Pictured above are the three generous donors: Mr. Tom Lamberti, Colonel Mark Gaynor, and Mr. Rudy Lohse
On April 26th, during a Benefactors Appreciation celebration at Graymoor, three life-long friends and Fordham University classmates donated The Trail of Glory, an expansive collection of religious art, to the Friars. The Trail of Glory, which consists of 67 oil paintings that depict the Gospel of John, were created by Helen Owen and inspired by the studies of Johannine scholar, Fr. John Gerhard, S.J.
Fr. John Gerhard, S.J., emeritus professor of Theology and Biblical Studies at St. John’s University in New York City, worked closely with Helen Owen, a self-taught artist who lived in Manhattan, during a period of 6 years from 1974-1980 to create this pictorial history of the Gospel of John. Fr. Gerhard’s goal in directing this artistic collection was to bring to life the story of Jesus’ public ministry, and to assist viewers to experience God through the colorful renderings.
Three generous lifetime friends and former Fordham University classmates worked together to discover Graymoor as a worthy recipient of this extraordinary gift. Fr. Bob Warren, SA, shared, “This was a wonderful gift, unlike anything we have been given before. The obvious devotion that Fr. Gerhard and Helen Owen shared for Jesus’ life and John’s Gospel is really reflected in the collection. It’s a humbling experience that these generous people would entrust to us such an endowment.”
In the coming months, the Friars will determine the best way to display and share this extensive collection.