‘Christ is risen – He is risen indeed’ at Our Lady of Mount Virgin just in time for Easter 

Some of his fingers were missing, his arm was a bit wobbly, and overall, he needed a new paint job. But the faithful at Our Lady of Mount Virgin Church in Garfield did not seem to mind, as the parish’s statue of the Risen Christ displayed during the Easter season was a well-loved tradition. Yet the statue’s condition, brought about as it was moved from storage to the sanctuary for the Easter Vigil every year, bothered Father Peter J. Palmisano. He even tried applying flesh-tone nail polish to fix the scrapes. 

So, after Father Palmisano discovered local artist Rafael Sebasco, a Catholic with 20 years of experience in restoration, and raised funds from parishioners, he sent the image out for repair this past June. And after seeing the results of the artist’s work, the pastor is very glad he did. 

“Raphael brought it back to life. He’s flawless and more realistic now,” Father Palmisano said. “Magnificent craftsmanship and artistry to say the least. Thank you, Rafael Sebasco, for your faith, gifts, and talents. God bless.” 

Sebasco fixed the statue’s broken fingers, re-established its wobbly arm, and applied a complete paint job to the piece. According to Father Palmisano, this marks the first time in nearly 20 years that the parish’s beloved statue has been refurbished.  

The statue, which is about five feet tall, depicts Jesus draped in clothes with his right hand extended upward and his face turned up to God. Now that it has been restored to its former glory, the image of the Risen Jesus will once again be placed to the left of Our Lady of Mount Virgin’s altar near Mary on the Easter Vigil, the first official celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus. He will be flanked by two angels and surrounded by greenery, flowers, and a small fountain. 

Meanwhile, Sebasco will continue his work repairing Catholic art, which he has a history of doing within the Archdiocese of Newark. Last year, Sebasco refurbished a Pietà or Nuestra Señora de las Angustias – Our Lady of Anguish — for St. Patrick’s Pro-Cathedral in Newark in time for Lent. The image of Mary holding the lifeless body of Christ after being taken down from the cross was found in a storage closet when Father Camilo Cruz was assigned to the church in 2020. A plaque on the bottom of the statue states it was created in 1890.  

Moved by the statue, Father Cruz wanted to restore it for the veneration of the parish’s now mainly Hispanic community by Ash Wednesday, when Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark would be at the church to celebrate Mass. He reached out to Sebasco, who refurbished the piece by the deadline to the delight of the congregation. 

To Catholics, and Christians overall, the resurrection of Christ means that He triumphed over sin and death by being physically resurrected, so that all who trust in Him are raised to new life in this world and to everlasting life in the world to come. Just as we will one day be resurrected, Christ followers believe this world will one day be restored.  

The Easter Vigil is held on Saturday after sundown. Outside the church, the lighting of the Paschal Candle from the Easter fire is kindled. The clergy and congregation then receive the new light from the Paschal candle and process into the church, as a hymn is sung. During the Mass, the Church will baptize and accept as full members those Catechumens who were elected to join at the Rite of Election in February.