Informative Art Lecture on Life-Size Replica of Michelangelo's La Pieta Friday, May 13 at 8 p.m. at Resurrection Parish, Randolph, New Jersey

RANDOLPH, N.J., May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Resurrection Parish, a Roman Catholic Church in Randolph NJ, is the first venue in the mid Atlantic region to exhibit and host an informative art lecture on life-size replica of Michelangelo's masterpiece, La Pieta, May 13 at 8 p.m. The sculpture is cast from a prototype made from a mold of the original located in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and is on display now through May 31.  The special exhibit, created under exclusive worldwide license with the Vatican Observatory Foundation, is available free of charge.  

La Pieta was produced by Vescovo Buonarroti Art (VBA) using a proprietary marble blend creating a replica which is faithful in both detail and subtlety to the original.  After casting, the sculpture was hand-finished by master artisans, ensuring the intricate details of the original.  It stands 7 feet tall with its pedestal and weighs 1100 pounds.

The art lecture will be conducted by Ms. Ivannia Vega-McTighe, a current Ph.D. candidate in Art History at Rutgers University, NJ.  McTighe is also the Coordinator of Lay Ministry Leadership Formation and Religious Education Endowments of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey. She earned a BA in Secondary Education and Theology from Boston College and holds an MA in Theology and Certificate in Youth Ministry, both from Seton Hall University in NJ.

According to his 1999 Letter to Artists, Blessed Pope John Paul II stated, "In order to communicate the message entrusted to her by Christ, the Church needs art."  "Sacred art, such as Michelangelo's Pieta, communicates the Gospel to its viewers and elevates their hearts and minds to an encounter with God."

There are only a limited number of these replicas circulating throughout the country.  Resurrection Parish is one of the first few in the United States to be hosting La Pieta since the inception of Vescovo's program which began in January 2010 and is the first in the mid-Atlantic region.

According to Steven Bishop, VBA founder, "The VBA mission is to allow people who are not able to travel to Rome to experience this iconic masterpiece in their own home town providing a more intimate experience without restrictive barriers."  

For information and group reservations, contact [email protected]

Contact:  Deacon Ray Latour
(973) 895-4224
[email protected]

SOURCE Resurrection Parish