Parish Madonna

There are companies that manufacture multiple units of the same piece of art. There are specially commissioned pieces from professional artists and craftsmen. This one, a Black Madonna of Częstochowa, was done by a self taught amateur, a parishioner, Kathryn Brodzinski-Ksiazka. The shiny bits are pieces of jewelry donated by women of the parish. The parish is SS. Peter and Paul, Garfield Heights, Ohio, a Polish parish.

This is a personal piece with a great cultural affinity for many belonging to the parish. This depiction of the Mother of God is the national one for Poland, and practically all Polish churches outside of Poland have a version of the icon. Some have a metal overlay, sometimes jewelled .

Such a sacred image created by a member of the community has a spiritual resonance for many members of the community. They feel it is a part of their patrimony, and have distinct fondness for it.

SS. Peter and Paul was in the minority of Polish, and nationality (ethnic) parishes not extinguished by Cleveland's Bishop Richard Lennon. Such items would then have been marketed if the parish was suppressed.