Founded in 1851 by Jesuits, Santa Clara University in recent years planted a lovely garden dedicated to St. Clare of Assisi (1193-1253). Yet until this fall, SCU lacked a formal statue of its patron saint. On October 19, St. Clare Memorial Garden was graced with a cast-bronze statue of St. Clare (pictured below), thanks to the efforts of a young Jesuit artist and generous alumni. Created by Trung H. Pham, S.J., a scholastic of the California Province, the statue is a gift of the SCU Class of 1957. “The statue is a modern symbol of the religious and spiritual history of St. Clare. Mission Santa Clara was founded by Franciscan monks, and the original mission church and our university are dedicated to St. Clare, a close friend of St. Francis and founder of the Poor Clares," said Father Paul Locatelli, S.J., long-time SCU president who encouraged Trung to create the statue. "Throughout her life, she actively fought for her order’s right to own nothing, and to rely solely on God’s mercy."
Trung, who was born in Vietnam in 1974, came to California in 1990 with his father, Hoang Pham, and mother, Xe Tran, as part of a U.S. government-sponsored program for political refugees. After graduating from U.C.L.A. in 1998 with a B.S. in chemical engineering, Trung entered the Society of Jesus. Having found his religious vocation, Trung would discover his artistic talents which he now employs in abstract and figurative paintings. During his regency, he taught art classes at SCU. Currently, he is studying theology at the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley. He has revisited Vietnam three times as a Jesuit. “I work with indigenous people in the highlands, helping with the catechism and teaching seminarians English,” said Trung. As Trung began his research for the statue, he visited the original convent of the Poor Clares in Italy, where he heard the stories of St. Clare and her life from a member of the order, Fr. Locatelli explained. “Touched and inspired by her stories, he came up with the statue that “portrays 'the Poor Clare' in a moment of prayer as she listens to God’s will. It is at this moment that she decides to renounce worldly desires to follow God and the example of St. Francis of Assisi. The sculpture depicts St. Clare standing as she yearns toward God. One hand opens to receive God’s grace, and the other touches her heart as a sign of humility. Her gesture carries the movement of a spiritual journey as she prepares to devote her entire life to the sacred call.” “St. Clare’s dedication to a life of poverty and a desire to follow Christ is an inspiration to us all, and Trung’s creativity and inspiration provides us with an image to “remind us of the richness of a life of simplicity,” said Fr. Locatelli. The statue was blessed by Father Michael Engh, S.J., who will become SCU’s new president in January 2009. Fr. Engh prayed, “Bless this statue of St. Clare, conceived and designed through your divine wisdom, and constructed by human hands…We pray you bless us and bless all who will come to this place…that in the spirit of St. Clare, they will increase their love for each other and for you, our God.”—Dick Bushnell To hear Trung Pham talk about his vocation as a Jesuit, visit the Podcast Album on our website by clicking here. | 
Trung Pham, S.J., (center) and Paul Locatelli, S.J., pose with St. Clare at the statue’s dedication. (Photo by Charles Barry)
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