Who Cares? Charity, Justice, and the Common Good echoed through the heart of Marquette this week. Mission Week is a time of reflection among Marquette community members who share a heart for enlightening others on the Jesuit Mission. I along with many others were provided with the opportunity to attend eye-opening seminars and engage in intentional conversations on discrimination and personal faith.
One the most memorable parts of this week was speaking with Mrs. Mary Pimmel-Freeman. I ran into Mary walking into Raynor tuesday evening while she was working on a her artwork. Marquette hired Mary to paint a portrait of American journalist James Foley, a beloved Marquette alumni who left this world much too soon. Stopping to admire Mary’s work, I proceeded to reflect on her project with her.
Mary has a passion for social justice. She loves how she is able to connect her passion for the arts with social justice issues that arise each and every day. She strives to tell a story through her work and her emotional drive sparked by her heart for justice issues, continue to motivate her.
When asked what social justice means to her Mary said, “It means working for social change to do what you can to make the world a better place. I feel like I found my calling in art. I am able to help people connect to social justice issues. Like music, art touches people in different ways.” The last part of her answer really spoke to me. My passion for music is a big part of my life, so I knew exactly what she meant by this. It is amazing seeing how people like Mary can use their calling to care for the greater good.
Prior to this experience, Mary felt disconnected from Foley’s story. She stressed that artwork such as the one she was working on connects people to important issues they might have previously overlooked. Mary holds true to the belief that things happen for a reason and she intends to use her opportunity to shed light onto this tragedy.
Be the Light 
Love it, Parisa! So cool to see your passion for social justice align with Marquette.
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Parisa,
I really like your post! I am also a huge fan of music, so I understand where you and Mary come from when saying that art, like music, touches people in different ways. I saw Mary painting this portrait in the Library last week, but didn’t even think to stop by and talk. It’s amazing how what one stranger has to say can change your perspective on a lot of things.
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This was a very enjoyable read! I remember passing through the library when Mary was working on her painting as well, and thinking about how cool that was. Your thoughts on using one’s unique talents to better the word was really refreshing, so thank you for sharing your thoughts on that! I look forward to reading more from you soon.
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Thank you so much for sharing this experience. I really liked learning a little more about what Mission Week is. I think this really shows the values that Marquette stands for. Thanks for sharing!
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