The Peru Gazette

The sun shined brightly for a few moments this morning, October 27, 2013, as Reverend Alan Shnob dedicated a replica of Michelangelo’s famous Pieta.  St. Augustine’s parishioners Rick and Kathy Siddon donated the statue on the occasion of their 35th wedding anniversary.  Kathy Siddon explained, “We’re always wanted to do something for the parish. We talked with Father Alan about placing a Cross in the cemetery. He mentioned the Pieta and everything seemed to fall into place.” The Pieta depicts the body of Jesus on the lap of his mother Mary after the Crucifiction.  The statue is very visible at the western edge of St. Augustine’s Cemetery. Michelangelo’s original Pieta was sculpted in 1498-99 and resides in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

Kathy and Rick Siddon

The Siddon’s hired local stone mason Gary Cassavaugh to do the stonework. Cassavaugh is well-known for his work on the Veterans Memorial on the U.S. Oval. St. Augustine’s Maintenance Supervisor David Soulia constructed the beautiful Cross using wood donated by Ernie Bedard, the owner of What Knots Custom Sawmill. Glenn Burdo, owner of Rand Hill Lawns, Inc., donated the topsoil that surrounds the statue and Cross. Click here for more photos.