PRESS RELEASE
WHAT: Groundbreaking
WHEN: 6:15 PM Tuesday, April 12, 2011
WHERE: St. Thomas Aquinas University of Virginia Catholic Church, Alderman Rd, Charlottesville
OF INTEREST: Construction is beginning on a Dominican priory to house Dominican Friars near UVA. This priory is a visible commitment of the Dominicans to the Charlottesville and UVA community for the coming century.
ATTENDEES: Archbishop Augustine DiNoia, OP, Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship as well as friars, parishioners, friends, and benefactors.
MORE INFORMATION: Lori Donlon (priorysta@gmail.com; 434-293-8081)
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS FOR DOMINICAN PRIORY TO SERVE THE CHARLOTTESVILLE AND UVA COMMUNITY
(CHARLOTTESVILLE) – A groundbreaking and blessing next week will mark the beginning of construction on a priory to house the Dominican Friars.
Representatives from the Dominican Friars of the Province of St. Joseph, architectural firm Gorman Architects, plc, general contractor Alexander/Nicholson, Inc., and the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic community are expected to participate in a groundbreaking for the new priory at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, at 401 Alderman Rd. Abp. Augustine DiNoia, O.P. will lead a blessing assisted by the pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rev. Luke Clark, O.P.
A priory is a residence for a religious community. As designed, the Charlottesville Dominican priory of St. Thomas Aquinas is anticipated to house a minimum of six friars with future expansion possibilities of up to twelve friars. Each friar will undertake various ministries in the local community. This $5.3 million project will result in about twelve thousand square feet of living, study, and worship space for the Dominican Friars.
The Dominican Order was founded in 1216. St. Dominic sent his followers to University centers where they studied, taught and preached in order to demonstrate the reasonableness and beauty of the Gospel. They attracted a large following among students and faculty. By the end of the 14th century, the Dominican Order was firmly established at all of the major Universities in Europe. For over fifty years, the Dominicans have continued this tradition at UVA, ministering to students, faculty, and staff. The priory will enable the friars to better serve the university and the Charlottesville community.
“The Dominicans envision St. Thomas Aquinas Priory as the cornerstone of an emerging Catholic center of excellence in our community – spiritual, cultural and academic excellence – in the centuries-old Dominican tradition. (Tom Laux, Parishioner)
“Having a priory in Charlottesville will help ensure an increase in the number of Dominican Friars available to support the growing spiritual needs of both the Saint Thomas Aquinas and the University communities.” (Paul Harnois, Parishioner)
