Cuban Artist Aldo Suarez Leads Renovation at Florida Church

THE TAMPA TRIBUNE
By Kathy Steele

Cuban artist Aldo Suarez painted the Holy Trinity mural.

FLORIDA---More than 115 years ago St. Joseph Catholic Church began serving Tampa's immigrant population. The church, at 3012 W. Cherry St., is the oldest in West Tampa, and one of three Catholic churches in the city built prior to the 1930s. Today the sanctuary is undergoing a renovation that has roots in the historical churches of Europe and the religious art that celebrates the Christian faith. Cuban artist Aldo Suarez painted a Holy Trinity mural on an unadorned wall behind the altar. In September, Suarez will begin work on a series of murals on church walls depicting the life of St. Joseph and the disciples Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. A triptych also will be repainted. "Everything will be new," said the Rev. Vladimir Dziadek, pastor at St. Joseph. "Maybe the people when they pray they recognize more the signs of God's presence." Donations are paying for the renovations. [link]