Saint Rose of Lima Parish restores hidden treasure, now on display

Friday, Sep. 11, 2015

By Kevin Cummings

Special to the Intermountain Catholic

LAYTON — For 13 years a treasure lay hidden in the back of the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe at Saint Rose of Lima Parish in Layton. Now, through the efforts of parishioner Charlie Duran, the tapestry of Our Lady of Guadalupe has been restored and placed prominently in the education center.

The tapestry, created using oil pastels on muslin, is signed “Tony Garcia 86.”

Duran remembers seeing the tapestry years ago, when it hung in an entryway outside the parish office. Then, in 1994, the parish moved from the old chapel to a new building about a mile away, and the tapestry was installed in an alcove to the west of the sanctuary. A kneeler was added to make it a proper shrine.

Eight years later, a mural by Garcia was installed in the shrine above the tapestry. The pastor at the time, Monsignor Victor Bonnell, was on vacation when the mural was installed. After he returned, he and Duran discussed moving the tapestry to a more prominent place, but decided to avoid disturbing the shrine.

For the next 12 years the tapestry languished in the back of the alcove, nearly forgotten. However, when it was mentioned recently to the current pastor, Father Clarence Sandoval, the priest was intrigued and asked to have it pulled out.

Although the tapestry had yellowed over the years, Duran and Fr. Sandoval decided to have it restored and put on permanent display in the St. Rose education center.

Art teacher Lindsay Huss, contacted by Duran to assist in the restoration, said the tapestry is an interesting piece. “It has a lot of expression,” she said.

With the restoration underway, Duran turned his attention toward arranging an appropriate display case.

Pat Herman provided his expertise as a cabinet maker, and the decision was made to put the case in a prominent place in the education center. 

When Duran discovered that the cost for the glass to complete the cabinet would be several hundred dollars, he enthusiastically told the story of the tapestry to anyone who would listen, and a diverse group of parishioners donated whatever they could to the project. To represent the generosity of the entire parish, the final $50 came out of parish coffers. The glass was installed in early August, just before the children returned for this year’s Christian formation classes.

“A hidden treasure of Our Lady of Guadalupe has been discovered and now she has found a home,” Fr. Sandoval said. “A special thanks to Charlie and all who helped, for rediscovering her and finding a place for her. Our children will enjoy the treasure.”

Although the project was difficult, “getting it was going to be worth the effort,” Duran said. “Not everything comes on a silver platter.”