A massive mural honoring NYC immigrants now fills the entrance to St. Patrick’s Cathedral

By LISEBERTH GUILLAUME NEW YORK AP New York s iconic St Patrick s Cathedral is unveiling a massive new mural that honors the city s immigrants Related Articles What are Nexstar and Sinclair the ABC affiliate owners who issued statements against Jimmy Kimmel Man dies from blunt impact injuries after riding coaster at new Florida amusement park Epic Universe Teen girl s body identified in impounded car registered to the singer d vd Toyota and Hyundai recall more than million vehicles for seat belt panel display problems As immigration arrests spike in Chicago activists escalate tactics to fight back Spanning the sides to the Manhattan landmark s entryway the -foot-tall artwork of everyday immigrants and notable historical figures comes amid a federal crackdown on immigration that has divided countless communities across the country The piece was not intended as a political message according to the Rev Enrique Salvo the Roman Catholic church s rector but nevertheless sends a message We want anyone that comes in to feel loved and welcomed revealed Salvo who is himself an immigrant from Nicaragua It s a reminder that it doesn t matter what s happening politically We have to treat everyone with love and respect The work titled What s So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding also just brightens up the space for the million visitors that come into the church every year noted Cardinal Timothy Dolan the archbishop of New York who commissioned the piece A -foot-high mural by artist Adam Cvijanovic the largest artwork ever commissioned for St Patrick s Cathedral is shown during a media preview in New York Thursday Sept AP Photo Richard Drew It was very drab Dolan described reporters Thursday of the old entryway ahead of the mural s official unveiling at Sunday Mass So we thought at least we need to spark it up and get particular illumination The mural by local artist Adam Cvijanovic in part honors Irish immigrants who contributed to the cathedral s construction One section depicts the Apparition at Knock in which according to Catholic lore the saints Mary Joseph and John the Evangelist appeared to locals in the Irish village in the same year Dolan noted the cathedral opened its doors Elsewhere Irish immigrants are seen arriving on a ship Artist Adam Cvijanovic poses for a photo during the media preview his -foot-high mural the largest artwork ever commissioned for St Patrick s Cathedral in New York Thursday Sept AP Photo Richard Drew Other scenes show modern-day displaced persons alongside famous local figures including journalist and social activist Dorothy Day Pierre Toussaint a former slave from Haiti who became a major philanthropist in the city and former New York Gov Alfred E Smith the first Roman Catholic to receive a major-party nomination for president Cvijanovic noted it was also essential to him to represent Native Americans in the piece which features St Kateri Tekakwitha the first Native American saint Artist Adam Cvijanovic left listens as Cardinal Timothy Dolan speaks during a media preview of the -foot-high mural the largest artwork ever commissioned for St Patrick s Cathedral in New York Thursday Sept AP Photo Richard Drew Dolan praised the painter for creating what he described as an effusive ode to the greatness of this city and those who came here and those who have turned into their leaders