Saint Miriam Parish, Blue Bell, PA
Monday, January 18th, 2010Blue Bell, PA — On New Year’s Eve, a few members of Saint Miriam gathered to clean and ready for New Year’s Day. Included in the gathering were noted and renowned artists, Raymond Leight and David Romeo. Mr. Romeo and his wife, Pam, are two of the finest framers and owners of Romeo’s Fine Arts in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. They all walked into Saint Miriam together to accomplish one goal — the installation of Mr. Leight’s latest, original masterpiece entitled, “Jesus and the Little Children.” This large, beautiful and inspiring work was completed for Saint Miriam as a gift from Mr. Leight. Mr. Leight also donated 14 other original childrens pieces for the children’s education room. Dave and Pam Romeo gifted the framing and hanging, as well.
Mr. Leight met Father Jim quite by happenstance at Dave and Pam’s store and gallery in Lansdale. The Romeos were helping Father prepare the finishes for the collection of Stations of the Cross that hang in the main Sanctuary. Mr. Leight was present on his own business and the two men met, thanks to Dave and Pam. The rest, as they say, is history.
Mr. Leight began to paint this masterpiece and as he did, he puts it best, “The Holy Spirit came to me and held my hand…the great Comforter told me what and how to paint…” This work is the result and Mr. Leight claims proudly, “It is one of my best pieces!”
The work of Mr. Leight’s is in many major collections throughout the world in both private and corporate exhibits. He has displayed his impressive collection of painting, sculpture, and cartoon illustration from California, Florida, Pennsylvania, to The Hollywood Art and Culture Center, just to name a few. His work has been featured at The Center for the Arts, Vero Beach and The Brevard Art Center and Museum. And, a Museum is now being built in New York to house his vast collection!
Born in small West Point, Pennsylvania in 1931, Mr. Leight is a true, natural born artist without formal training. He has painted and sculpted many works since childhood, is a published cartoonist, draftsman and illustrator for the Ford Motor Company, award-winning graphic designer, an author and illustrator of children’s books, founder of a successful toy company and noted and accomplished artist to many generations.
Mr. Leight’s work lend themselves to the simplest of analysis; often using colorful collages of materials and ideas suggest that their stories are below the surface, waiting for interpretation by the viewer and revealed by further study. His work is nothing short of magnificent and his genuineness is genuinely displayed in this latest piece for Saint Miriam.
The Saint Miriam Board of Directors, along with the Parish Council, decided to honor Mr. Leight by honoring his love and gift to us with the naming of the CCD and Education Room after him. On April 11 2010, when the parish is formally consecrated by our bishops, the CCD room will officially become, “The Ray Leight Children’s Education Room” and will feature other works of his made with children in mind!
To further honor Dave and Pam Romeo for all of their dedication to us, and to thank them for their love of Mr. Leight and Saint Miriam, the large floor to ceiling window within this Children’s Room will be dubbed, “A Window onto the World for our Children, a gift of Pam and David Romeo”.
There would be many ways to illustrate Mr. Leights love of children, but none more apropos than Ray’s own rendition of a passage of Scripture… “Children are important,” Jesus said. “No one in the world is greater than the smallest of these. No one is closer to God, for Guardian Angels are watching over them always. And remember this: anyone who is cruel to a little child would be better off at the bottom of the sea. But the person who loves a child, and tells her the truth, and helps her to be good, is loved by God forever. Never forget: when you help a little child, you are helping me.”
Saint Miriam has two main services each week, Thursday at 6:30PM and Sundays at 10:30 AM. They also honor a Rosary on Wednesdays at 6:30PM and a monthly Charismatic Mass. The services are Catholic, but inclusive and inspiring with a mix of music from old and new, modern touches and incense smoke that finally warms the heart, as well as the senses!
Please contact Father Jim St. George for more information or visit www.mySaintMiriam.org.
