Cathedral hoarding turned into Christmas mural

Local artists in Brisbane have turned a busy construction site around St Stephen’s Cathedral into a mural on the Catholic social teaching theme of solidarity, reports The Catholic Leader.

Along the left side of the cathedral, artists painted a mural of Brisbane residents welcoming the pregnant Blessed Virgin Mary and her faithful husband in time for Christmas Masses.

The project, co-ordinated by the Cathedral of St Stephen Art Group (COSSAG), started in early December to add a touch of beauty to the working site of the cathedral upgrade.

COSSAG chair and artist Michelle Bowden said the large mural image was a message about being open to refugees.

While the group had hoped to start the project in October last year, it was delayed due to the ongoing construction work.

Bowden said a generous offer from one of the workers, an employee of Certified Roofing, helped push the project forward.

“There was one of the construction workers who said they would pay for the paint,” she said.

The man’s only request was to be immortalised as one of the three wise men on the mural.