St. Angela Merici Portrait Sculpture
The Commission:
Urban Community School, Cleveland, Ohio, is a client whom we had done a “Welcoming Christ & Children” sculpture scene for in the past. They approached us to make a sculpture of St. Angela Merici and Sister Dorothy Kazel, Ursuline Nuns. Also wanted was a little girl in the scene depicting continuity of the mission.
Concept:
Tom did a lot of research on St. Angela who started the Ursulines. It was particularly impressive to read of her humility. It is said that people used to comment on her beautiful hair. History reports she started putting ash on it not to draw attention to herself.
Since there are no actual photos of St. Angela, Tom used his granddaughter, Isabella, as a model. She dressed in period clothing from the 1400s. Merici’s kindness, beautiful hair and sweet temperament are conveyed in the statue.
Below is some of our research, but you can read more online:
Research & Ursuline Goals:
Angela Merici (21 March 1474 – 27 January 1540) was an Italian Catholic religious educator who founded the Company of St. Ursula. Around 1535 in Brescia she taught women that they should dedicate their lives to the service of the Church. Accomplishing this through the education of girls. Later the organization became the Order of St. Ursula with nuns throughout Europe. Additionally, worldwide and largely in North America.
After her death, Merici was venerated by Catholics around the world. A cause for sainthood was opened. She was canonized by Pope Pius VII in 1807.
Angela Merici taught her companions to serve God while remaining in the world. All in all girls were taught in in to practice a religious form of life in their own homes. Ursuline members wore no special habit and took no formal religious vows.
St. Angela Merici wrote a Rule of Life for the group. Specifically outlined was the practice of celibacy, poverty and obedience in their own homes. The Ursulines opened orphanages and schools. On 18 March 1537, she was elected “Mother and Mistress” of the group. The Rule she had written was approved in 1544 by Pope Paul III.
A traditional view is that Merici believed better Christian education was needed for girls and young women, to which end she dedicated her life.
Since there are no historical portraits of St. Angela Merici, Isabella served as the model for this sculpture. She is dressed in period clothing style. Her sweet personality beautifully reflected the gentleness, humility, and inner strength described in historical writings about St. Angela. Isabella’s presence helped bring authenticity and warmth to the final bronze portrait statue.
Sister Dorothy Kazel Portrait Sculpture
Dorothy’s History:
Dorothy Kazel, OSU (June 30, 1939 – December 2, 1980), was an American Ursuline religious sister and missionary to El Salvador. On December 2, 1980, she was beaten, raped, and murdered along with three fellow missionaries by members of the El Salvador military.
According to information available online and in Wikipea that we researched, Kazel was born Dorthea Lu Kazel in Cleveland, Ohio and she joined the Ursulines, in 1960. She took the name Sister Laurentine, in honor of an Ursuline nun martyred during the French Revolution. She later became known as Sister Dorothy. In the Central American community where she died, she was known as Madre Dorthea (Dorothy).
Education & Service:
Kazel completed her bachelor’s degree and [novitiate] “Novitiate”) between 1960 and 1965. Beginning in 1965, she taught for seven years in Cleveland, and did missionary work among the Papago Tribe of Arizona. Between 1972-1974, Kazel served as a guidance counselor at Beaumont School, in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.[[2]]
After finishing a master’s degree in counseling in 1974, Kazel decided to partake in the challenge of joining the Diocese of Cleveland’s mission team working in El Salvador. Once there, Kazel worked in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in La Libertad. She trained cathecists, carryied out sacramental preparation programs, and oversaw the distribution of Catholic Relief Services aid and food supplies. She was also engaged in working with refugees from the Salvadoran Civil War. Working to obtain food, shelter, and medical supplies. In addition to transporting the sick and injured to medical facilities.
