Picture this: The Winking Jesus

North Jersey Newspapers ^ | 10.24.05 | THOMAS E. FRANKLIN

[Coleus]

 

Sly Dones said it happened on the last Thursday in July, after the Feast of St. Ann. While cleaning up around the collection of religious relics he keeps in a shrine in front of the Harrison Gardens public housing complex in Hoboken, he saw the Jesus statue open its right eye. An eye as "blue as the sky itself," says Dones.

The Sacred Heart of Jesus statue stands about 3 feet tall, with rosaries draped around the neck. Dones claims it previously had both eyes shut, but now one eye is opened wide, giving the appearance that the statue is winking. Ever since, people have come from all around to see the miracle of the "Winking Jesus."

Some might see a beaten-up plaster statue of Christ, with broken fingers, chipped paint and wires sticking out, but Dones sees an act of God, with an important message for all to hear.

"The message of the statue is, he's telling the people I'm here for you," explains Dones. "This ain't about the statue. It's about the word of God, and he wants the people together. It was a sign for the people. It was broken, both eyes were closed, then one eye opened. This happened by fate, to show the right way."

Julio "Sly" Dones has always been a deeply religious man. He's dedicated his life to maintaining his shrine of artificial flowers, photographs and statues of the Virgin Mother, Saint Anthony and Jesus Christ. The Sacred Heart of Jesus statue is about a year old; Dones salvaged it from a Dumpster in Jersey City.

Born legally blind, Dones sees very little out of his right eye and even less out of the left one, which stays mostly shut - just like the Sacred Heart of Jesus statue.

There is no doubt that something has happened to the statue's eyes and face. The right eye looks strikingly odd, and clearly different from the closed one. But is this a miracle? Is this a message from God, here on the gritty back streets of Hoboken? Obviously, Dones has heard all the skepticism about his statue.

"It's not a hoax," he says. "You have to believe in God, all things are possible through him. The floods, the earthquakes, are a sign from God. He's telling us to come back and unite as one, as a family. Come and you will see. Those who are blind will see."

On the streets around the shrine, opinions seem to vary about the growing legend. "I believe in God," says a man called Rico, not willing to share his real name. "Not no statues. I believe in God, not a piece of something. It's good for him [Dones] if he believes. Good. People should believe what they want to believe."

Angel Medina says he's known Dones for 33 years, and he believes. "The statue is a miracle. The statue was never like this. I'm not a religious kinda guy. But when I first saw that, I felt something. Happiness. And I'm not a happy kinda guy either. We're all fighting each other out here. This opened my eyes and my heart."

[Lijahsbubbe]

Good 'graven image' reminder, TG.