Cora Harrison, an 18-year-old senior, said she became involved with painting the mural because, like Stang, she is interested in the environment and social justice. “I wanted to spread a little peace myself by being part of this project,” she said.
Mick Mominee, a religion teacher at the school, said he looked around the bare white walls of his former basement classroom three years ago and, inspired by Stang’s work and with the help of a grant, made a plan “to turn this room into a living memorial for her mission.”
Stang was murdered at age 73 while fighting for the rights of Brazil’s rural poor in 2005.
Illustrations painted on three walls of the room portray a timeline of the nun’s life using scenes from photographs and weaving personal quotes and the Beatitudes (blessings) throughout. A rain forest canopy covers the ceiling using pieces of fabric cut into the shapes of leaves.
Nola Lee, an 18-year-old senior who has blended paint colors to create scenes from Stang’s life, said, “She’s a pretty brave lady and we learned how much she inspired the people of Brazil. She’s pretty awesome I have to admit.”
The mural was finished this week just in time for the five-year anniversary of the nun’s death on Friday, Feb. 12.
The room will become a community gathering place for the school.
“Hopefully the mural will educate people about her life and mission and inspire them to carry that mission forward,” said Mominee.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2229 or LPowell@Dayton DailyNews.com.
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