Parishes

Fitzgerald memorial installed at Alexandria basilica

Special to the Catholic Herald

12/18/25

A bronze memorial honoring a Revolutionary War era officer important to the Virginia history of the Catholic Church is the newest feature at the Basilica of St. Mary in Alexandria.

Col. John Fitzgerald, George Washington’s aide de camp, helped found the first Catholic church in Virginia. He later served as Alexandria mayor.

To memorialize the Irish migrant’s contributions to his church and new country, the Virginia Ancient Order of Hibernians partnered with their charitable arm, the Irish Culture Society of Virginia Inc., to raise the necessary funds over four years for the commission and installation of a bronze raised-relief sculpture.

Sculptor Thomas Marsh’s design depicts the St. Patrick Day 1788 dinner where Fitzgerald accepted the first donation toward building the church from Washington. Father Edward C. Hathaway, rector, blessed the memorial Dec. 6. A luncheon with 50 Hibernians followed in the parish lyceum.

Organizers with the Hibernians credited Terry Riley, society vice president, and Virginia Nyce, archival manager for the basilica, for shepherding the project.