Limited Edition Artwork
For several years, Kern Catholic has commissioned an artist to create a unique piece for the prayer breakfast. This artwork is used as a bookmark for each guest and an invitation for the clergy. The original piece is donated to a parish. This year our artist is Neal Farncroft of San Francisco, California. We commissioned him to paint a unique piece expressly for Prayer Breakfast 2026. We gave him the theme and he created this magnificent masterpiece titled “Cultivate A Garden In Your Soul”. The original was delivered to Kern Catholic in December. Many have viewed it and due to its exquisite beauty and rich symbolism have requested a copy. Neal has decided to make copies available for a limited time.
Copies will be 13” x 19” in size, made on a high quality stock paper by a professional artist, signed, numbered and unframed. The price is $80.00.
Reservations to purchase and payment must be received by January 20, 2026.
Neal will deliver the signed copies to the
Kern Catholic Prayer Breakfast on February 25, 2026, in person.
From the Artist
The piece is so beautiful that we felt compelled to interview him about the rich symbolism
Cultivate A Garden in Your Soul
Starting at the bottom with the hands planting a rose bush is the pictorial metaphor of planting a spiritual garden. The nine-candles Menorah represents resilience and light needed for growth which come from God. The number nine, being the king of numbers which any number multiplied by nine the sum of the product always is nine representing the unchangeable reality, God.
The Font of Grace, Mary, holding the Rosary and beckoning with her right hand to us to start with prayer and supplication. She, as the Seat of Wisdom has the Sacred Heart of Jesus as her Being. Moving up we come to the Holy Spirit from which the Grace of God manifests through Mary inclining the soul to growth. In the arch are the Latin words Unus Dei, One God, the pinnacle of the pictorial work, God.
The vertical ascent is also the descending that reminds me of Jacob's ladder as the prayers go up and grace descends. The pathway leading through the arbor is like the road to our Eternal Union with our Lord. The roses surrounding the arbor which can be seen as the cloud of witnesses.
A painting is worth a thousand words, for me doing this little work. The development came serendipitously as one thing led to another through inspiration. At the end of it all the meaning came to me, but also at times while in the execution of it, and now finally at the end with my description. It is as much a mystery to me as life, how it all came about. Grace no doubt as I prayed for success. As Christians, the symbolism is knowing from our faith. The viewer can seek meaning in the universal symbols which God's Grace has revealed to him or her.
All Glory and Honor go to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Peace and Love,
Neal Farncroft