Bring Homeless Jesus to Bridgeport

Help bring the controversial Homeless Jesus statue to Bridgeport, CT


St. John's Episcopal Church, founded in 1748, is the second oldest Christian congregation in the area and the first church in Bridgeport, Connecticut. For 100 years (1845-1945), Bridgeport was the thriving center of New England manufacturing (Remington, Colt, G.E. Sikorsky), but since the end of World War II, innumerable industries have moved away or closed down completely, leaving an immigrant population of workers behind in what is the largest and poorest city in Connecticut, in the midst of the wealthiest county in the country! (Fairfield County includes Greenwich, Stamford, New Canaan, Ridgefield)! St. John's has a long history of serving the poor in this community. In 2014, our 35-year old tradition of feeding the homeless every Tuesday night served almost 7,000 meals. Last year, our Food Pantry distributed 44,000 meals. Our Bed Funds covered about $83,000 of medical expenses for those in need. Our Family Center provided $19,000 in rent/utility assistance, plus mother-toddler groups, ESOL and citizenship classes, summer youth programs, an afterschool program with 82 fifth-graders, nutrition classes and so much more. All programs of the Family Center are free! In addition, our Clothes Closet provided free clothing to 450 families last year, and our Childcare Center provides 24 working families on government assistance with high-quality care. “Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’” (Matthew 25:44)  

St. John's is the obvious place to bring the Homeless Jesus to Bridgeport, with our prominent location at the corner of Park and Fairfield Avenues, across from the historic Wheeler Fountain. While once the home of wealthly, white industrialists, St. John’s is now proudly a multi-cultural, multi-racial, multi-lingual Christian congregation where all of God’s children are welcome. We are Anglos, African-Americans, Latinos, West Indians, Nigerians and Congolese. We are urban and suburban, rich and poor, conservative and liberal, black, white and brown, celebrating each Sunday in English, Spanish, French and Créole. We are neither a ghetto nor a gated community. We are the face of Bridgeport. We are the Body of Christ. But we are poor and struggling.

The Homeless Jesus would be welcome among us, but we cannot even imagine finding the funds to bring him here. You could help, and inspire our city with a continued concern for the poor and needy among us, the least of these our brethren.

350 people donating only $100 and we would reach our goal! Will you not help us?                         



http://facebook.com/saintjohnbridgeport                            


Homeless Jesus in Bridgeport, CT
PROPOSED
Dedicating the “Homeless Jesus” sculpture by Timothy P. Schmalz at a location in Bridgeport that would create the greatest evangelical impact, both initially and perpetually. Therefore, high visibility and pedestrian traffic is preferred.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SCULPTURE:
A visual representation of Matthew: 25, this sculpture suggests that Christ is with the most marginalized in our society. The Christ figure is shrouded in a blanket with His face covered. The only indication that it is Jesus is the visible wounds on the feet. The life-size version of the work has enough room that someone is able to sit on the bench. The sculpture will be cast bronze metal measuring 36”h x 84”l x 24”d.
PURPOSE
This sculpture has primarily a two-fold purpose: Raise awareness of the marginalized, challenge and inspire society to be more compassionate and charitable and to act upon that inspiration. Lift the spirits of the marginalized as well so that they might see Christ within themselves. All of this, for centuries to come…
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Timothy P. Schmalz is a world-renowned sculptor of
Christian themed works from Saint Jacobs, Ontario,
Canada, and has a true vocation for creating sacred Art. “I am devoted to creating artwork that glorifies Christ. The reason for this devotion, apart from my Christian beliefs, is that an artist needs an epic subject to create epic art. I describe my sculptures as being visual prayers. When I create a three dimensional sculpture in bronze I am quite aware that it will last longer than myself. I realize I am between two things that are much more durable than myself: Christianity and bronze metal. It is between these that I have developed a subtle appreciation for what Saint Francis meant by “instrument”. Creating art that has the power to convert. Creating sculpture that deepens our spirituality. Attaining these two goals describes my purpose as an artist.” Timothy P. Schmalz.
The Journey of “Homeless Jesus”
A brief history of the events that led to a modern masterpiece that is truly touching people around the world.
November of 2011
Tim is in Toronto for an art show and has the inspiration to create the sculpture after seeing a homeless man sleeping on a park bench and felt that it could have been Jesus.
Spring of 2012
Tim has finished the clay scale model of the sculpture and secures two patrons (1 Canadian and 1 American) to finance 2 full-scale bronze casts of the sculpture to the Catholic Cathedrals in Toronto and NY. Meetings with both rectors over the coming weeks result in resounding and excited acceptances in both cases…(Tim and I are in Jubilation) Only a few weeks later they are subsequently vetoed by the Cardinals in both cases. (Tim and I are devastated)
Summer of 2012
Tim shares the story and his frustrationdepression of the situation with his long time spiritual director, an elderly Jesuit priest in Toronto. This priest feels very bad for Tim and contacts an associate that runs Regis College, a Jesuit school (part of the University of Toronto) with great street exposure in downtown Toronto. The School says they will accept the sculpture (pending Patrons’ approval). The Canadian patron approves and Tim begins work on the fully “life-size” scale sculpture. This process takes approximately 8 months.
February 2013
While Tim is creating the life-size scale sculpture, Pope Francis becomes the new Pope, and is in the news every other day with his unconventional approach to raising awareness of how we should treat the marginalized in society around the world.
March 2013
Sculpture is unveiled in Toronto and when interviewed, the Jesuit priest let it slip that the sculpture was rejected before it was accepted at the College...one of the reporters was from the Toronto Star…News of the two earlier acceptances and later rejections are on the front cover of the Star.
http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2013/04/13/sculpture_of_jesus_the_homeless_rejected_by_two_prominen t_churches.html
April 2013
Homeless Jesus rejection story goes viral. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/jesus-homeless-findshome-article-1.1321038
November 2013
Jesuits share the image with the Vatican and Tim is invited to meet Pope Francis and have the original model blessed by his Holiness.
Pope Francis blessed the five foot model on Nov. 20th 2013, touched the foot and called it “a beautiful piece of art.” Mr. Schmalz donated the model to the Vatican Archives. Since that time the sculpture has been covered by news outlets across the world. When Schmalz saw Pope Francis touch the sculpture, he said, "I thought well that's just it, this sculpture is symbolically representing what he's doing. He's out there touching the homeless people; he's reaching out to them every single day." Click this link to see NewsHistory: http://www.sculpturebytps.com/press-and-major-projects/
**The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace in the Vatican is working on getting approval from the City to permanently install the sculpture there in Rome. They hope to place it near the side walk at the historic public square “Lungotevere Vaticano” located at the intersection of Piazza Pia and Via della Conciliazione near Castel Sant’Angelo. The Vatican begins the process on obtaining approvals to do so. City of Rome, Ministry of Cultural Affairs) City of Rome has approved at this point we are still awaiting the Ministry 
Above: The proposed location of the “Homeless Jesus” sculpture in Rome.
Left: Digitally rendered image of the sculpture placed in Rome.
April 2014
A bronze cast of the sculpture is installed at a small Episcopal church in an affluent neighborhood in Davidson, NC. The evening after the piece was dedicated, the local police receive several calls that there is a vagrant asleep on a park bench at the church and one of the residents calls the local media. Story goes National across USA. Click to view news clip: ttp://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/nation/2014/02/26/5836263/  
Summer of 2014
Due to the press, commissions for bronze casts of the sculpture arise from various cities across Canada and the USA, resulting in an American patron that is willing to support 12 bronze casts to major cities around the world starting with London, England. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/homeless-jesus-sculpturefinds-homes-around-the-world-1.2755498
November of 2014
The BBC covers the story that “Homeless Jesus seeks a Home in London”. Many suggest St. Martin in the
fields at Trafalgar Square but the church rejects it...news again! Final location in London pending city approval is the Westminster Central Hall. Link to news clip: ttp://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0265l3x/p0265l4n 
We are honored and very pleased to announce that the location for the piece in London is the Methodist Westminster Central Hall just steps from Westminster Abby and Big Ben.
Above: Methodist Central Hall Westminster Above: Digitally rendered image of sculpture in location.

Map Above: Proposed location of the “Homeless Jesus” sculpture in London.
December of 2014
News of Homeless Jesus in London reaches Dublin and sparks much dialog and press regarding finding a
location for the sculpture in Dublin as well. (likely Historic Christ Church Cathedral) News spreads to Northern Ireland, where there is public interest in having one in Belfast at St. Patrick’s Church, one of the oldest parishes in the city (pending a patron). Link to news: http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/any-room-at-the-inn-forhomeless-jesus-in-dublin-1.2022746

CURRENT LOCATIONS OF THE SCULPTURE (with press links)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Regis College, Jesuit School of Theology, University of Toronto.
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2013/12/23/finding_room_for_the_homeless_christ_this_christmas_scharper.
html
Knoxville, TN.: Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church.
Chicago, IL.: Catholic Charities.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2014-01-15/news/ct-bronze-homeless-jesus-statue-20140115_1_pope-francis-parkbench-catholic-charities
Davidson, NC.: St. Alban’s Episcopal Church.
http://www.npr.org/2014/04/13/302019921/statue-of-a-homeless-jesus-startles-a-wealthy-community
London, Ontario, Canada: King’s University.
http://www.lfpress.com/2013/12/03/pov-homeless-jesus-art-should-make-us-think
Perth, Australia: Mary Mackillop Catholic Church, Ballajura.
Grand Haven, MI.: St. John’s Episcopal Church.
http://www.grandhaventribune.com/article/930011
Phoenix, AZ.: Ascension Lutheran Church.
http://www.azfamily.com/news/Homeless-Jesus-statue-to-be-unveiled-this-weekend-283085461.html
Charleston, WV.: St. Mark’s United Methodist Church.
http://www.wvgazette.com/article/20141123/GZ01/141129673
Washington, DC.: Catholic Charities Offices on G street NW just a block from the Smithsonian.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/homeless-jesus-sculpture-highlights-washingtons-winter-sheltercrisis/2015/02/20/efbc7664-b7c1-11e4-aa05-1ce812b3fdd2_story.html
Austin, TX: Central Presbyterian Church.
http://kxan.com/2015/02/26/homeless-jesus-unveiled-in-downtown-austin/
RECENTLY COMMISSIONED
Buffalo, NY: St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral. * Cincinnati, OH: Calvary Episcopal Church. * St. Augustine, FL: Cathedral
Basilica of St. Augustine. * Hamilton, Ontario Canada: St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. * Waterloo, Ontario, Canada: St.
Michael’s Catholic Church * Oklahoma City, OK: Catholic Charities. * Montgomery, AL: City of St. Jude. * Orlando, FL:
First Presbyterian Church * Denver, CO.: Fr. Woody’s Haven of Hope.
FINANCIAL COST: Bronze cast of the sculpture $33,000 and delivery will be approx $2,000.00 U.S.
OPPOSITION: “Would it not be better to spend money directly for the poor?”
At first blush this seems reasonable, even obvious, but more careful consideration reveals this question might misunderstand the proposal and is a bit short sighted. First, it is not our intention to take resources already dedicated to helping the homeless and reallocating them to this.
More to the point, the question does not account for the immense impact and longevity of the message this sculpture will have on society. One cannot put a price tag on art’s power to touch, disturb and inspire the heart, and churches the world over can attest to the centuries-old legacy of that claim. Throughout the ages the Church has been a major benefactor of art because of art’s power. 

While $35,000 could do much for the poor today, this bronze sculpture will last for centuries, and continue to inspire generosity long after we are gone. It is like a priest giving the same sermon 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. While we will never know the actual dollar amount of the generosity it inspires, it is not unreasonable to think that it need only move one wealthy person to see Christ in the homeless for its dollar cost to be covered. The truth is, over centuries, it will likely move tens of thousands, if not millions of people, to be more charitable. Point of fact, this sculpture has already inspired patrons to form philanthropic funds (of far greater value than
the sculpture itself) that support outreach to the marginalized in two major cities that we know of thus far. We can also look at this through the lens of the powerless: those who roam the streets, sleep on benches and feel the vast chasm between them and the glorified Jesus we typically see depicted. In addition to inspiring the wealthy and powerful to be charitable, maybe this sculpture’s greatest power will be when it allows the marginalized one who sleeps on a bench to see himself or herself in Christ.
Tony Frey – Secretary/Treasurer
Sculpture By Timothy P. Schmalz Inc.
P.O. Box 424, Kitchener, ON. Canada. N2G 3Y9
 Website: www.sculpturebytps.com