Among the works preserved in the Rohn & Associates archives is a remarkable pencil drawing by the late Rudolph N. Rohn, an esteemed liturgical artist whose work helped shape the visual life of Catholic churches throughout Pittsburgh and the surrounding region. Created as the study for a monumental Catholic church mural, it places Christ at the center with God the Father above Him, with the Holy Spirit completing the Trinity. The figures are rendered with distinctive Byzantine-style cross-shaped halos. Six scenes unfold around them, tracing important moments in the life of the Church. The words “One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic” complete the design, giving the entire work a distinctly Catholic identity.
What makes Rudolph’s work so compelling is the way he takes an immense subject and makes it human. Church history is filled with controversies, divisions, and moments that can be difficult to imagine centuries later. His skill was in bringing those events to life through people and places that feel present: Church leaders confronting serious questions, Christians seeking reunion, and faces and actions that communicate the importance of what is happening. This is where liturgical art can serve the life of a parish, giving sacred subjects a visible and memorable form.
The first scene takes us to the Council of Nicaea in 325, where bishops came together to defend the divinity of Christ against Arius, a priest who taught that Jesus was not truly God. Rudolph captures the nature of the council through the bishops’ expressions and the visual elements of the setting, connecting this ancient defense of the Faith to the Creed Catholics still profess at Mass.
In 1054, the growing separation between the Christian East and West became a lasting rupture between Rome and Constantinople. Centuries of differences in theology, Church authority, culture, politics, and liturgical practice had contributed to the growing divide. The figures, architecture, clothing, and surroundings give this painful moment a human dimension, making visible the people and traditions behind the break that remains part of its past.
At the Council of Florence in 1438–1439, representatives of East and West gathered in an attempt to restore communion. Their interaction and expressions bring the meeting to life, showing Christians from different traditions coming together after centuries of separation.
The next events depicted are Pope John XXIII and the Second Vatican Council in 1962, followed by Pope Paul VI’s pilgrimage to the Holy Land and prayer at Gethsemane. Rudolph distinguishes these modern scenes through their people, architecture, and period details, continuing the visual story of the Church’s desire for Christian unity.
The final event recalls Pope Paul VI’s historic encounter with Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I in Jerusalem in 1965. Their meeting and the lifting of the mutual excommunications of 1054 marked an important step toward reconciliation between Catholics and Orthodox Christians. The realistic portrayal of the two leaders and their gestures toward one another give this important moment in the journey toward Christian unity a human presence.
This cherished vision represents a tradition Rohn Design continues to carry forward in its work for Catholic churches today. Our artists bring that same sense of understanding into the sacred art they create, giving parishioners images that help them see the people, events, and heritage that have shaped the Church. This careful approach allows a parish to commission imagery rooted in its own character, creating artwork that reflects its Catholic life and remains meaningful to generations of worshippers. For churches considering custom church murals or a broader liturgical art program, Rudolph’s work shows the level of thought and detail that can go into bringing a Catholic subject to life.