OKC archdiocese signs contract to build Stanley Rother shrine
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City has signed with The Boldt Co. of Oklahoma City to construct a shrine to honor an Okarche priest on the brink of sainthood.
Friday, the Most Rev. Paul S. Coakley signed the contract with Boldt to build the $40 million Blessed Stanley R other Shrine in south Oklahoma City. A groundbreaking ceremony is planned for Nov. 3 at SW 89 and Interstate 35.
"The shrine will be a place of welcome, serving all people in our community and pilgrims from around the world,” Coakley said in a news release.
"The Boldt Co. recognizes that this project is about much more than constructing a building; it is a labor of faith and devotion to honor one of our own. To better understand Blessed Stanley' s life and martyrdom, a representative from Boldt accompanied me to Guatemala this summer to walk where Blessed Stanley walked and to meet the people he loved and served. I am excited to include them in this celebration.”
Tony Yanda, The Boldt Co.'s director of operations, was one of three people representing Boldt at Friday's signing.
"Bold tis humbled and blessed to be apart of something so sacred and inspirational that will honor Blessed Stanley and those he served. We look forward to our partnership with the archdiocese to ensure the shrine is built with excellence ,” Yanda said.
The shrine is being built to honor R other, the first mart yr from the United States and the first U.S .born priest ever beatified by the Catholic Church. His beatification during a ceremony in Oklahoma City placed the priest one step closer to sainthood. Rother was serving as a priest with the Oklahoma City archdiocese when he was killed in his parish rectory in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala.
The shrine will include a 2,000-seat church, a chapel where Rother will be buried, an education building, an event space and several areas designated for shrines and devotion. The site will be developed over time. Along with the Spanish colonialstyle church — which will be the largest Catholic Church in Oklahoma — an additional element will be a museum and pilgrim center, which will be an additional $5 million. The center is expected to welcome thousands of visitors each year to an experience that leads them through the life, witness and martyrdom of Blessed Stanley.
The design architect for the project is Fran ck &L oh sen Architects in Washington, D.C. They are supported by local architectural firm ADG.
The general contractor is The Boldt Co. with Cooper Project Advisors serving as the owner's representative.