Latest news with #14StationsoftheCross
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ground is broken for multimillion-dollar religious garden, 70-foot cross in Northeastern Kentucky
Jerry and Charlotte Lundergan with the Rev. Augustine Aidoo of Saint Patrick Church between them get help from others in breaking ground June 3, 2025, for a six-acre religious garden and 70-foot cross at the church cemetery in Maysville. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Jack Brammer) Religious garden, giant cross to rise in Maysville: Jerry Lundergan's vision MAYSVILLE — On a sun-splashed Tuesday morning, former Kentucky Democratic Party Chair Jerry Lundergan, along with his wife, Charlotte, and several others, heaved shovelfuls of dirt heavenward to break ground for a multimillion-dollar religious garden and 70-foot cross at Saint Patrick Cemetery. Lundergan, a well-known Lexington entrepreneur who owns several companies in the food services and hospitality industry and emergency disaster services, wants to turn six acres in the front of the historic cemetery in the village of Washington in his hometown of Maysville into a religious site that he thinks may attract tens of thousands of people each year. The project will feature a replication of the Garden of Gethsemane near Jerusalem where the New Testament says Jesus prayed the night before his crucifixion. It will contain life-size bronze statues of Christ and the main characters in the 14 Stations of the Cross. They are representations of events in Jesus' life on his way to his crucifixion. The planned cross will stand seven stories high. Lundergan is aiming at a completion date of early next April for Easter services and envisions tens of thousands of visitors each year. A minimal fee may be charged but nothing like the admission prices at the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter in Northern Kentucky that sometimes go over $100, he said. Lundergan noted that any proceeds would go to maintain the garden and cemetery and support Saint Patrick Church. Lundergan acknowledged Tuesday that the project will cost several million dollars. No tax dollars are to be used, he said, but the state may sell to the church at appraised value 2 ½ acres of surplus land in front of the cemetery — on what is known as old U.S. 68— to be used for parking. The bishop of Covington, the Rev. John Curtis Iffert, has leased land to Lundergan, who plans to give the entire garden to Saint Patrick Church once it is completed. Lundergan unveiled the first Station of the garden at the groundbreaking ceremony that attracted about 120 people. It shows Jesus speaking to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor who presided over the trial of Jesus and ultimately ordered his crucifixion. Reto Demetz, an Italian sculptor who designed the statues, was on hand to talk about his work. Other professionals involved in the project are Lexington landscape designer John Carman of the CARMAN firm and Betty Vento of Mentor, Ohio, who is an expert on religious statues. But the day belonged to Lundergan, who thanked his wife and their five daughters for their support and said they were fulfilling a dream. Daughter Alissa Lundergan Tibe moderated the hourlong ceremony. He recalled how he visited the cemetery as a boy with his parents, who attended St. Patrick's Church, and where he was baptized, married and someday will be buried in its cemetery. He spoke of his love for the church and Maysville. His comments received a standing ovation. The Rev. Augustine Aidoo of Saint Patrick Parish prayed that the project becomes 'a beacon of hope' while several public officials touted its potential economic development effects as well as its religious message. Maysville Mayor Debra Cotterill said the project's 'economic implications are enormous' with many visitors. It is to have a welcome center with a gift and snack shop that will be on the site where the groundbreaking was held. Mason County Judge Executive Owen McNeil predicted the project 'will attract visitors from around the globe,' and state Rep. William 'Buddy' Lawrence, R-Maysville, said it will attract national and global attention. David Cartmell, mayor of Maysville for 20 years and now a city commissioner, said the project will become 'iconic' for the region. 'This is a big, big day in Maysville,' he said. Lundergan plans to post a website soon keeping interested people informed of the development of the project. He said it could be reached by searching for Gethsemane Garden Maysville. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Religious garden, giant cross to rise in Maysville: Jerry Lundergan's vision
Jerry and Charlotte Lundergan are developing six acres at the entrance of St. Patrick Cemetery in historic Washington into a religious garden with Italian sculptures and a visitors center, May 29, 2025. (Kentucky Lantern photo by David Stephenson) MAYSVILLE — Jerry Lundergan, a well-known Lexington businessman who once was state Democratic Party chairman, envisions days when thousands of visitors from around the world will walk in a six-acre garden in the historic village of Washington in his hometown of Maysville. Lundegan, who will formally unveil the plans June 3, wants to replicate the Garden of Gethsemane near Jerusalem where the New Testament says Jesus prayed the night before his crucifixion. Lundergan has commissioned a sculptor in Italy to create life-size bronze statues of Christ and the main characters in the 14 Stations of the Cross, representations of events in the Passion of Jesus Christ, from his condemnation to burial. A 70-foot cross, equivalent to a seven-story building, will tower nearby. It will be positioned to reflect sun rays during the Easter season onto Station 12, depicting Jesus dying on the cross. Excavations are underway for the spectacular religious display in front of the Saint Patrick Cemetery in Washington on U.S. 68 about five miles south of the Ohio River. It will include a visitor's center. Asked how much the project will cost, Lundergan said it is privately funded by the Lundergan family and receives no tax dollars. 'This is a way for my family to do something to show our love for the church and community that mean so much to us.' Lundergan said that the price of admission will be minimal if any — in contrast to other religious attractions — the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter — in Northern Kentucky. Visitors may leave donations, which will be used to maintain the garden and support St. Patrick Church and school in Maysville, Lundergan said. Lundergan grew up, was baptized and married in St. Patrick Church. He attended St. Patrick School. He will be buried someday at St. Patrick Cemetery along with his wife, Charlotte Lundergan. Actress and singer Rosemary Clooney, who was born on Front Street in Maysville in 1928 and died in 2002, is buried there. She was the aunt of international movie star George Clooney. The historic cemetery includes the tombstones of early immigrants from Ireland. The bishop of Covington, the Rev. John Curtis Iffert, has leased land to Lundergan, who will give the entire garden to St. Patrick Church once it is completed. Lundergan, 78, owns several companies in Lexington in the food services and hospitality industry and emergency disaster services. Lundy's Catering provided food services at the Woodstock revival, the Kentucky Derby, Indianapolis 500, Pope John Paul II's celebration of mass with 350,000 in San Antonio in 1987, and presidential inaugurations for Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama. The Lundergans are close friends to former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. President Joe Biden pardoned Lundergan earlier this year for his conviction on federal campaign finance charges involving unreported donations to the 2014 U.S. Senate campaign of his daughter, Alison Lundergan Grimes. Lundergan served time in prison and a halfway house. Lundergan emphasizes that the garden project is a family venture. Charlotte and he have five daughters and 10 grandchildren. To launch planning for the garden project, Lundergan contacted Betty Vento of Mentor, Ohio, an expert on religious statues. She and her husband run Mosack's, a Christian gifts and book store. 'I think this is a fabulous project, nothing like it, I believe, in the United States with bronze statues,' said Vento. 'I understand there is a Stations of the Cross garden in Puerto Rico but it is circular. This one will be on a pathway.' She said Lundergan called her almost five years ago to pursue the project. 'We have moved forward with it and are very excited about it.' Lundergan commissioned bronze statues by sculptor Reto Demetz. His family business, the Demetz Art Studio, is one of the world's leaders in producing ecclesiastical art. The studio is located in Ortisei, a small village in Val Gardena, nestled in the Dolomites, the famous mountain range in the heart of the Italian Alps. The studio was founded in 1872. During the last decades, it has reached worldwide fame for its modern religious sculptures as well as its traditional artworks. Lexington landscape architect John Carman, of the firm CARMAN, said that when Lundergan first called he was not sure he would have the time to devote to designing the garden. 'But it is such a wonderful project, quite unique, I am Catholic, so I was all in,' he said. He worked a year on the design. Carman said the garden will be a replica of Gethsemane. 'The real garden is in a different part of the world, with olive trees. Olive trees do not grow well here.' But visitors 'will see a beautiful garden with a lot of flowers and shrubs, some trees, that will capture the spirit of Gethsemane.' A public groundbreaking ceremony for the project is scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 3, at the site. Christian ministers in Mason County have been invited to attend. The target date for completion of the project is Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026. A celebration Mass will be held at the church the Thursday before Easter. A Good Friday program will be held at the stations and an Easter sunrise service will offer praise at the garden. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Good Friday in Chicago: Live reenactments and early crowds highlight Holy Week events
CHICAGO — Attendees arrived at Holy Name Cathedral hours before its Good Friday observance. It was just one of many Holy Week events taking place across the Chicago area. Cardinal Blase Cupich was even in attendance at Holy Name's Good Friday observance. Earlier in the day, churches in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood observed Good Friday with a live reenactment of the 14 Stations of the Cross, representing the story of Jesus' crucifixion. The cherished tradition attracts thousands of people each year. For the first time ever, the opening scenes started on a stage located at 18th & Halsted Streets, moving its traditional start inside of a church. Dozens of people helped portray Jesus' final days, including the Last Supper and crucifixion. WGN's Emmy Victor asked those who gathered at Holy Name Cathedral why they decided to arrive hours before the observance. 'Jesus' death was at three. We came to pray for his death. He suffered for all of us and I feel like we take that for granted,' Camila Rubio said. 'We came to say thank you.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
