To Father Alejandro Lopez, art is a gift meant to be shared.

Visitors to Holy Family Parish in Peoria can see for themselves how he has been sharing his own artistic gift with his parish family.

A framed colored drawing of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph — the work of this Conventual Franciscan priest who is Holy Family Parish’s parochial vicar — is displayed just inside the door of the parish office.

This month Holy Family Parish will again be blessed by Father Alejandro’s artistic gift. He has donated his drawing, “Bedtime Blessings,” to the second annual “La Dolce Vita” auction to benefit his parish’s building projects.

The event, including wine tasting, dinner, and live and silent auctions, will be Saturday, Feb. 28, at 6 p.m. at the P.A.R.C. Recreational Facility, 1913 W. Townline Road. Tickets are $35 per person. For reservations, call the parish office at (309) 688-3427.

“We’re very lucky to have a priest who is not only theologically talented but also has artistic talents,” said Jessie Morss, who chairs the auction committee.

For his part, Father Alejandro is happy to share the joy his art brings him with those he cares about, especially his parish family — even more when his art can bring people closer to Jesus, and bring Jesus closer to people.

His drawing “Bedtime Blessings” will be available for bids when the live auction starts at 7:30 p.m. after the dinner.

Other items in the live auction include a dinner at the friary prepared by Father Alejandro and Father Michael Glastetter, OFM Conv., parish pastor; a trip for two to Rome and Venice, Italy; a week’s stay at a condominium in Breckenridge, Colo.; and a stay at a condominium at the upscale golf resort of Boulders in Arizona.

The silent auction will run throughout the evening. Also to be auctioned are handcrafted items brought from Italy by a Holy Family parishioner, crystal pieces and jewelry.