History of the Sanctuary of Life Project: 2004-2008

2004 - The project was initiated as the Sanctuary of Life in October 2004 by Grand Knight Kurt Meinsen

- To make a large and lasting gift to St. Mary's parish,
- To augment new church development,
- To strengthen the Council's Church Program and
- To promote "with dauntless fidelity" the Gospel of Life as articulated by Pope John Paul II.

The Sanctuary's spiritual theme of the sacred and holy nature of all life was inspired by Pope John Paul II and his 1995 encyclical Evangelium Vitae. This theme pertains to many societal challenges including abortion, euthanasia, embryo destruction in biotech research, and concern for orphans, the elderly, and the poor and for people with mental retardation and other vulnerabilities. The Sanctuary of Life theme also invokes many positive things such as joy, praise and gratitude for life itself.

The term "sanctuary" was used to signify a place where parishioners could go to pray, seek solace and give thanks to God for the gifts of life. This word and the preference for a statue of the entire Holy Family also were influenced by John Paul II as he wrote:

"The family has a special role to play throughout the life of its members, from birth to death. It is truly the sanctuary of life: the place in which life - the gift of God - can be properly welcomed and protected against the many attacks to which it is exposed, and can develop in accordance with what constitutes authentic human growth. Consequently the role of the family in building a culture of life is decisive and irreplaceable. As the domestic church, the family is summoned to proclaim, celebrate and serve the Gospel of life."
- Papal encyclical "Evangelium Vitae", Ioannes Paulus PP. II, 3/25/1995, Chapter IV sec 92.

Meinsen placed emphasis on vetting the Council's intentions with St. Mary's constituencies. This was important because of the scale and permanence of the project and its high potential for impacting others. A major St. Mary's capital campaign was in progress at the time. Plans for building a new church on the newly-acquired Sideburn Road property were being implemented. Moreover, Parish-Council relations had been improving under the current pastor, Father Don Greenhalgh. The KofC had become more integrated and welcomed into the mainstream of Parish life. But Fr. Greenhalgh was expected to depart soon and so Parish leadership was in transition. Considerations on the Sanctuary idea were therefore obtained diligently from the Pastoral Council, Architectural and Maintenance committees and other parish leaders.

2005-2007 - The Sanctuary of Life design and plans first progressed and then languished over the next two fraternal years. Brothers involved during this period included:

- Grand Knights Jerry Hovan and Tony Vanderbeek,
- Council's Church Program chairmen: Joe Marotta and his 2005 successor, Tom Gilding,
- Sanctuary of Life Committee - PGK Tim Donovan, PGK Kurt Meinsen, PGK Dick Lee and John Enzmann.

Parish leaders had cautioned that the existing Worship Center may not remain St. Mary's busy focal point due to new church construction. The Sanctuary Committee proceeded with a view to the overall geography of the Sideburn Road property. The Sanctuary was planned for a large area that included the grove of trees on the northeast corner of the new church site for which earthwork, grading, drainage systems and new parking lots had just been completed.

The Committee surveyed and photographed the site and sketched the Sanctuary layout. It was intended to be used for small group gatherings and for private reflection and prayer. The area would comprise flowers, shrubs, groundcover and paths leading to a clearing for a statue. Scriptural quotes were to be mounted for inspiration. The Sanctuary would provide some solitude and have places to pause and sit. The Council had budgeted and reserved $15,000 for these tentative Sanctuary plans.

The Parish had welcomed a new pastor, Father James Barkett, by the summer of 2005. Father Barkett supported the consensus that the theme for the Sanctuary should be broad, i.e. the sanctity of all life from womb to grave.

In 2006 Br. Tom Gilding, the new Church Program chairman, obtained a professional landscaping plan for a semi-cultivated pathway leading up to a clearing and a statue. Plans for selective tree cutting, shrubs and other plantings were detailed. Br. Meinsen searched nationally for statues by computer. He visited local parishes and schools, photographing various statues and their settings. PGK Mike Sakraida took pictures of a beautiful outdoor sanctuary at a church in Connecticut. The Committee occasionally met and informally discussed their work with others in the KofC and the Parish.

However, the new church construction site including the grove for the Sanctuary became off-limits for an indefinite period. St. Mary's was even restrained from turning off its floodlights on the new parking lots. The impasse among the authorities of Fairfax County, the Parish, Diocese, Contractor-Developer and County consequently led to discouragement and stagnation in the Council's Sanctuary of Life project.

2007-2008 - Finally, the Sanctuary concept and design were shelved and the scope of the project was sharply curtailed. Father Barkett authorized the Council to use a small but accessible location next to the Worship Center, on the island inside the circular driveway to the church entrance. The idea was to at least put a statue in place immediately. In so doing, the Council could provide a major gift to the Parish in time for the celebration of St. Mary's Sesquicentennial anniversary the following year. Presumably, a statue could be relocated if any Sanctuary landscaping and construction on the new church property were to become possible. Meanwhile, Grand Knights Johnny Restivo ('07-'08) and Paul Maltagliati ('08-'09), with firm support from PGK Jim Cella, had steadfastly maintained reserves of $20,000 for the project.

The following sequence took place over spring, summer and fall of 2008: Brother Meinsen re-searched and finally located (in Laredo, Texas) a statue of the particularly desired type. However, its sculptor firm had gone out of business. The new Church Program Chairman Bob Ritchie, with help and information from Br. Gilding, researched and identified a statue vendor in China. Ritchie then had the specified design ordered, sculpted, shipped (through California), and received by November. The new white marble Holy Family statue was mounted on its pedestal during the week of December 14.

The Holy Family statue was dedicated as a gift from St. Mary's Knights of Columbus to the Parish on the Feast of the Holy Family, December 28, 2008 by pastor, Sir Knight and Worthy Chaplain Rev. James Barkett. A dozen Sir Knights from the Father Malloy Assembly marched in full regalia, led by PGK and PFN Dick Lee. They escorted Father Barkett from the altar after 9 a.m. Mass and led scores of parishioners, singing with the choir, in procession to the statue. Fr. Barkett prayed over and consecrated the statue. A brief message was delivered by Grand Knight Paul Maltagliati. Several pictures were taken and posted on the Council's website, www.koc8600.org.

And there you have it…at least for now!
Faithfully, PGK Kurt Meinsen, January 1, 2009.