Capturing beauty in joy: Local Artist testifies to the power of the Holy Spirit

On the morning before Pentecost, Chiara Umali lost her voice. The young artist was preparing to share her testimony at the Fire & Wind faith night taking place later that day, and she was worried.

The event was held at her home parish, St. Matthew’s in Surrey, and organized by Catholic Young Adults of Surrey (CYAS) in celebration of Pentecost, the Church’s birthday. Activities focused on the renewing power of the Holy Spirit, and attendees were invited to participate in a Vigil Mass, enjoy a potluck dinner, and listen to personal testimonies (including Umali’s). The night ended with praise and worship music. 

Umali prayed for the healing of her voice during the Vigil Mass. “Jesus, I can’t tell my story if I can’t talk,” she prayed. After receiving the Eucharist and asking to be healed, her voice was immediately restored. This moment of healing and trusting in God’s plan fits perfectly within a larger story of how he saved Umali “from the grave” and gave her “new life” through the Holy Spirit.

“For the past eight years, I’ve suffered from an illness called major depressive disorder also known as depression,” she told The B.C. Catholic, and described the experience as a distinct feeling of emptiness that she couldn’t fill. 

By the beginning of this year, Umali was convinced that “God had made a mistake.” “I tried everything.” she said. “I tried prayer, years of therapy, so many medications, sleep studies, blood tests, specialists, and none of it worked.” 

Then everything changed on Palm Sunday. 

“I was at a restaurant with my Mom and Dad,” she said. “Then my Mom said she had something very important to tell me.” Over dinner, her mother told her about a phone call she recently had with a fellow parishioner from St. Matthew’s, in which her mother learned that God had revealed to her friend visions of Umali’s struggle with depression. She said she knew what the two of them needed to lift up in prayer. 

For over three hours, the two prayed over the phone while Umali was in another room, completely unaware of the prayers being offered for her healing. After three hours of intercessory prayer, Umali’s mother said she heard “a victory cry” followed by “an overwhelming sense of peace.” 

As Umali listened to this story, she felt confused and lost. “I remember being scared to put my hope in God because I had put my hope in doctors and medicine which disappointed me every single time.” Listening to her mom’s story opened Umali’s eyes to the power of the Holy Spirit working in an unseen and powerful way through the prayers of others. 

Since then, Umali has experienced a total shift in her spiritual and physical well-being. “I was one way, and now I’m completely different, and the thing that happened in between was Jesus,” she said during her testimony. “If you’re doubting His presence and power, let me stand as proof because I experienced an Easter resurrection with Jesus.” 

Portraits by @artboothbybliss: 

Sharing her testimony at Fire & Wind was a big step in Umali’s healing journey. “I was very nervous and scared going into it,” she said. “There’s something about a testimony where you can’t hide behind the catechism or your humour; it’s just you and your vulnerability.” Umali has learned “to say yes to Jesus every day,” whether it be sharing her story at an event or pursuing her own creative dreams. 

Aside from serving in ministry and evangelizing others through her testimony, Umali also runs Art Booth by Bliss (@artboothbybliss on Instagram), a pop-up live portrait booth based in Vancouver. People who visit her booth are invited to take a seat in front of Umali, who then draws them on the spot and gives them a trading card-sized portrait to take home. 

“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always loved drawing,” she said.  “I started [Art Booth by Bliss] really small. I just had my sketchbook, paper, and a pen.” Umali felt that it was God’s plan to push her into using her gift. “He gave me this desire to make art not just as a hobby but also as a job.”

Umali has presented and sold her work at three markets so far, the most recent being at the 4th Annual Pinoy Festival held in Burnaby. She shared that ever since being healed, she has had “more energy to create” as a result of being able “to see beauty in the world again.”

While the meaning behind Art Booth by Bliss isn’t explicitly Catholic, Umali’s creative process concentrates on the idea of “enjoying God’s creation” through the capture of blissful moments. “I’m a very sentimental person,” Umali said. “The question I ask myself is how can I capture this moment where I feel this joy and create a little memento?” 

Within the next couple of years, Umali hopes to present her work in more markets and festivals, pursuing her passion for art and the joy of meeting others at such events. 

To anyone who may be considering pursuing their own artistic passions and dreams, Umali says that “if you’re waiting to feel ready, you’re never going to start.” She encourages individuals with creative and artistic dreams. “Just start,” she said. “Do it scared then figure it out along the way.”