| The Knights of Columbus on Dec. 8
announced a $1 million gift to the Basilica
of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in
Washington, D.C. The contribution makes the Order the lead
donor of a 3,780 square-foot mosaic dome in the Shrine’s
Great Upper Church, which will depict themes relating to the
incarnation of Jesus Christ. The donation continues the
Knights’ historic relationship with the National Shrine. In
1959, the Order donated $1 million for the construction of
the Shrine’s majestic bell tower. Known as the “Knights’
Tower,” it contains a carillon of 56 bells, also a gift of
the Knights of Columbus.
In the 1980s, the Knights established, and have
continually funded and maintained, a Knight-staffed usher
ministry at the National Shrine. The Order also created a $1
million memorial endowment, named in honor of Past Supreme
Knight Luke E. Hart, to promote Marian devotion at the
National Shrine and to preserve and maintain the Shrine
structure. Since 1989, the Order has regularly funded
televised liturgies or other spiritual broadcasts from the
National Shrine.
The Knights conducted the largest pilgrimage ever hosted
by the National Shrine during the Jubilee Year 2000. The
event drew 12,000 Knights and their family members from
across North America and the Philippines to Washington. The
Knights also sponsored Eucharistic Congresses at the Shrine
in 2001 and 2003.
“The Knights have the highest regard for the National
Shrine as the preeminent Marian shrine and pilgrimage site
in the United States,” said Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson.
“This gift reaffirms our long-standing relationship with the
Shrine and will add to the beauty and distinction of its
sacred art.” |
