My favorite feature of the renovated facade at St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine is the statue of the Virgin Mary above the doors.   Before the 8-month renovation, I knew that the statue was up there.  But the lack of color made it disappear into the background.

Father Peter Grover, the rector of the seminary, brought his brother to paint the statue after the stone work was complete.  Photos were taken before the scaffolding was dismantled.  The statue really popped.

The angels and the lily were features that I hadn’t noticed before.

Father Peter said that there were words underneath the statue. The words say: “Under Mary’s protection, everything flourishes.”

From the street, I saw that she was holding the Child Jesus carrying a globe.  I didn’t not notice before.  There were angels and words and a papal crest, too?  A little bit of paint went a long way.

Father Peter’s brother used paint, made to withstand outdoor conditions.  The Virgin Mary and Child Jesus will greet visitors to the shrine for years to come.