Denver Catholic

10 SEPTEMBER 14-27, 2019 | DENVER CATHOLIC Around the Archdiocese SERVING THE DENVER CATHOLIC COMMUNITY SINCE 1890. The heritage behind our mortuaries and cemeteries is one of history and tradition. For more than a century, Catholic families have trusted Olinger Mortuaries and Cemeteries to care for their loved ones. Respect for traditions, understanding the needs of the Catholic faith, and providing affordable options is at the heart of what we do. With over 87 years of combined experience, parishioners Harry Stevenson and Matt Whaley assist families with care and compassion. Their expertise combined with professional services in 11 Olinger neighborhood chapels is virtually unprecedented in serving the Denver Catholic community. (303) 455-3663 www.denverfuneralproviders.com Harry Stevenson 56 Years Matt Whaley 31 Years After 100 years of service to the Archdiocese of Denver, our Cathedral is in need of some vital repairs. Thank you for your generosity! Visit denvercathedral.org call us at 303-831-7010 or email us at CBIC2016@ denvercathedral.org for more information A RESTORATION FOR THE AGES All donations are tax deductible "Our historic and iconic Cathedral Basilica needs your help." Father Ron Cattany Pastor and Rector North, East and West Façade Repair $2 Million Leaking Flat Roof Repairs $50,000 East Door Handi- capped Access $50,000 Colfax Facade $4.5 Million Total: • Cathedral Savings and Restoration Fund $2.92 Million • Pledges & Gifts $1,172,353.86 EXTERIOR PRESERVATION 2021 Consecration Jubilee Trust Fund $5Million Clean Kimball Organ $100,000 Clean Altars $100,000 Carpet Cathedral $45,000 Paint Interior $750,000 INTERIOR RENOVATION Lower Level Bathrooms and Lift: • $350,000 from savings Sanctuary Handrails and Votive Candles: • Gifts & Pledges $46,639 Local artists choose life in pro-life art show F or someone who's always been in love with art, it's not surp rising that Brett Lempe fi rst encoun- tered God through beauty. Lempe, a 25-year-old Colorado native, used his talent for art and new-found love of God to create a specifi cally pro-life art show after a planned show was cancelled because of Lempe's pro-life views. Lempe was "dried out with earthly things," he said. "I was desperately crav- ing God." Three years ago, while living in St. Louis, Mo., Lempe google searched for a church to visit and ended up at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. "I was captivated by the beauty of the 40 million mosaic tiles," he said. Lempe is not exaggerating. This Cathedral is home to 41.5 million tiles that make up di£ erent mosaics around the sanctuary. Witnessing the beauty of this church is what sparked his con- version, he said, and was his fi rst major attraction towards Catholicism. Lempe continued on to become Catholic, then quit his job several months after joining the Church to dedicate himself completely to art. Most of his work post-conversion is religious art. Lempe planned to display a non-re- ligious body of artwork at a venue for a month when his contact at the venue saw some of Lempe's pro-life posts on Facebook. Although none of the art- work Lempe planned to display was explicitly pro-life or religious, the venue cancelled the show. "I was a little bit shocked at fi rst," he said. "Something like me being against abortion or being pro-life would get a whole art show cancelled." Lempe decided to counter with his own art show, one that would be explic- itly pro-life. On Sept. 7, seven Catholic artists dis- played work that gave life at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Denver. "Catholicism lends itself to being life-giving," Lempe said. The show included a variety of work from traditional sacred art, icons, land- scapes, to even dresses. Students for Life co-hosted the event, and 10 percent of proceeds benefi ted the cause. Lauren Castillo, Development director and faith-based program director at Students for Life America gave the keynote presentation. Castillo spoke about the need to be the one pro-life person in each circle of infl uence, with coworkers, neighbors, family, or friends. The reality of how many post-abortive women are already in our circles is big, she said. "Your friend circle will get smaller," Castillo said. "If one life is saved, it's worth it." BY MAKENA CLAWSON BRETT LEMPE'S LUKE 1:35 "This painting is the fi rst half at an attempt of displaying the intensity and mystical elements of Luke 1:35," Lempe said. "This work is infl uenced somewhat by Michelangelo's 'Cre- ation of Adam' painting as I try to capture the moment when the "New Adam" is conceived by Our Blessed Mother." PHOTOS BY MAKENA CLAWSON

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