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Vivian Imbruglia: Sacred Artist of the Diocese Honored by Rome for Icon that Inspires Prayer and Peace
by Rev. Alwyn B. Anfone, Ph.D.
The walls of St. Peter & St. Paul Parish are adorned with sacred art that does far more than beautify—it beckons. Parishioners often find themselves drawn into silent prayer, stirred by the holy presence radiating from the icons that grace the sanctuary. Behind each of these sacred images is the hand, the heart, and the prayerful soul of our parish’s own iconographer, Vivian Imbruglia.
For years, Vivian has faithfully dedicated her life and craft to the ancient discipline of iconography—a spiritual art form where brush and gold leaf become instruments of theological reflection and encounter with the divine. Her icons, prayerfully written in accordance with sacred tradition, are not merely paintings; they are windows into eternity.
This week, Vivian's dedication and artistry received international recognition of the highest order. In a moment both humbling and historic, she was notified by the Pontifical Academy Marian International (PAMI) in Rome that her icon “Our Lady Tabernacle of the World” has been awarded First Place in the International Marian Award – Art Category, under the theme “Mary, Way of Peace Between Cultures.”
Chosen from submissions across the globe in both art and music, Vivian’s work stood out for its profound spiritual resonance, its theological integrity, and its timely message of Marian unity amid a divided world. The award celebrates artistic excellence that reveals the role of Mary of Nazareth as a bridge between peoples, cultures, and hearts—a theme beautifully expressed in Vivian’s icon.
With this honor, Vivian has been invited to Rome this September to receive the award during the International Marian Festival, which includes a papal audience with His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV. During this most sacred encounter, Vivian will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to personally present her award-winning icon to the Holy Father.
Vivian and her husband, Deacon Tom Imbruglia, are now preparing for their pilgrimage to the heart of the Church, representing not only St. Peter & St. Paul Parish but the entire Diocese of San Bernardino. Their journey is not only a recognition of artistic merit, but a celebration of faith lived through beauty.
Here at home, Vivian continues her sacred mission. Her most recent project for St. Peter & St. Paul is a hand-written replica of the Holy Trinity icon by Andrei Rublev, an image steeped in theological mystery and revered as a masterpiece of sacred art. It will soon be installed in the parish’s adoration chapel, the icon will invite all who gaze upon it to contemplate the mystery of God’s inner life and eternal communion.
Vivian’s icons can also be found throughout the diocese, gracing churches and chapels with images of Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the saints—each written with prayer, fasting, and faith. Her art has quietly become a spiritual ministry that touches the lives of countless faithful, inviting all who encounter it to deeper prayer and reverence.
In recognizing her work, the Church universal now echoes what we in the Diocese of San Bernardino have long known: Vivian Imbruglia is not only an artist—she is a servant of the sacred, whose vocation brings souls face-to-face with the divine.
Let us give thanks to God for Vivian’s gift, and pray for her and Deacon Tom as they journey to Rome—carrying with them the prayers, pride, and blessings of their parish family.
Rev. Alwyn B. Anfone, Ph.D.
Administrator
St. Peter and St. Paul Catholic Church
Alta Loma, CA
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