“Risen Christ”
When Sister Jean Juenemann was chief executive officer of Queen of Peace Hospital in New Prague, Minn., she had no idea the sculpture she commissioned Joe O’Connell to complete would ever be her responsibility again. Yet, when she was notified in 2024 that “Risen Christ” was being retired from its home after some 40 years and she could come to claim it, she realized a new story was about to begin.
“Risen Christ” is a wooden sculpture completed by artist Joe O’Connell in 1981, who in turn commissioned Jean Matzke (1939–2009), a well-known textile artist, to create a woven backdrop for the sculpture. The sculpture now hangs in the entryway at Saint Scholastica Convent, our community’s retirement facility, in St. Cloud, Minn.
When you go to see “Risen Christ,” you will want to meditate upon it because it is a very special work that Joe “was able to create that went beyond the simple materials of stone, wood, iron, ink and paper that comprised the major media he was fond of using,” according to Sister Dennis Frandrup, master potter and accomplished artist. S. Dennis, whose workspace was close by, often heard Joe working because he used a chisel and hammer to make the curves, gentle rhythms and designs in his medium.
For this piece, Joe used mainly wood. For the figure of Christ, poplar; walnut wood for connectors; and mahogany for cubes and end pieces. The cubes contain inserts that hold the symbols of the four evangelists: Matthew, a man; Luke, a winged ox; Mark, a lion; and John, an eagle. The evangelists are made of iron.
Joe’s many commissioned sculptures reside in other locations as close as Saint Benedict’s Monastery and the Church of Saint Joseph in St. Joseph, Minn. They also exist in more distant lands such as Chicago, Ill. (where he was born), and Las Vegas, Nev. (a triptych for Christ the King Catholic Community). These sculptures are made of wood, stone, limestone and iron, his favorite medium.
Joe began his commissioned work in the 1950s while he was, according to Divine Favor: The Art of Joseph O’Connell, “a diverse craftsman and head teacher” at Hancock Vocational School. A variety of occupations, experiences and education gave Joe the opportunity for his first one-man exhibition in Chicago. This show and its reviews launched him into the artistic world through the favorable words of Copeland C. Burg in the Chicago Herald American: “One of the most satisfying shows of the younger artists we have seen in a long time. It reflects a genuine talent and earnest approach to many phases and facets of the environments to which this artist has been exposed.”
Following this review and others like it, Joe received commissions from many more places in Chicago, Glencoe, Ill., and beyond the Midwest. We are grateful to have this stunning piece welcoming guests at Saint Scholastica Convent.
Mary Jane Berger, OSB
This article was featured on page 19 in the spring 2025 issue of Benedictine Sisters and Friends.
