The Grand Viewing for the Br. Joe Tauraso, CM Memorial Mural: What A Blessed Event!

We want to thank everyone who came down to the Center for the Arts & Culture at St. John the Baptist in Bklyn. for the "Grand Viewing" event for the Br. Joe Tauraso, CM Memorial Mural on Saturday, Nov.13. It was truly a blessed event, and a wonderful time was had by all the youth and adults who attended.

Over 40 people attended this special event including over 10 members of Br. Joe Tauraso's family who came down from upstate New York, and Long Island. There was a special program of live music and poetry that included performances by jazz musicians Kenny Forsch and Richie Robles, Carlos Lazarus, and inspiring poetry performances by "the Word Bird" Malik Canty, and Edith Maria Baez. There was also a special liturgical dance performed by Denise Springer and Monique Locario, and a performance by a group of enthusiastic youth from WYSIWYG ( meaning "What You See Is What You Get") Performing Arts Club at St. John the Baptist, led by founders Aloha Peartree and Calona Christian, before the mural was unveiled by Br. Joe's brother and sister, Vinnie and Kathy. In a moving tribute, Vinnie Tauraso shared a few words on his brother, Joe, and also expressed the great joy and gratitude felt by himself and his family for the gift of the mural created in Joe's honor, and for the community gesture of having the unveiling event itself. Thunderous applause greeted Br. Joe's mural as it was finally unveiled for his family, and for the community of St. John the Baptist parish to see. After the unveiling, there was a break for food and refreshments. After the break, there was more live music, poetry, and a "show stealing" dance performance by Malik Canty and his wife, Beverly's 6 year-old granddaughter, Jasmine. It was truly a moving performance, and a memorable afternoon for all of us who were fortunate enough to be there. WE ARE POSTING A NUMBER OF THE PICTURES FROM THE GRAND VIEWING EVENT ON SATURDAY, NOV.13TH RIGHT AFTER THIS POST. ENJOY!!!

The Memorial Mural in honor of Br. Joe Tauraso, CM will be on display as part of a Community Exhibtion that will continue through the rest of the year at the Center for the Arts & Culture @SJB at scheduled dates and times. If you weren't able to make it for the grand viewing on Nov. 13th, or just missed it, you will still have an opportunity to see the mural in the main gallery, and also see the special exhibition of pictures of the youth and adults who worked on painting the mural. There is also artwork on exhibition by exciting young artists Kris Echevarria, Jose Gonzalez, Theoni Sapounas, and Crystal Chaparro in the main gallery. We are inviting everyone to take the opportunity to see the Br. Joe mural, and all the great artwork at the Center during the holiday season. It'd be a great gift for youself, your family, and friends! We are extending special invitations to all the past youth and young adult members of St. John's Youth Group, when Br. Joe was director, to view this special mural. We definitely had all of you in our hearts, minds, and prayers when this mural was being painted. We hope you will come visit the Center and see the mural for yourselves. You won't regret it. The Community Exhibition of the Memorial Mural in honor of Br. Joe is dedicated to all the youth of St. John the Baptist Parish, and to the Loving Memory of Guilene Valcin.

For more info about the exhibition, or the Center, please, feel free to call and leave a message for Mr. Glenn Angel Echevarria, Director, at 718-455-6864 ext. 152, or e-mail us at cacsjb@yahoo.com. The Center for the Arts & Culture @SJB is located on the 2nd floor of St. John the Baptist Parish Center at 75 Lewis Ave. (between Hart St. & Willoughby Ave.) in Brooklyn, NY. By transit, J/M/Z trains to Myrtle Ave. and Broadway. By bus, B54 to Myrtle and Lewis Ave., B44, B46 to Myrtle and Broadway, B15 to Willoughby Ave.

MAY YOU HAVE A BLESSED AND SAFE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY WITH ALL YOUR FAMILY, AND FRIENDS..

A Series of Photos from the Grand Viewing of the Br. Joe Tauraso, CM Memorial Mural Event on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2004 at CAC@SJB

Director of CAC@SJB, and designer of the Br. Joe Tauraso, CM Memorial Mural, Glenn Angel Echevarria. We encourage you to share your thoughts, comments, and ideas with us by clicking on comments, or by sending us an e-mail by clicking the envelope icon in the corner below.

The great Kenny Forsch and Richie Robles open up the program for the Grand Viewing of the Br. Joe Memorial Mural with some music

Youth from WYSIWYG Performing Arts Club for Kids do a special performance using sign language in honor of Br. Joe at the Grand Viewing
Posted by Hello

Denise Springer and Monique Locario from St. John's parish, perform a liturgical dance in honor of Br. Joe before a captive audience at the Center

Br. Joe Tauraso's family and friends admire his Memorial Mural after it was unveiled at the Center on Sat. Nov. 13th, 2004

Our great friend and brother, multi-talented Carlos Lazarus blesses us with a song at the Center during the Grand Viewing of the Br. Joe Tauaso, CM Memorial Mural..

Vinnie Tauraso, enjoying the festivities, and the photo exhibition of youth and adults painting the Memorial Mural in honor of his brother at CAC@SJB

"Word Bird" Malik Canty TAKES FLIGHT AND UNLEASHES THE SPIRITS at the Grand Viewing of the Br. Joe Memorial Mural

Edith Maria Baez shares her soulful poetry at the Grand Viewing for the Br. Joe Tauraso CM Memorial Mural at CAC@SJB

Little, 6 year-old, Jasmine Kearse "steals the show" and stole everyone's heart with her heartfelt dance. What a talent! God bless her..

Br. Joe's aunt and uncle, Josephine and Patrick Tauraso, pose (with a smiling Joe, and Mickey Mouse) at the Center on Nov. 13th

Posted by Hello

Richie Robles, Dorothy Folk, and Glenn Angel at the Center in front of Br. Joe's Mural on Nov.13th
Posted by Hello

Edith Maria Baez and Richie Robles admire the artwork in the Center's Main Gallery after the Grand Viewing of the Br. Joe Tauaso, CM Memorial Mural

WYSIWYG Performing Arts Club kids strike a pose with Jasmine Kearse at CAC@SJB after their wonderful performances at the Grand Viewing of Br. Joe's Memorial Mural

Aloha Peartree and Monique Locario pose with WYSIWYG youth, Jasmine Kearse, Br. Joe's nieces (and with a smiling Br. Joe himself) in front of his Memorial Mural at CAC@SJB

Welcome to the "Grand Viewing" of the Memorial Mural in honor of Br. Joe Tauraso, CM at CAC@SJB

On Saturday, Nov. 13, 2003 from 1 pm - 5 pm, the Center for the Arts & Culture at St. John the Baptist is hosting the "Grand Viewing" event for the Memorial Mural in honor of our beloved friend and youth minister, Br. Joe Tauraso, CM.

The memorial mural in honor of Br. Joe Tauraso was painted by over 15 youth and young adults over 8 days during open paint sessions at the Center in November 2003. The mural was designed and completed in the following months by the director of the Center, Glenn Angel Echevarria. We are inviting all friends, colleagues, and youth who knew Br. Joe to come join us in this very special and unique opportunity to celebrate his life with his family and friends.

A true Vincentian, and member of the Congregation of the Mission (founded by St. Vincent DePaul of France in the early 1600's), Br. Joe dedicated most of his adult life to serving the youth and young adults in the communities of St. John the Baptist Parish in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, St. John's University in Queens and Staten Island, and at the St. Vincent DePaul Youth Center in North Philadelphia, Pa. before his unfortunate passing at the age of 40 in June 2003. His life and the legacy he left behind with the youth whom he served will always be cherished by all of us who knew him. His impact can best be seen by the number of youth whom he ministered to who are attending college today, and have become not only active young adult leaders, but are dedicated to making a difference by serving their community, and serving those less fortunate than them. A trait, like Christ, that St. Vincent encouraged and would be most proud of. "Joey T", as he was lovingly called, was at his best when he worked with youth. He came into his own and found his calling when he was entrusted with ministering to the youth and young adults of St. John the Baptist in Brooklyn, NY., at St. John's University, and in North Philadelphia. His impact still resonates in those young people, and in all our hearts today.. and always will. His endearing "child-like" quality is what drew the youth and us to him, and we will always cherish his love, dedication, and example.

So, in the Spirit of Thanksgiving, and in celebration of the anniversary of Br. Joe's vows as a Vincentian and member of the Congregation of the Mission this November, it is with great pride and honor that we present this mural to the community of St. John the Baptist parish, to his family and friends, and to the public. We invite you to come celebrate this very special event with his family and friends on Saturday, Nov. 13 from 1 - 5pm. There will be entertainment in the Center's Gallery that includes some live music, poetry, and an open-mic for anyone who would like to share their thoughts and feelings. Lite food and refreshments will also be provided for all. Don't miss out on this blessed event! See you there!

The Center for the Arts & Culture @SJB is located on the second floor of St. John the Baptist Parish Center at 75 Lewis Avenue (between Hart St. and Willoughby Ave.), Brooklyn, New York. For more info, please feel free to call, or leave a message at (718)455-6864 ext. 152. Or you can e-mail us at cacsjb@yahoo.com.

This event is dedicated to the youth of St. John the Baptist Parish, with a special dedication to the memory of Guilene Valcin, a vibrant and loving young girl who was sadly taken from us in February of this year. May the Lord continue to console and bless her family and friends.