A Portrait of Blessed Fulton J. Sheen
During the Beatification Mass in St. Louis, the Diocese of Peoria unveiled the official portrait of Blessed Fulton J. Sheen, offering the faithful a new image of the beloved son of the Diocese and newly beatified bishop.
“I am so happy to share with the world the official portrait of Blessed Fulton Sheen,” said Bishop Louis Tylka. “I am grateful to the artist Plamen from Daprato Rigali Studios for the care and creativity of capturing Blessed Sheen. I believe the image captures the joy of Sheen — knowing he has served the Lord well and receives the reward for his labors.”
The portrait was painted by Plamen, an artist with Daprato Rigali Studios, which also helped transform the Dome at America’s Center into a sacred space for the Beatification Mass. The studio constructed the altar, ambo and pedestal for Blessed Sheen’s relics, in addition to preparing the portrait for its unveiling.
The portrait was the result of a collaborative process that began months before the Beatification. Bishop Tylka, Phil Lee, the Rigali team, and Plamen met at the Daprato Rigali Studios in Chicago to discuss the vision for the portrait, including several elements that were important to the Diocese.
“From the beginning, this was a collaborative effort,” said John Rigali of Daprato Rigali Studios. “The chalk, the JMJ and the cross were important elements of Blessed Fulton Sheen’s story, and those details guided the work from the start. From that first meeting to the completed portrait was about three months, and we were honored to prepare it for its unveiling at the Beatification Mass in St. Louis.”
The piece of chalk recalls Sheen’s years of preaching and teaching the Gospel, while JMJ — Jesus, Mary, Joseph reflects his lifelong devotion and his desire to point others toward Christ.
“It was important for me to include two iconic elements, a piece of chalk in his hand and the JMJ,” Bishop Tylka said. “These elements represent so much of his legacy — sharing the Gospel and always pointing towards Jesus Christ.”
Daprato Rigali Studios has shared a longstanding relationship with the Diocese of Peoria, beginning with restoration work at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception and continuing through projects connected to Blessed Sheen, including his tomb and altar.
“We have been privileged to work with the Diocese of Peoria for many years,” Rigali said. “Being part of the Beatification and helping bring this portrait of Blessed Fulton Sheen to the world was a particularly meaningful part of that relationship.”
The official portrait now stands as a lasting image of Blessed Fulton Sheen and a reminder of the mission that defined his life: to share the Gospel and, in all things, point others toward Jesus Christ.
The Diocese of Peoria extends its deep gratitude to Daprato Rigali Studios for its craftsmanship, creativity, and generosity in helping bring the Beatification celebration to life. From the altar and ambo to the relic pedestal and the official portrait, their work helped transform a stadium into a sacred space worthy of this historic celebration.
Blessed Fulton Sheen, pray for us!