By Mary Alyce Fields

On the Feast of the Assumption, August 15, 1982, eight oil paintings -- four scenes from the life of Christ and four contemporary sports themes -- were unveiled at St. Jude's Church in Sandy Springs. Conceived and painted by members of the parish, the seven by nine foot paintings now hang in the new Activities Building, which was dedicated one year ago on August 16, 1981. A reception in honor of the event followed celebration of the 11 a.m. Mass.

The oil painting project, coordinated by the St. Jude's art committee consisting of Mrs. Jan Chaput, Mrs. Rose James, Mrs. Angela Foster and Mrs. Mary Westrick, had its beginnings back in 1979. Mr. Tony McMahon, chairman of the parish committee to oversee the design and construction of the Activities Building, approached Mrs. Chaput with the suggestion of painting large oils for the walls of the future gymnasium. At that time, the eleven o'clock Sunday Mass was being celebrated in the basement of the church but as soon as the new building was completed, this Mass would be offered in the spacious, new quarters provided in the gym.

The art committee decided to mount the oils in two sections on the long, solid wall of the gym where they would serve a secondary purpose as acoustical buffers in the large area. In each of the two sections, the oils would be arranged back to back. When closed, two scenes from the life of Christ would appear; when open, two scenes of sports activities would face outward. For a full year, the concept of the paintings was contemplated and researched.

Work on the panels began in earnest in 1981, after Mrs. Rose James offered her expertise as a painter and sculptor. The large, empty canvasses, stretched and prepared by the artists, rested against the basement walls as their painted messages began to take form. The artists at work became a "built in" art education for the parish community as parishioners stopped by to watch, to comment, to lend encouragement and help. Children watched round eyed as the figures began to emerge on the canvasses under the skillful hands of the artists. Throughout the year, various parish activities scheduled for the church basement continued along in the midst of the ladders, drop cloths and paint pots of a working art studio.

Mrs. Chaput's panel, "The Holy Family," inspired by St. John's gospel, portrays Mary, Joseph and the child Jesus in an intimate family scene. Mrs. James, who painted two of the panels, worked in the Byzantine style to convey the theme of the Resurrected Savior. Mrs. Angela Foster of Sandy Springs, a portrait painter chose for her subject "The Raising of the Daughter of Jairus from the Dead," from St. Matthew's gospel.

The sports panels were worked from photographs of St. Jude's boys' and girls' soccer and basketball teams in action. Completed the panels "look down" on the daily scenes of athletic activities in the gym.

Upstairs, on the walls of the new meeting rooms, hangs a quilt entitled "Come To Me With All Your Heart" and color photographs of the four seasons of the year. The quilt, stitched by Mrs. Judi Haly, portrays the figure of Christ with arms opened and welcoming against a background of a table holding bread and wine. Proceeds from the annual parish "Variety Show" were used to purchase the four photographs which Mrs. Haly framed and selected from the portfolio of Mr. Ted Shields of Stone Mountain. The Crucifixes and large print "reading Bibles" placed in each room were donated in memory of Mrs. Helen Marchman.

The St. Jude's community at the parish reception expressed their gratitude for the efforts of their gifted members in rendering such beautiful works of art for the honor and glory of God.