For almost 30 years, Fishtown native James Drake Appleman has been restoring religious iconography.

It's a career path that he said has become something of a mission for him.

A mission, he believes, he received from a divine vision.

"Hold on, hold on, let me tell you about the vision," said an excited Appleman, standing in the sanctuary of the National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia at Broad and Federal streets last week.

Appleman, an excitable, hurried man, proceeded to tell an imaginative and incredible tale of how he found his calling.

His tale would spin far beyond his work as a self-trained artist.

Yet, his story began with a simple act of charity.

Last week, Appleman contacted the Star with a tale to share.

The 67-year-old former furniture restorer had hit hard times, he said.

He moved from his boyhood home in Fishtown, along the 1700 block of Blair Street, about three years ago and had relocated to South Philly to help deal with his financial stress.

About a month ago, financial woes again began to weigh heavy on his shoulders, he said, and in need of help from the divine, Appleman prayed before a large crucifix at St. Rita's shrine.

The religious icon, with a plaque that dated the piece to 1925, was weathered and aged, he said.

Its color was faded and, more distressingly, Appleman contended that the statue had lost the spark of color in the eyes.

"The finish was cracking, the wood was cracked and peeling," he said. "It looked like it hadn't been touched since 1925."

Under that crucifix, he said, he prayed for help from his financial woes and later that day at a nearby convenience store, he played to lottery.

To his astonishment, he won.

It was a relatively small sum, he said, but enough to help.

To thank the church for his good fortune, Appleman returned to the shrine to donate his services and restore the crucifix.

"I wanted to do it. I did it for free because I felt like he had rewarded me," said Appleman at the crucifix. "I did a lot of detail in the face because it had so much deterioration from the years. I took paint samples and made sure I got the colors right."