When Archbishop George J. Lucas of Omaha returned to the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois on July 30, he had several reasons for his visit. Most important, he said, he came to concelebrate Mass for curia staff members in the chapel at the Catholic Pastoral Center. He was also in Springfield for the unveiling of his professional portrait.

Archbishop Lucas concelebrated with Bishop Thomas John Paprocki; Msgr. Carl Kemme, vicar general; and Father Joseph Ring, director of the Department of Human Services and pastor of Christ the King Parish, Springfield. Father Daren Zehnle was master of ceremonies and Deacon Patrick O'Toole was the deacon.

Archbishop Lucas, who led the Springfield diocese from December 1999 to June 2009, reminded the curia staff that he continued to pray for them daily. "I hope you pray for me, too," he said.

Following Mass Archbishop Lucas had lunch with his former curia staff, greeted each one personally and then watched the unveiling of his portrait. "It is the custom of the Springfield diocese to have an official portrait painted for each of our bishops," said Msgr. Kemme. "We are happy to have Archbishop Lucas back here today for that unveiling."

Archbishop Lucas' likeness was painted from a professional photographic portrait. "Msgr. Kemme and I had talked about the portrait over the years but he knows I don't like to sit still. I would have never have been able to personally sit for a portrait," he said.

The artist for Archbishop Lucas' portrait was former Petersburg resident, Jessica Brown. Brown is a 2007 graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Ga., holding a BFA, majoring in painting with a drawing minor.

The painting of Bishop Lucas now hangs in the specially-lighted second-floor hallway of the Catholic Pastoral Center, along with the official portraits of his seven predecessors: Bishop Henry Damian Juncker, Bishop Peter J. Baltes, Bishop James Ryan, Bishop James A. Griffin, Bishop William A. O'Connor, Bishop Joseph A. McNicholas and Bishop Daniel L. Ryan.