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January 3, 2025Creating the new Saint John Neumann Banner
By Lenore GuajardoLast year I was asked to make a banner for the newly formed St. John Neumann Parish. After much thought and research about Saint John Neumann, I was impressed with his accomplishments as an immigrant from Czechia in Europe who was devoted to education and established the first Catholic diocesan school system in the U.S. He is the only male U.S. citizen to be named a saint (in 1977). I agreed to make the banner.
After further research of many images of St. John Neumann from his young days as a priest until he became a cardinal, I found the image I wanted to use and then started the journey of creating this banner.
As a quilter, I knew the final product would be quilted, so I searched for quite some time until I found what I consider to be the perfect background for the John Neumann figure. Though many of the pictures I found depicted him as a stern, austere type person, I found one that portrayed him with a friendlier face, and I enhanced his mouth with a few brush strokes which helped to create a softer demeanor. I also chose to clothe him in his cardinal robes and holding a rosary.
I completed the quilted and painted banner in October, 2024, and have dedicated it to my husband, Juan, a great supporter of my quilting efforts, who passed away in July of 2024.
