St. Mary of the Assumption receives Historic Fort Worth Steward Award
Father John Perikomalayil, HGN, is shown at St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Fort Worth on Sept. 4, 2024. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)
FORT WORTH — Fort Worth's St. Mary of the Assumption Parish's 2024 restoration culminated in a Steward Award from Historic Fort Worth Inc.
Established in 1969, Historic Fort Worth members are dedicated to preserving Fort Worth's unique historic identity through stewardship, education, and leadership.
Father John Perikomalayil, HGN, and several St. Mary parishioners attended Historic Fort Worth's awards presentations ceremony held Oct. 16 at the Woman's Club of Fort Worth.
Being chosen for the award came as a happy surprise, Fr. Perikomalayil said.
“One of our parishioners, who is also a member of Historic Fort Worth, proposed our church as one of the best stewards of preservation,” Fr. Perikomalayil said. “Then I got a letter saying we were getting the award.”
Historic Fort Worth Public Affairs Committee Chairman Martin Dahl explained the process whereby people nominate historical preservation projects throughout Fort Worth for awards in various categories. A committee then narrows the applications to the eventual winner in each category.
St. Mary Parish dates to 1909 although the current church building opened in 1924.
For several months last year, scaffolding filled the church's interior stretching from floor to the ceiling 35 feet above, allowing workers to restore St. Mary's beautiful plaster and mural artworks.
Workers from Wisconsin restoration company Conrad Schmitt Studios returned to perform the renovations. Workers from the same company painted the church's original murals in 1938.
Admittedly, appearance and design are hardly the primary purpose of a church or Mass, but they can still enhance worship and faith, Fr. Perikomalayil said.
“The aesthetics of a church invites people to reflect on the heavenly realities and connect with them from a physical point of view,” Fr. Perikomalayil said. “Which lends to a spirit of prayer and devotion as you enter and sit in the church.”
Fr. Perikomalayil said the award reflects also the spirit and love of St. Mary parishioners.
“I think it's a great recognition from Historic Fort Worth of St. Mary and our parishioners for their dedication to faith and worship and commitment and love for the community. It's also a testament to the historical significance of our church in the history of Fort Worth.”
Deacon Mark Pierson expressed excitement over the restoration and subsequent award.
“It was a blessing to be part of this in some way,” Dcn. Pierson said. “To see the plans and think, how is this going to get done? But with Fr. John's leadership and planning and the parish community coming together, everything worked out.”
The renovations and restored artwork, parishioner Juanita Rangel said, enhance the sacred nature of the parish.
“It's just more beauty,” Rangel said. “The church was beautiful before but to me it just shines more now.”
Her husband, Joe Rangel, agreed.
“We go to Mass to worship God and thank Him for our blessings,” Joe Rangel said. “But since the restoration, I'm still noticing things about the repairs and artwork. Still seeing new things every time we go to Mass.”