Baltimore bunting for late pope has personal touch 

Asanga and Mali Fernando are used to hemming pants and altering suits – not outfitting basilicas.

But when the Archdiocese of Baltimore asked them to sew black mourning bunting for the front of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, they were intrigued – and a little unsure.

“I’ve never done something like this before,” said Asanga, whose family worships at the basilica.

Asanga, with more than 25 years of tailoring experience, runs Right Fit Design, his 8-month-old family business on Howard Street offering custom tailoring, alterations, dry cleaning and laundry services.

Catholic churches around the world have draped black bunting around their doors as a symbol of mourning the April 21 death of Pope Francis. Jeovani Cano, building facilities manager for the archdiocese, started planning for the symbolic decoration in February when the pope was first admitted to the hospital.

“I went to Joann Fabrics and bought the fabric, at least 40 yards,” Cano said, who then, at the suggestion of staff at the basilica, approached the Fernandos with the project.

“I thought of the Fernandos because in addition to them being wonderful people and parishioners, they, of course, own a tailoring and dry-cleaning business on Howard Street in Mount Vernon,” said Maria Veras, basilica director of mission advancement.

Veras called the Fernandos “dedicated and generous parishioners of the basilica,”noting that they volunteer for various parish events. 

Veras said she has had her own clothing tended by the business and that they are “experts at what they do.” Right Fit Design also helps sponsor the basilica’s community cafe, the Sexton’s Lodge Cafe, by keeping it in stock with paper products such as cups and napkins, Veras said.

The Fernando bunting drapes both the basilica and the Catholic Center.

“They took it on, and we asked them to rush it,” Cano said. “They were really good. They wouldn’t let us pay them.”

“Pope Francis has been very important,” Asanga said. “He is very inspirational. We have been talking about him a lot. We were sorry to hear about the passing of Pope Francis.”

Asanga, as well as his wife, two children and 88-year-old father, have been in Baltimore two years now, he said. Originally from Sri Lanka, the family lived in Africa for 28 years before moving to the United States for their children’s schooling. A daughter attends UMBC in Catonsville, and another daughter is a student at Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore.

According to tradition, black bunting is to remain in place until the election of a new pope, when it will be replaced by white-and-gold bunting.

This story was updated April 29 to correct that the family includes two daughters.

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