- Feb 5, 2002
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(OSV News) — Ahead of Good Friday, a Chicago parish unveiled a statue of Jesus Christ commemorating that city’s victims of gun violence.
Some 60 people gathered on March 25 outside of St. Sabina Catholic Church for a first look at “Thou Shalt Not Kill,” a life-sized sculpture by Canadian-based artist Timothy P. Schmalz.
Cast in bronze, the work depicts Christ weeping into his pierced hands over a slain, prostrate figure whose back is riddled with three bullet holes.
The sculpture, which the artist donated to the parish, was installed in partnership with Purpose Over Pain, a local support group for parents who have lost children to gun violence.
A “huge turnout” of bereaved parents were on hand as the piece was installed in front of a memorial wall featuring photos of “all these young people who have lost their lives” to gun violence over the past several years, St. Sabina pastor Father Michael Pfleger told OSV News.
“This statue is so strong,” he said. “When we unveiled it, a whole bunch of the mothers just started crying, because all they could picture was their child laying there.”
Continued below.
Some 60 people gathered on March 25 outside of St. Sabina Catholic Church for a first look at “Thou Shalt Not Kill,” a life-sized sculpture by Canadian-based artist Timothy P. Schmalz.
Cast in bronze, the work depicts Christ weeping into his pierced hands over a slain, prostrate figure whose back is riddled with three bullet holes.
The sculpture, which the artist donated to the parish, was installed in partnership with Purpose Over Pain, a local support group for parents who have lost children to gun violence.
A “huge turnout” of bereaved parents were on hand as the piece was installed in front of a memorial wall featuring photos of “all these young people who have lost their lives” to gun violence over the past several years, St. Sabina pastor Father Michael Pfleger told OSV News.
“This statue is so strong,” he said. “When we unveiled it, a whole bunch of the mothers just started crying, because all they could picture was their child laying there.”
Timing of unveiling was intentional
Continued below.
Chicago parish unveils statue of Christ mourning gun victims
A Chicago parish teams up with the local community to urge peace on the streets by unveiling Timothy Schmalz's life-sized sculpture "Thou Shalt Not Kill," which depicts Jesus kneeling over a victim of gun violence.
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