Watch: Diocesan Services Appeal 2024 | Co-creating with God | Artist Joseph Macklin

Have you noticed the striking artwork featured in the publicity materials for this year's Diocese of Lansing Diocesan Services Appeal? It's the creation of Jackson-based artist, Joseph Jude Macklin.

The painting depicts a family presenting the gifts to the priest during the Offertory at Holy Mass. The image is inspired by the Sacred Scripture verse for this year’s appeal which is drawn from the book of Sirach: “The offering of the just enriches the altar.” (Sir 35:8).

40-year-old Joseph is a parishioner at Saint Mary Star of the Sea along with his wife, Carly, and their two daughters, Josephine and Eloise. Joseph is an alumnus of Lumen Christi Catholic High School in Jackson and Columbus College of Art and Design in Ohio. In 2020 he established the Instrumentum Dei Studio in Jackson to focus on devotional and liturgical art.

Watch the short film below as Joe explains more about this year's DSA image. Enjoy!

To donate to this year's DSA, click here: https://www.dioceseoflansing.org/DSA