Name/Title
The Saints of the New BreedEntry/Object ID
1964.1Description
Commissioned as a gift of the class of 1964, Toner’s enigmatic work communicates the experience of the tumultuous post World War II period as understood by the students. The “saints” are the three men depicted in front, including president John F. Kennedy (left), Jesuit philosopher and paleontologist Teilhard de Chardin (bottom center), and Pope St. John XXIII (r. 1958-63) (right). Toner singles out these men as contemporary heroes. The throng of students behind them stretch back all the way to Calvary, suggesting that to follow their path is to continue in the footsteps of the Lord. Throughout the scene are various references to Saint Joseph’s College, including the college shield and the distinctive silhouettes of Barbelin and Bellarmine halls.