As part of a five-year restoration of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Macon, Georgia, led by Rohn & Associates Design, artist Renate Rohn brought new life to two magnificent side shrine murals honoring the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary. The comprehensive project renewed many elements of this historic Neo-Romanesque church, including its sacred art, architectural details, and devotional spaces, while preserving the beauty and character that have defined the church for more than a century.
When visitors enter this sanctuary, they are often drawn first to the soaring dome, the marble high altar, and the extraordinary stained glass windows. Yet it is the side altars dedicated to Christ and His Mother that leave one of the most lasting impressions. These statues were already beloved images within the church, and Renate’s task was to create murals that would honor them, complement the richly decorated interior, and provide a place of prayer and reflection. Every detail had to serve the devotion entrusted to these sacred images.
Before creating the murals, Renate studied the interior and the existing liturgical artwork that filled the space. The design process began with preliminary sketches, allowing ideas to be refined through thoughtful study and collaboration with the pastor before the final murals took shape. The finished works needed to feel at home within St. Joseph’s heritage while bringing renewed dignity to these important devotional areas. Once finalized, they were painted on canvas in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, before being transported to Macon and installed within the church.
For the Sacred Heart shrine, Renate sought to express the warmth, majesty, and boundless love of Christ. To convey these qualities, she chose a deep red background, evoking His compassion and sacrifice while providing a striking contrast with the white marble altar. Radiant gold rays extend behind the Sacred Heart statue, evoking the brilliance of mosaic and giving the impression of divine light emanating from Christ. The rich colors and imagery draw parishioners toward the Sacred Heart of Jesus, reminding them of Christ’s mercy and His invitation to unite their hearts with His.
Renate then surrounded the shrine with angels in adoration, each one individually painted with close attention to expression, gesture, and detail. Their jewel-toned garments, delicately rendered wings, and glowing halos bring the splendor of the heavenly court into the shrine. Some angels kneel beside Christ in adoration, while others appear above on clouds, drawing the eye upward as the hosts of Heaven gather around the Sacred Heart in eternal worship. Designed to highlight the statue, altar, and tabernacle below, the mural creates a harmonious environment centered on the Eucharistic presence of Christ.
The Marian shrine required a different artistic approach. Located on the opposite side of the church, the side altar dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary became the setting for a new mural designed to honor Our Lady and enhance the liturgical furnishings within the chapel. Renate created a deep blue backdrop reminiscent of the night sky, incorporating stars and softer gold rays that frame the statue of Mary and the Christ Child. The color palette reflects familiar imagery associated with the Blessed Mother while establishing an atmosphere of peace and devotion.
The angels accompanying the Blessed Mother were carefully positioned along the sides of the shrine, enhancing the celestial scene while keeping Mary and Jesus as the central focus. Their placement directs the viewer’s gaze toward the holy figures depicted there, connecting the artwork with the nearby baptismal font and ambry housing the Holy Oils. Unlike the powerful radiance of the adjacent shrine, the Marian mural invites a quieter contemplation of the Blessed Mother’s love and her role as the Mother who leads the faithful closer to Christ.
A member of the parish community who watched Renate work on the side shrine murals recognized the devotion she brought to the project. “She got tears in her eyes when she described her love for restoring liturgical works…God bless her hands,” she said. It was a reflection of the care and dedication that guided Renate throughout the process.
One of the greatest achievements of the murals is the way they transform the side shrines into fully realized devotional settings, where painted imagery, sculpture, and liturgical furnishings come together as a single expression of faith. These Catholic murals renew the visual and spiritual focus of these areas, allowing the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Blessed Mother to remain at the center of prayer and reflection. Through Renate’s commitment to tradition, craftsmanship, and the identity of St. Joseph Catholic Church, the newly refreshed shrines honor the church’s legacy while continuing to serve the parish community of Macon and all who enter this magnificent space.
Rohn & Associates specializes in Catholic church restoration, sacred art, and liturgical design, creating custom murals and devotional artwork for parishes seeking to renew their worship spaces. Learn more about our work in church renovations and sacred art, or contact us to discuss your parish’s vision.
