One of the spaces within the Sanctuary of Health and Peace, the Church of Blessed Father Eustáquio in Belo Horizonte, has become a veritable art studio. Since the end of September, Brother Vanildo Lima Sena, 29, has dedicated himself to the craft of restoring sacred images belonging to the Sanctuary.

For the past ten years, Vanildo, a member of the Sacred Hearts religious order, has dedicated himself to the restoration of sacred images. He began learning this art when he still lived in Manhumirim, in the Zona da Mata region of Minas Gerais.

The religious figure says his interest in working with sacred art dates back to his adolescence in Anchieta, Espírito Santo, the city where he was born. At 18, when he entered the seminary, Vanildo had greater contact with art: “There was a renovation at the seminary where I studied, and the old, broken images were removed from their spaces and taken to a room. That's when I asked the superior priest to restore these images and put them back where they were. And he agreed!”

A self-taught man, the applicant recounts that he sought out a famous artist in Manhumirim to learn specific techniques, and since then he hasn't stopped restoring images. In 2016, when he joined the Sacred Hearts, Vanildo was invited to restore the eight images of the Church of Our Lady of the Conception in Pedra Azul, in the Jequitinhonha Valley.

After finishing the work with the Pedra Azul pieces, the religious man began to restore an image of Saint Margaret Mary, whose liturgical day was celebrated this Sunday (16). The sculpture was presented to the community on the occasion of the saint's day.

Brother Vanildo is also responsible for finalizing the artwork for the Father Eustáquio Oratories, which began to be delivered in August to devotees who wish to pray next to the image.