Mural of Love and Hope

By Kieran

 Mural of Love and Hope

Short video of the completed mural

Mural by Br Mickey and original ode by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026, inspired by the chance to work side by side with him on a 12'x7' mural at St Simon's Catholic Church, Los Altos, California as part of a 3-day Lenten retreat. Brother Mickey O’Neill McGrath, OSFS, an Oblate of St. Francis de Sales, is an award-winning artist, author, and storyteller. You can see his works at https://www.bromickeymcgrath.com/
 

Br Mickey holding my painting
I holding his book 


 
It's not very often that a renowned artist comes to town, but miracles do happen, you know
I got a one-in-a-million chance to work side by side with Br Mickey who put on quite a show

He has the unique gift of bringing together communities through the medium of public art
Large colorful murals with local symbols and colours that come straight from the heart

For over 30 years, his magic has rejuvenated all sorts of people in different communities
The broken and wounded, the young and not-so-young - they all have plenty of opportunities

I think over 300 people will get to wield a brush, many for the very first time, what fun!
Thank you Br Mickey for being the spark that brings people together. You sir are Number One!
 
"Love" part of the mural
 
"Christ" center of the mural and life

"Joy" part of the mural


Comments

Anonymous said…
Wow !! Such a lovely meaningful mural. (WhatsApp comment from a very dear friend from Auckland, NZ)
March 3, 2026 at 9:28 AM
Kieran said…
Thanks, Indu. You would appreciate being an art lover and a teacher. It was such a joy watching kids from K through 8, excitedly paint a small part with great enthusiasm and pride
Feeling blessed - Kieran
March 3, 2026 at 9:29 AM
Anonymous said…
Wow!!! What an honor @⁨Kieran Gonsalves⁩ ! Wonderful opportunity (WhatsApp comment from an XlRI classmate on alumni group chat)
March 5, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Anonymous said…
You are really blessed. You too are a fantastic artist Kieran. Your talent is two fold.. picking elements of life, giving it life through colour and words (Another WhatsApp on the same alumni group chat)
March 5, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Anonymous said…
Amazing.
Besides, to be able to come up with a theme every 24 hours is simply mind blowing!! ((Another WhatsApp by yet another friend on the same alumni group chat)
March 5, 2026 at 5:36 PM
Anonymous said…
Wow! Awesome to see this Kieran. Bravo on the initiative and opportunity. Where exactly is this? Hope to see it next time we are in the Bay Area (Yet another WhatsApp comment from another classmate)
March 5, 2026 at 5:36 PM
Anonymous said…
As I observed a few months back - he is truly a Renaissance man. An Apple engineer, a painter, a poet, a gardener, a dancer and so many others we don’t know of! My rate of consumption is slower than his rate of production:-). Keep going Kieran! (another WhatsApp comment from another classmate who appreciates my artwork)
March 5, 2026 at 5:38 PM
Anonymous said…
A cook, an author, a father, husband, son... (tongue-in-cheek WhatsApp comment by a sassy classmate on the same alumni chat group)
March 5, 2026 at 5:39 PM
Anonymous said…
@⁨Pritha Dutt⁩ @⁨Suman Sasmal⁩ .... 40 years back I would not have imagined how many colours, hues & shades Kieran Gonsalves would acquire and metamorphose into what he is today .... just like a beautiful butterfly! (WhatsApp comment from yet another XLRI classmate on the same chat group)
March 5, 2026 at 5:40 PM
Kieran said…
Thanks @⁨Pritha Dutt⁩, @⁨Elizabeth Nanda⁩, @⁨Kurian Parambi⁩, @⁨Suman Sasmal⁩, @⁨~Arjun Trivedi (Arjuna)⁩ and @⁨Sudip Mallik⁩ - No words to describe how much your sentiments mean to me. I haven’t stopped to think too much about it myself, just going with the flow making the most of the opportunities that come my way.

Br Mickey is truly one of a kind artist, so in love with living in the moment abd including everyone in his artwork.

He spent a day soaking in the scenery, people, mannerisms etc - then in a matter of 2 hours sketched the key elements first in pencil then with a sharpie

He left enough white spaces to ‘grow’ the mural in case more people showed up - always keeping the ethos and balance in perspective

He had a few ground rules - no signatures, initials or names- it had to be a communal effort

Also took trouble to include the gal with the hair dyed in shocking pink next to the nun. The geriatric next to a young boy with dreadlocks, boys and girls at play exactly like they’d do each day in the co-ed school.

I watched in awe as kids as young as 5 years to not-so-young adults in their 90s were painting side by side.

Tomorrow is the final day and Brother Mickey has asked me to help him clean up and varnish the mural

Feeling blessed - Kieran
March 5, 2026 at 5:41 PM
Anonymous said…
To those who have, more shall be given...Stay blessed always! 🙏🏼✝️💗 (WhatsApp comment from a very dear cousin in Bangalore)
March 5, 2026 at 5:53 PM
Kieran said…
Glory, alleluia. Feeling blessed - Kieran
March 5, 2026 at 5:53 PM
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