EXPANDING THE BLUEPRINT
Marian Homes opened its second group home in 2010, later followed by a quick succession of new Fairfax County homes in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021. But recently, Marian Homes has grown in a different way.
“We’ve been very proud to do this on our own for so many years, but we knew that it needed to get bigger,” said McHugh. “We changed our bylaws, and we made rules to expand this fraternity.”
The new Marian Home in Winchester, named after Our Lady of Guadalupe, is more than 60 miles from Fairfax County. And though Marian Homes continues to be Knights-of-Columbus-run, the board of directors has added other members as well.
Lisa Anthony-Price is one of them. About a year ago, she and Steve Cantu, a past grand knight of Deacon Edward L. Christianson Council 3572 in Winchester, were talking about how to bring an organization like Marian Homes to the area.
“I have a daughter who has intellectual disabilities, and there are just no good options here,” said Anthony-Price, who works as executive director of operations and development at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Winchester. “Although I don’t know if my daughter is going to end up living in a Marian Home, it’s lovely for me to see such a beautiful place where people like my Tessa can live and contribute to society.”
The need for these kinds of group residences is enormous, said McHugh.
In Virginia alone, “there’s a waiting list of over 15,000 people [with disabilities] looking for affordable housing in a group-home setting,” he explained. “We know that we’re not going to be able to fulfill that need for all 15,000, but we’re going to do our little part to make a difference in the world.”
McHugh believes the work of Marian Homes is the kind of work Blessed Michael McGivney would have envisioned for the Knights of Columbus.
“We’re committed to changing the world for the better,” he affirmed. “When we knock down walls, we’re knocking down barriers in the community. And in every community that we’ve been in, we’ve changed hearts and minds.”
MAKING THE MOVE
As Judy Rawson looked into the new house in Winchester as a possible residence for her daughter, Sonji, she knew she had found the right place.
“Whenever God calls me home,” Judy said, “I want her to be grounded and to have other people that she can be close to. She’s already calling the other residents her little sisters. She said she was going to pray with them and talk with them at night if they get lonely.”
“I love it,” said Sonji, who has embraced the new adventure and is happy to have her own room.
A resident of another Marian Home, 49-year-old Tommy Komara, was similarly excited to pick out his room when he moved two years ago. His walls are now decorated with movie posters and religious art, and his dresser is covered with photos of family and friends. He enjoys working part-time at the TJ Maxx in Fairfax and participating in outings with his two housemates.
Tommy Komara (center), a member of St. Mary of Sorrows Council 8600 in Fairfax Station, Va., stands with his parents, Thomas and Rita, outside Our Lady of Angels Home in Fairfax, where Tommy has lived since the home opened in 2022. (Photo by Matthew Barrick)
Even before he moved, Tommy, who is a member of Council 8600, was helping his council grow the Marian Homes ministry. He and his father, Thomas, also a member, were part of the interior demolition teams for two Marian Homes in need of renovations.
“The demolition was really fun,” recalled Tommy, who helped knock down some walls with a sledgehammer.
Thomas helps lead the Knights’ efforts to maintain the homes, serving as a house captain of one of the properties, which is rented and operated by a partnering organization.
“I do an inspection every month to make sure that the house stays up and running. We take care of the property, the building, the furnace, all of the appliances,” Thomas explained. “Every one of the homes has a house captain who does the same thing, and we have a meeting once a month to discuss priorities for all the homes.”
Being familiar with Marian Homes made Tommy’s move easier, said his mother, Rita.
“We had discussed with Tommy the eventuality of moving to a residence, because he knew and we knew that such a day would come,” Rita said. “And we just prayed for the right fit and the right place.”
The family looked into another housing organization, but its homes were farther away and had a yearslong waiting list. When the Our Lady of Angels Home opened in 2022, they decided to apply, since it was only 10 minutes away and Tommy’s siblings also lived in the area.
“The path was leading us right to this house,” said Thomas.
When the Komaras were moving back to northern Virginia after years in North Carolina, Tommy remembered how unexpected and exciting it was when they were able to find a home in the boundaries of his sister’s parish, St. Mary of Sorrows. It ultimately led them to Council 8600 and to Marian Homes.
“I think it’s all part of God’s life plan for me and my family,” Tommy said. “I think it’s a blessing.”
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ZOEY MARAIST writes from northern Virginia.
