ST. CLOUD | It took seven months of dedication for Paul La-Belle to bring to life his mural of the St. Thomas Aquinas Parish community adoring the Eucharist.

Commissioned by pastor Father Derek Saldanha, the recent convert was happy to oblige. Although accustomed to creating art for celebrities and on the job at Universal Studios, this religious piece was something the artist wanted to do “to give back.” These days he has a lot for which he is grateful.

Three years ago, he met Cherry Villanueva. Shortly after they started dating, she invited him to her parish. LaBelle was raised Episcopalian, always believed in God and prayed regularly, but he’d been away from church for 20 years due to his traveling schedule. When Villanueva extended the invitation, he happily accepted.

As their relationship grew and the couple became engaged, he joined the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults formation classes, desiring to commit to the Catholic faith. He entered the Church in Easter of 2026.

Conversation while signing up for classes led to his latest commission. He shared he was an artist and interested in painting a new mural for the parish, to replace the 2018 design for the Diocese of Orlando’s 50th anniversary.

Father Saldanha knew the mural needed updating. One thing led to another and the two brainstormed Eucharistic ideas. After submitting drafts for the parish team, the project was approved.

“The Eucharist is indeed the source and summit of our life as Catholics; it is the reason we come to Church,” the pastor explained. “Having this mural conveys the simple message about the Eucharist and how, when we come to Mass, it is heaven on Earth. We are a diverse community with people of different languages and cultures. This mural explains the Eucharistic mystery by transcending limitations of language and culture.”

LaBelle agreed. Originally, he designed the piece to include nearly 100 angels. Father Saldanha scaled it back to two and LaBelle added the congregation at the base of the design, focusing on the Blessed Sacrament. He’s grateful to share this with the parish and calls it a blessing.

“It’s nice because it seems like everybody’s looking at it in a different way than, just art, not just inspiration, but healing,” LaBelle reflected. “They feel like when they’re standing there, that the presence of the Eucharist is like a healing feeling. They can touch the wall… They appreciate it for what it makes them feel and what they envision.”

The artist who worked with acrylics and an airbrush says the mural is also a “thank you” for his fiancé who brought him back to church and this parish.

“Father Derek makes you feel like you’re not just a person, you’re a part of a family,” said LaBelle. “I’m thankful for my gift of art that I could be able to give back… it helps people forget about the bad and think about the good.”

By Glenda Meekins of the Florida Catholic staff, July 22, 2026