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St. Ignatius Mission
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It’s not as famous as Rome’s Sistine Chapel, but 58 original paintings cover the walls and ceilings
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Karen Mockler
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MotorHome
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October 2004
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It’s by no means as famous as Rome’s Sistine Chapel, but there’s a little red-brick church on the road to Montana’s Flathead Indian Reservation that has more in common with its Italian counterpart than merely being a house of worship.
Part of the Catholic mission that gives tiny St. Ignatius, Montana, its name, the church — built in 1891 and now a National Historic Site — appears almost plain from the outside. But step inside, let your eyes adjust to the soft light, and the revelation unfolds: 58 original paintings by Brother Joseph Carignano cover the walls and ceilings.
An Italian Jesuit, Carignano spent two decades on his wonderful paintings, which depict scenes from both the Old and New Testaments as well as many saints.
Like Michelangelo before him, his amazing frescoes and paintings have stories to tell. Yet Carignano had no formal training in the arts — in fact, he was the mission’s handyman and cook. He completed his extraordinary legacy in his spare time.
To reach the town of St. Ignatius, follow U.S. Highway 93 north from Missoula or south from Kalispell. The mission itself is two blocks from the highway; just follow the signs; hours are 9am-8pm summer, 9am-5pm winter.
For more information, call (406) 745-2768.
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