Bishop John Noonan | Diocese of Orland website

Canadian artist Tim Schmalz has donated a resin replica of the original "Life Monument" statue to the JMJ Pregnancy Center in the Diocese of Orlando. The replica will be touring diocesan parishes for one month at a time, starting with Blessed Trinity in Orlando. The original bronze statue is located in Rome.

Schmalz explained that the statue, depicting the Virgin Mary with Jesus in her womb, is a response to those who argue that life begins at birth. He sees it as a challenge and a battle in a culture that is trying to suppress representations of life. Schmalz considers himself an "artistic soldier" for the Church, and believes that artwork has its own power to make an impact.

"The wonderful thing about artwork is that it has its own power," Schmalz said. "To bring it with a powerhouse, it has a ten-fold effect."

The hope is that the sculpture will help viewers recognize the beauty and dignity of all life, and remind them that their own lives began in the womb. Bob Perron, JMJ's executive director, expressed his excitement about being a living witness to the sanctity of life through the sculpture. He also mentioned that it raises awareness for JMJ and their work.

Father Phil "Skip" Negley, pastor of Blessed Trinity, shared his enthusiasm for having the sculpture at the parish. He sees it as a representation of what the Church is all about - the gift of life and the love between the Trinity. He also emphasized the love between Mary and Jesus depicted in the sculpture.

JMJ Pregnancy Center supports the God-given right of every pregnant woman to give birth and the right of every unborn child to be born. To learn more about their work, visit their website at https://jmjpc.org/.

This article was written by Glenda Meekins of the Florida Catholic staff on February 15, 2024.