St. Catherine hosting annual art show

RINGWOOD — St. Catherine of Bologna is hosting its 17th annual Photography, Art and Poetry Exhibition and Sale, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 11, 12 and 13.

Artists from throughout the area will be exhibiting and selling their artwork, including one artist who is donating a personally meaningful portrait.

Artist Mike Malzone is donating all of the proceeds from the sale of a very special portrait he painted of Sr. Mary Matthew Cola to the North Jersey Animal Shelter. Sr. Matthew passed away on Oct. 26, 2015, at the age of 88. She was a Sister of St. Francis for 63 years and taught at St. Catherine of Bologna School. She also taught and served as principal at St. Francis School in Haskell. She is known to the Our Lady Queen of Peace community in Hewitt for her ministry work there.

Malzone has painted the portrait as a tribute to Sr. Matthew, who was a student of his art school.

"It has been such a privilege and blessing to have known Sister Matthew," said Malzone. "For over 11 years, Sister attended my art school studying painting, but if you knew her, well, she was always the better teacher than student and teach she did!

"Sister taught her fellow students and I more about the beauty of life through her art, through her wonderful sense of humor and her passion and devotion to her faith than I could ever fathom," Malzone said.

The oil on canvas portrait is 24" by 30" and the price is $1,500.

"Sister Matthew's light will always shine bright in my life, art and in my school," Malzone added. "I am honored to share Sister Matthew's portrait with you in celebrating a life well lived."

Essential Information
St. Catherine of Bologna's 17th annual Photography, Art and Poetry Exhibition and Sale will be held at the Parish Center, 112 Erskine Road, Ringwood on:

Friday, March 11, 6 to 11 p.m.
Saturday, March 12, 3 to 11 p.m.

Sunday, March 13, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information, go to StCathArts.org.