Beta Chi, Don's fraternity at Rider University, looked for ways to honor Don Kuzy.
They started a memorial scholarship in his name in Holy Cross High School honoring Don's strong conviction to family and faith. And, they agreed that the right place for “Jesus, Light of the Word,” could only be the main entry way to Holy Cross High School.
The family gathered June 14 along with friends and fellow classmates in the high school chapel for a Mass celebrated by Msgr. James H. Dubell, pastor of St. Mary of the Lakes, Medford, principal of Holy Cross from 1980-1987.
Msgr. Dubell, who is now pastor of St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, Medford, spoke of the family's gift as “much more than a static picture.” Rather, he said, it was emblematic of the manner in which Don Kuzy “shared in the life of Jesus,” making the savior active and present in the world.
In an interview in the days following the dedication, Don Kuzy’s brother, John, spoke of how meaningful it was to have the picture and a plaque honoring Don in the lobby of the school that has educated two generations of family.
The gesture, he said, reflects the faithfulness and loyalty that were hallmarks of his brothers personality. It mattered very much, John Kuzy said, to honor his brother's intentions to have this picture where all could see it.
For information on the Don Kuzy Memorial Scholarship Fund, contact principal Dennis Guida at 856-461-5400 or email [email protected].
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By Lois Rogers | Correspondent
Websites devoted to the way 20th century artist Warner Sallman painted Jesus, record that 500 million copies of his works – including his iconic “Head of Christ” – have been sold around the globe.
To see photo gallery on this story, click here.
It's written that these prints inspired and calmed generations during the dark days of the Depression and the carnage of World War II. Throughout the decades, right up to today, they have greeted millions of faithful in rectories, convents, classrooms and church social halls worldwide, soothed the grief stricken who received them as prayer cards at countless wakes and funerals and hung on countless hospital walls where they provide a soothing countenance to the sick and dying.
Since June, one of Sallman's prints – a large rendition of his “Jesus, Light of the World” – has graced the entry way of Holy Cross High School, Delran.
How it came to be there is a story rich in the elements of faith, hope and love: the love of a man for his savior; the love of a family for their brother; their abiding faith and their hope for the future of the Catholic school that nourished them all.
The painting's road to Holy Cross began some time back when Don Kuzy, a Holy Cross Alumni, Class of 1980, noticed it was missing from its prominent location in the Havertown YMCA where he spent many hours volunteering.
Kuzy's reaction was shared in a eulogy prepared by his four brothers for his funeral after their brother died at age 52 from an aneurysm Jan. 10.
His four surviving siblings – a sister Beth Kuzy Harrigan died in 2009 – described Don as a man who led a principled life, often choosing the more difficult path by saying and doing what was right as opposed to choosing the path of least resistance.
On the day that their brother entered the YMCA and noticed the portrait, normally positioned in the center of the foyer was missing, he inquired as to its whereabouts.
“He learned the portrait was taken down, tucked in a closet with no real plan to return it to its position and a vague reason as to why it had been taken down,” the eulogy reads.
“Don quickly sprang into action, and spoke to the Board of Directors and anyone who would listen as his view was that the 'C' in YMCA stands for Christian – as in Young Men's Christian Association.”
He urged that the YMCA, as a private organization, “should embrace its roots and celebrate Christianity while simultaneously including and respecting” those of other faiths.
After some convincing, the portrait was hung up again, the eulogy continued, but not at the entrance where it had been. Rather, it was displayed “off to the side, around a turn and in a corner.”
Kuzy, his family noted, then “took matters into his own hands,” by taking the print down, moving it himself to its original location and proclaiming: “No one puts Jesus in the corner.”
Shortly before he died, Kuzy gained stewardship of the portrait while the Y was undergoing renovation and displayed it in his own home, vowing that it would never be tucked away in a corner or closet again.
In the months that followed, his brothers, Michael, '78; Rob, '1981, Rich, '83 and John, '85; his family, including 13 nieces and nephews, and members of Beta Chi, Don's fraternity at Rider University, looked for ways to honor Don Kuzy.
They started a memorial scholarship in his name in Holy Cross High School honoring Don's strong conviction to family and faith. And, they agreed that the right place for “Jesus, Light of the Word,” could only be the main entry way to Holy Cross High School.
The family gathered June 14 along with friends and fellow classmates in the high school chapel for a Mass celebrated by Msgr. James H. Dubell, pastor of St. Mary of the Lakes, Medford, principal of Holy Cross from 1980-1987.
Msgr. Dubell, who is now pastor of St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, Medford, spoke of the family's gift as “much more than a static picture.” Rather, he said, it was emblematic of the manner in which Don Kuzy “shared in the life of Jesus,” making the savior active and present in the world.
In an interview in the days following the dedication, Don Kuzy’s brother, John, spoke of how meaningful it was to have the picture and a plaque honoring Don in the lobby of the school that has educated two generations of family.
The gesture, he said, reflects the faithfulness and loyalty that were hallmarks of his brothers personality. It mattered very much, John Kuzy said, to honor his brother's intentions to have this picture where all could see it.
For information on the Don Kuzy Memorial Scholarship Fund, contact principal Dennis Guida at 856-461-5400 or email [email protected].
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