As St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish in Ijamsville celebrates its 150th anniversary, the Frederick County faith community has received a property donation from Tom Natelli, president and CEO of Natelli Communities with an estimated value of $1 million.
“We were so joyfully surprised at his generosity,” said Father Brian Nolan, pastor of St. Ignatius, who first learned about the donation this past spring. “What a gift that Tom Natelli chose to donate the property to our parish.”
The land, about an acre in size, borders the parish’s historic country church building in Urbana. Its high value estimate is due to its zoning which permits a drive-through restaurant or similar use, Natelli said.
Natelli Communities, a family business, has served as the master developer of much of the Urbana area for the past 25 years, becoming closely familiar with the community.
Natelli, a parishioner of Our Lady of Mercy in Potomac, said the decision to donate the property came after St. Ignatius parishioner Chelle Davis approached the company about giving the land to the church rather than developing it. After discussing the proposal, the Natelli family ultimately decided to make the donation.
“All of us made the decision: Let’s just donate it to them instead of putting a Taco Bell on it,” Natelli said.
Father Nolan said plans for the land remain unknown as development decisions are still years away. However, he said St. Ignatius and more broadly, Frederick County, are expanding greatly.
“It’s said to be the fastest-growing area in Maryland,” Father Nolan said. “There’s a great diversity here. There’s a lot of various ages here. It’s a vibrant community. Our numbers continue to grow in some beautiful ways.”
Father Nolan also highlighted the robust deaf ministry services St. Ignatius offers, describing the parish as “the center for the Deaf community in the archdiocese.” He hopes the land can be used to further support and serve the Deaf community.
“It’s just going to help our legacy for many years to come,” Father Nolan said.
Natelli acknowledged that development can often bring change to communities, but said his company aims to positively contribute to the area’s future. Natelli described St. Ignatius as “an important part” of the southern Frederick region and said many residents have “taken advantage of what St. Ignatius and Father Nolan have to offer.”
Typically, Natelli works with local communities and counties to create a plan for what the space will develop into. He said the parish “could do a lot of things there.”
Though the future of the land is yet to be determined, Father Nolan is looking forward to the development and expressed deep gratitude to Natelli Communities.
“We are so grateful for Tom Natelli,” Father Nolan said.
Quoted in a news release, Archbishop William E. Lori described the parish community of St. Ignatius as “alive with Christ’s love – a true center of evangelization marked by a rich sacramental life and a broad commitment to ministries and outreach to those who are in need.”
With the help of the “most generous gift of land,” Archbishop Lori said, the parish will be able to expand its good works.
Email Jenna Mattern at jmattern@CatholicReview.org
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