British Province
200th anniversary of the Restoration

‘DYNAMIC’ SCULPTURE REMINDS
JESUITS OF PASSION AND GLORY

 

London, 14 November 2003 --  A sculptor-priest based in North Wales has had his work of art installed in the offices of the British Jesuits. Father Rory Geoghegan SJ, who has a studio in the grounds of St Beuno’s Spirituality Centre at St Asaph, delivered the crucifix depicting the Risen Christ to the Curia chapel last week to mark the 200th anniversary of the Restoration of the British Province.

The sculpture, which is made of metal, wood and plaster, is approximately 1.3m (4’4”) high. The figure of Jesus – clean-shaven and dignified – is seen emerging from the cross, his left hand outstretched invitingly. Painted in turquoise and gold, it has the appearance of weathered bronze.

Fr Geoghegan’s theological aims in designing the sculpture were very specific: “I wanted something that encapsulated the highlights of St Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises,” he says. “These take place over four weeks and include prayerful conversations – with the crucified Christ, with his Mother Mary, with God the Father, and with the Christ of the Resurrection. Each aspect of these is incorporated in this work, using a symbolic circle, semi-circle and triangles, juxtaposed with the figure.

“I’ve called the sculpture Suscipe which is the opening word of one of the final prayers in the Exercises: ‘Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding and my entire will, all that I have and possess’. That’s the central message,” says Fr Geoghegan, “our willingness to offer God everything – just as Jesus did in his Passion and death.”

The Provincial of the British Jesuits, Fr David Smolira SJ, described the crucifix as “an energetic, dynamic work of art, and a wonderful way for us to mark the celebration of our bi-centennial year. But most of all, it reflects in a creative way the Jesuit understanding of our mission today which,” he continued, quoting from the Jesuits’ General Congregation in 1995, “we derive ‘from our continuing experience of the Crucified and Risen Christ who invites us to join him in preparing the world to become the completed Kingdom of God’.”

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