UST Welcomes New Artwork Honoring St. Martin de Porres

University of St. Thomas is delighted to celebrate a new work of art. Larry Massey, president of the Scanlan Foundation and member of the UST Board of Directors, along with artist and iconographer Al Sauls '20 and Heidi Vaughan of Heidi Vaughan Fine Art in Houston helped secure St. Martin de Porres, acrylic and gold ink on canvasby Houston artist Linda Hofheinz.

"Having this beautiful sacred art painting donated to UST by Linda Hofheinz is such a gift," Massey said. "St. Martin de Porres is a perfect saint for our school. I look forward to celebrating Nov. 3 every year with this saint on his feast day."

The community came to together on Nov. 3, 2025 for a Feast Day celebration of St. Martin de Porres with Mass at the Chapel of St. Basil and refreshments to follow. Fr. Ted Baenziger, CSB, celebrated Mass and spoke on St. Martin's life, and Fr. Eduardo Rivera, CSB, shared reflections on the reception and new artwork by Linda Hofheinz in Malloy Hall.

Hofheinz's work has been exhibited internationally, and her paintings, inspired by hope, nature and human spirit, appear in prominent collections.

See a description of the artwork painted by artist, Linda Hofheinz below:

Saint Martín de Porres is a painting by Linda Hofheinz that depicts the Peruvian lay brother of the Dominican Order who was beatified in 1837 by Pope Gregory XVI and canonized in 1962 by Pope John XXII. The model for the painting was a man named Isaias, a mixed-race master carpenter who built the artist's studio, which is near the University of St. Thomas. The carpenter's passion was to leave the world a better place through the divine gifts he was given, a trait he shared with Saint Martín. Saint Martín de Porres is the patron saint of Black people, mixed-race people, those seeking racial harmony, public health workers, inn keepers, barbers, and animals. He loved children and established a children's hospital and an orphanage. Among his many miracles is bilocation, which is the ability to be in two places at once, which is why he is depicted twice in the painting.

Saint Martín's piety and concern for others, physically as well as spiritually, was a driving force in his ministry. Hofheinz includes a blessing bird in the painting to symbolize that concern.

The bird hovers in mid-air, his small wings outstretched in a gesture of blessing, the avian equivalent of a smile. He is a reminder that a kind word, a moment of compassion, an indication expressing the understanding of another's pain, can all be potent aids to healing. Even when discomfort cannot be eliminated entirely, it can be borne more easily with a bit of kindness.

Blessing Bird appears in several of Hofheinz's paintings, always with his wings outstretched, embracing all. He represents joy, hope and love, shared freely and without hesitation. Both Blessing Bird and the quatrefoil tracery of the background in the painting share shapes that are meant to reflect the gesture repeated in the sign of the cross. The animals sharing a meal symbolize understanding and unity. The dog represents unconditional love.

Linda Hofheinz is a native Texan and Houston-based artist who creates works of art with themes of love, hope, memory, the healing rhythms of nature, the power of intuition, and the strength of the human spirit. Her love of animals is often present in her work. She is fascinated by birds in particular. Her portrait of St. Martín de Porres was exhibited at the Museo de la Nación in Lima, Peru. Her work is included in many prominent collections in the United States and Europe. She is represented by Heidi Vaughan Fine Art in Houston.