By ANDREW BENISEK ‘17
There is no one who would deny that Mr. Jim Skerl ‘74 completely changed the way Saint Ignatius High School is viewed by the community. Thus, members of the Saint Ignatius community have taken it upon themselves to continue to build the relationship he had nurtured so well. They are doing this not only by growing the service initiatives he started, but also by building a space for the community dedicated to the lives of two men that truly exemplified what it means to be a Man for Others.
The idea for the project came about in the fall of 2014, when Mr. Skerl’s health was declining at a rapid pace. Considering the monumental footprint he was about to leave behind at Saint Ignatius High School, many alumni and staff members felt he must be honored in a special way. He was presented with some project options, out of which he could chose one to have dedicated in his name. Mr. Skerl, being the humble man he was, did not want to take all the credit for his lifelong dedication to the school. Just as many saw Mr. Skerl as their role model, he had a mentor of his own, Mr. Michael Pennock ’64.
Mr. Pennock, known as “Doc” Pennock, was a theology teacher both at Saint Ignatius and John Carroll. He not only taught and hired Mr. Skerl, but also taught the majority of today’s theology department. “Doc” Pennock is also the author of many of the theology department’s textbooks. It has been said that Mr. Skerl’s inspiration came from “Doc” Pennock, and thus he wanted him to be included in any memorial that was erected in his honor.
The new space will be called the Marian Mall, after both mens’ devotion to The Blessed Mother. The Marian Mall will be a continuation of the current mall, going through Carroll Avenue towards Wasmer Field. The concrete and brick pathway will continue through the fence on the north side of the campus, bend to the right, then continue through luscious greenery leading to a grotto.
The Marian Mall is meant to be tranquil place for the members of the Saint Ignatius and Ohio City communities to reflect and pray. The main feature will be a grotto in front of the Jesuit Residence. The grotto will include a statue of the Virgin Mary standing inside of a water feature. Behind the statue will be a backlit pane of stained glass. This stained glass is original to the campus and has been stored in the basement of the Jesuit Residence since St. Mary’s Church was torn down to build the Clavius Center. On the wall of the grotto, the corporal works of mercy will be stamped into bronze plates. But perhaps the most meaningful part of the grotto will be an arch of size 13 footprints, made from an exact cast of Mr. Skerl’s feet.
The footprints will invite students and community members to follow in the footsteps of Mr. Skerl and regularly pray to Our Mother, Mary. Beneath the grotto, Student Senate will be burying a time capsule filled with relics from Saint Ignatius.
The Marian Mall will help us to remember both Mr. Skerl and Dr. Pennock in a way that is befitting of their importance to Saint Ignatius.
The Marian Mall is on track to be completed in November. There will be two dedications for the grotto, the first of which will be this fall. This will be a small gathering including a blessing and dedication. A much larger scale dedication will occur in the spring once all of the landscaping is completed and the space is considered completely finished.
“The Marian Mall will help us to remember both Mr. Skerl and Dr. Pennock in a way that is befitting of their importance to Saint Ignatius,” said Mr. Healey. “Like Mary, they were humble servants of the Lord, and both men were devoted to the Mother of God in the spirit of St. Ignatius himself. This Mall ensures that the memory and legacy of the two greatest religious educators in the history of our beloved Alma Mater will not only live, but will continue to grow as each new generation of Ignatians develop their own relationship with and devotion to Our Lady.”
This project will truly be an excellent way to honor the lives of the two men who dedicated their lives to Saint Ignatius and to the betterment of their community. The Marian Mall will serve as a constant reminder of what these men stood for, and will be the carrier of their legacies for years to come.
