The Call on Canvas

Generation S’, in collaboration with Catholic Media Services and the Catholic Youth Commission is hosting ‘The Call on Canvas’. This initiative is part of the vocation promotion ministry of the Archdiocese.

In short, we wish to keep the vocations conversation alive in every space possible. Our young artist would be part of this. Their art ought to be a conversation piece in every respect. Their art, as all art ought to do, would raise our spirit and fill us with awe.

We are calling on all young people and young adults to take part in what will be a life-changing event for them and those viewing their art. We are hoping that ‘The Call on Canvas’ would be as inspiring and provocative as it would be soul-searching for the entire people of God in the Archdiocese of Port of Spain.

Through our schools, parishes and creative spaces, young people would be contacted and presented with the call stories of the Bible; in turn they will be asked to pray with the particular scripture then proceed to paint/draw it unto canvas.

They would be encouraged to indigenise the call story or, to put it in other words, paint or draw the call story in a way as if it was taking local space in our present time. This initiative is meant to marry creativity with spirituality and theology.

The Church has traditionally been a patron of the arts. The beauty of music, painting, art and sculptures that we enjoy today in many parts of the world can be traced to the Church standing as a patron to young artists. Art is beauty and God and salvation is beauty. There is a distinct connection between art and God. Beauty ought to remind us of God and salvation.

More information on this initiative will be forthcoming. The launch of ‘The Call on Canvas’ will take place during Vocations Awareness Week in November.—Fr Matthew d’Hereaux, Episcopal Vicar for Vocations and Formation