Indiana man is painting new life into Holy Hill

An Indiana man is painting new life into a quiet hallway at Holy Hill.

Scott Dercks, of Fort Wayne, recalls visiting the National Shrine of Mary Basilica with his father when he was 8 or 9 years old.  Murals along the wall on either side of the second floor walkway are labeled with a litany to Mary - "Queen of Angels," "Mother of the Savior," "Queen of All Saints."

"I always wondered what the symbols meant," said Dercks, who is originally from Muskego.

That curiosity stayed with him during his studies at Indiana Wesleyan University, when he received his master's degree at the University of St. Francis in Forty Wayne and as an art teacher at Northrop High School.

While visiting the area last year, he was surprised to see the level of decay the murals had fallen into.

"They were in such disrepair - stains, mold, cracks.  I felt called to do something about it," said Dercks.

He wrote the Discalced Carmelite Friars to ask permission to refurbish the paintings.  Included in his letter were photos of the set design he had done in college and for the school's theater department.  After a few months, the friars agreed to his request.

"We continue to be inspired by the faith of the men and women who help maintain the Shrine.  Scott's work will be seen and appreciated by the many pilgrims who travel here seeking God and the intercession of Mary, Help of Christians at this beautiful Basilica," said Holy Hill Prior the Rev. Jude Peters.

Dercks received a grant from the Lilly Endowment that covers his travel and art expenses and the work is being done at no cost to the shrine.

He is currently living in the guest house at the shrine.

"It's a simple room and it gives me time to paint, pray and contemplate," says Dercks. 

On July 15, he was working to complete the overhead mural that reads "Holy Trinity - One God" in the Marian Hallway.

He said traditionally, the three linked rings symbolize the Holy Trinity, but he also sees it as a link between God, himself and others.

He said it is one thing to view each symbol independently, but another to see them as a whole message.

Taken together under a rainbow depicted on the overarching wall, Dercks sees it to mean that we are all very different, but all loved by God.

Dercks said a painted eye inside a triangle, similar to one found on the back of currency, symbolize the watchful eye of God.

"It keeps us honorable, keeps us watchful and keeps us in the presence that our way is not always God's way," said Dercks.

Perhaps his favorite is the symbol of the Holy Spirit and the seven gifts, which Dercks interprets as a symbol of peace.

"Peace is so important, especially in our modern times.  In modern day society, we don't seek peace as often as we should.  Peace is a powerful gift," said Dercks.

He also finds that peaceful spirit inhabits the Marian Hallway.

"It wants you to be quiet.  You want to observe it and fell it," said Dercks.

After completing restoration on the main mural, Dercks plans on cleaning, patching and sealing the Marian litanies. 

"Somebody put a lot of love in these murals.  They should be around for another generation," said Dercks.

The Rev. Cyril Guise said the original paintings were done about 45 years ago by Brother Francis Enders.  He said the Marian Hallway also contains historical artifacts from the shrine, including a model of the first church on the site and a reproduction of the first wooden cross that marked the glacial hill in 1674.

Dercks said considering the murals were done in tempera paint nearly five decased ago he is surprised the murals are still around.  The hall is open to the elements on one end.

gmtoday.com