Neilson Carlin: Creator of the Icon for the World Meeting of Families

“The scales began to fall.”  Neilson Carlin is talking about his conversion to the Catholic faith, which was facilitated through the patient guidance of a priest and deacon who answered his many questions during an RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program in 2000.  Carlin had not expected to become Catholic, but only wanted to know more about the faith which was so important to his fiancee and her mother.

Carlin is a Philadelphia artist who now specializes in sacred art.  He was selected to create the official icon for the World Meeting of Families, which will convene in Philadelphia in October 2015.

This week, Neil Carlin’s icon of The Holy Family was unveiled at Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul.

It was my privilege to interview him for the worldwide Catholic network Aleteia.

You can read the full interview, including details of the soon-to-be-familiar icon, here.