A detail of a new icon of St. Kateri Tekakwitha. (Photo courtesy of Andre Prevost)
The likenesses of St. Kateri Tekakwitha and St. Lorenzo Ruiz are the latest completed works at St. Monica's Parish in Richmond.
They are only two of a total of eight icons planned for the church, said Father Robert Wong, SJ.
Father Wong gave contemporary iconographer Andre Prevost from Nanaimo the task of completing these unique works. He hopes the modern style will mean "more people can relate" to the icons.
For that reason, he chose saints who reflect the cultural diversity of his Richmond community, including St. Lorenzo Ruiz, a Filipino man (like about 80 per cent of his congregation) and St. Josephine Bakhita, a member of the Canossians (religious sisters active in Richmond today).
