ARCH OF TRIUMPH OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
AND
INTERNATIONAL SHRINE OF THE

Holy Innocents

I. INTRODUCTION

This Prospectus describes the Arch of Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and International Shrine of the Holy Innocents, to be constructed on the eastern shore of Lake Erie, on the headwaters of the Niagara River and adjacent to downtown Buffalo, New York.  The proposed Site, more particularly described below, is a slender, green peninsula in Buffalo's Outer Harbor, between the mouth of the Buffalo River and Lake Erie; another large tract of vacant lakefront property, immediately to the west along the Lake Erie shore, is also under consideration.  Just northeast of the proposed Site, is a Coast Guard station that includes an historic lighthouse and a beautiful, little-used public park.

This great and exciting Project is undertaken in a spirit of profound devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and with the deepest sorrow, and a fervent desire to make reparation, for the grave sin of worldwide abortion.  It will serve as an international signal call to conversion and a return to God, and to an ever-greater love of purity and detestation of abortion and immorality.  Mary's golden Arch of Triumph, to be the world's tallest monument, will draw global attention also to the Holy Innocents Shrine, whose internationalism will be heightened by both its ready visibility from the Canadian shore, and its focus on Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Pro-life Movement, revered and loved throughout Latin America.

This great Project is undertaken further with an implicit belief in the pastoral importance of sacred shrines, their great value for spiritual edification, and their well-chronicled ability to prompt conversions, as articulated in an article by Bro. John M. Samaha, S.M., in the May/August 2000 issue of The Shrine of the Holy House of Loreto.  Approximately 40% of visitors to Catholic shrines are non-Catholic, and many such visitors have deep spiritual experiences.

As Brother Samaha notes, a Vatican instruction letter for Marian Shrines in the 1987-88 Marian Year encouraged such shrines to "reveal the presence of Mary in word and symbol," and "to cultivate . . . a sense of God's beauty revealed in Mary."  These and other instructions of such letter will be fulfilled to an excellent degree by Mary's majestic Arch of Triumph, which will possess truly dazzling beauty and grace.  Directly under it the Holy Innocents Shrine, strongly Marian itself, will powerfully inspire renewed respect for the sacredness of unborn human lives, indeed of all life, through the clear message and striking beauty of its murals, sculpture and architecture. 

As National Advisory Board member Fr. Frank A. Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life (http://www.priestsforlife.org/), has stated:

One of the key characteristics of the Gospel of Life is that it must be proclaimed publicly.  The protection of life will not be achieved if the activities of the Church and the pro-life movement are directed only toward those who voluntarily seek out the message.  We need to stir the attention of the public to these issues whether they want to hear about them or not.

 A sign as public and visible as the proposed Arch and Shrine will certainly serve this purpose, as well as many other noble purposes.

As stated by Advisory Board Member Fr. Matthew Habiger, O.S.B., Ph. D., past president and current Director of Human Life International (http://www.hli.org/), this great Project is “truly in keeping with the great hopes of the new millennium.”  As further stated by Fr. Habiger, The Arch of Triumph and Holy Innocents Shrine will “do much to draw public attention to the evil of abortion,” and

[I]t would also demonstrate our great trust in Mary’s help to overcome this great evil. It would inspire others to become part of the pro-life movement.

Advisory Board member Professor Mark I. Miravalle, S.T.D., International President of Vox Populi Mariae Mediatrici (http://www.voxpopuli.org/), notes that this great Project

[n]ot only . . . blend[s] two critical spiritual themes so relevant for our time, that is the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the end of the scourge of abortion, but also offers a concrete sign and spiritual pilgrimage place for the necessary prayer for these two great intentions.

The International Shrine of the Holy Innocents and the golden Arch of Triumph together will advance the Culture of Life's inevitable triumph over the false, materialistic philosophies of this age that too readily thinks to "solve" problems through aggressive wars, genocide, oppression, discrimination, and abortions.  Through our faith we know, and the world must learn, that truly effective solutions for problems and conflicts, grounded in faith, love, and deep respect for human life and the dignity of the individual, often require mutual or even unilateral forbearance and self-sacrifice, so anathematic to the current Culture of Death and the cult of self on which it is based.

Measuring 700 feet to the top of the golden cross that will surmount it (seven being the mystical number of perfection), the Arch of Triumph will be truly a world-class shrine, attracting annually millions of both Christian pilgrims and ordinary tourists from around the world.  It will replace the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, as the world's tallest monument (Gateway Arch is 630 feet tall).

Over 4,000,000 people annually visit the Gateway Arch, and similar numbers are drawn to major North American Catholic shrines such as the Oratory of St. Joseph in Montreal, and the Basilica of St. Anne de Beaupre, near Quebec City.  Over 1,000,000 people annually actually ascend the Gateway Arch merely to take in the majestic view, standing two to five hours in line to do so.  The unique spiritual attraction, and the excelling beauty of Mary's Arch and the Holy Innocents Shrine, certainly require planning for comparable or even greater numbers. 

The Arch of Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the International Shrine of the Holy Innocents, through their rapid attraction of national, and even global attention, will quickly equal or surpass the renown -- and therefore, the potential pastoral utility -- of any other Catholic shrine, in the world.  With God's sustaining help, the Arch and Shrine will inspire thousands, growing to millions of individuals to yearn for God, and for renewal of their spiritual lives.  Further, it is a major goal of this Project to host permanent displays of other Catholic shrines, encouraging visitors to avail themselves also of the unique spiritual benefits that every great shrine holds for its pilgrims.

By serving thus as a global signal call to conversion and repentance, the Arch of Triumph and the Holy Innocents Shrine will invaluably contribute to the "New Springtime" of the Church, ardently hailed by Pope John Paul II, while also marking and symbolizing the entry of the Church and the world into a new period of history.   

Ideally, it will be possible to say of Mary's Arch of Triumph, as its great architect Eero Saarinen had said of the Gateway Arch, that it is built to last 1,000 years -- Pope John Paul II having entrusted the world on October 8, 2000, to Our Lady for the next millennium (see The Mary Page).  

The ambitions of this Project are surely great; but the utter worldliness and sordidness of modern public life demand great ambition, born of great inspiration, and fueled by that confidence and determination which prayerful contemplation of God's works and of His Holy Word encourages, for their effective countering with weapons of the Spirit.  For like all great Christian art and architecture throughout the world and in all times, the Arch of Mary's glorious Triumph, and the Holy Innocents Shrine, are dedicated utterly to God as physical weapons in the spiritual battle for the souls of mankind.

II. THE LOCATION

In order may be some brief words responding to the anticipated question, why Lake Erie's east shore, why Buffalo?  The first response is another question, If not here, where?  The Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, prophesied by Herself at Fatima in 1917 as following upon the upheavals of the 20^th Century and ushering in “an era of peace,” which has come to be called The Reign of the Two Hearts, will occur and indeed is occurring everywhere throughout the world, and not at any particular place.  If a more "connected" location could be identified, one might think perhaps of Jerusalem, or Rome.  But this is an American project, and there is certainly no more "connected" locale, anywhere on these shores.

The proposed Site itself, although encumbered now by abandoned grain elevators, is naturally beautiful and is singularly apt for dedication as the site of a sacred shrine, being separated from the bustle of the city by a river, while being also on the shore of a vast and beautiful lake.  There will be an awe-inspiring view from the Arch's great height also of southern Ontario, the Niagara River and the International Peace Bridge, and the rolling hills of southern Erie County.  On a clear day one will see the mist rising from Niagara Falls with the unaided eye, 20 miles to the north, illumined at night by rainbow floodlights, and even Toronto's CN Tower, the world's tallest free-standing structure (1,815 feet).

Buffalo, a strongly Catholic city (over 60%), is unquestionably as appropriate or more so for this Project's location, as any other American city.  Known from her early days of dominance in the flour trade as The Queen City of the Great Lakes (now shortened to The Queen City -- conveniently!), Buffalo is strategically situated within a day's drive of 60% of America's population, even New York City being only 8-9 hours away by car.  Buffalo is herself "size appropriate," for in larger cities the Arch of Triumph would be dwarfed by taller buildings; Buffalo's tallest is 530 feet high.

The Site is also just an hour's drive, across the Peace Bridge and on the Queen Elizabeth Way, from Toronto, Ontario, population 4,750,000.  Much closer still are the Ontario cities of Hamilton (pop. 671,000) and St. Catherine's (pop. 390,000).  All three cities have vibrant Catholic communities; the province of Ontario, approaching 12,000,000 souls, is about 42% Catholic.  And again, the Arch and Shrine will be highly visible from the Canadian shore, supporting their international significance in the most concrete way.

Further contributing to the "rightness" of this location and to the immense attraction that the Arch and Holy Innocents Shrine will exert in themselves, there is, first, the above-noted proximity to that natural wonder of the world, Niagara Falls, a mere 20 minutes’ drive away.  Niagara Falls, Ontario, boasts 12,000,000 annual visitors, and a major, state-funded effort to revitalize tourism on the Falls’ American side is just now beginning.  Many tourists who have traveled see Niagara Falls, will certainly add the Arch of Triumph and the Holy Innocents Shrine to their itinerary.

Second, and likely to have increased significance soon, is the close proximity of Lackawanna, New York, just a few minutes away.  There, Buffalo-born Venerable Father Nelson Baker lived and worked, building an orphanage, a hospital, and -- starting in 1921 at the age of 80 -- a glorious basilica, all dedicated to Our Lady of Victory, to whom Father Baker had a profound, lifelong devotion. 

The white marble Our Lady of Victory Basilica and National Shrine, declared by L'Osservatore Romano on its completion in 1925 to be "one of the most superb shrines the American Church possesses," will be an inspiring sight from The Arch of Triumph, with its massive green copper dome, and four trumpet-blowing angels faced to the four winds.  Visitors to the Arch of Triumph and Holy Innocents Shrine will certainly tour also the Basilica of Our Lady of Victory, and vice versa.

While the Project Site's demographics and "geographics" are excellent, one could expand also upon its excellent spiritual, symbolical "poetics," so to speak.  It will stand at the source of the great river that produces Niagara Falls, called "the Voice of God" by the Native Americans.  It is on the bank of a river and in a city both named Buffalo, after an animal the Plains Indians called "Gift of the Great Spirit."  For sustaining the lives of those peoples, and the utility of its parts, the buffalo, a majestic animal and Buffalo's "totem," possesses a symbolic dimension similar to the pelican, used in Church art to represent Christ for its imagined feeding of its young, with its own flesh and blood.  Indeed, whether by coincidence or by a higher design, the pelican wounding its breast is the center of the great rose window above the main altar in Buffalo’s historic St. Joseph’s Cathedral, which has been beautifully refurbished by Most Reverend Henry J. Mansell, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo.  The Cathedral’s many attractions include a stained glass triptych of Christ’s birth, death and resurrection, a gift from the King of Bavaria that won a world first prize in 1854, and a lovely Lady Chapel with 10 unique stained glass windows of life-sized angels bearing the implements of Christ’s passion, and a newly added Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Canadian visitors will cross the Niagara River on the International Peace Bridge in Buffalo, or on the Rainbow (biblical symbol of peace) Bridge in Niagara Falls.  Canadians will travel on the QEW, Queen Elizabeth Way, echoing the Visitation, when Elizabeth (herself surely a Queen in the reign of God), paid Mary homage as the Mother of her Lord.  As already noted, Buffalo enjoys the nickname, The Queen City.  Interestingly, the central figure of the bas-relief sculptural frieze above the main entrance of Buffalo City Hall, a personification of The Queen City, is modeled after Michelangelo’s Prophet Isaiah on the Sistine Chapel ceiling; and, her foot rests upon the head of a serpent as does Mary’s foot, on the Miraculous Medal given to St. Catherine Laboure in 1830 (see St. Catherine Laboure and the Miraculous Medal)(cf. Genesis 3:15).  Interesting, too, in this connection is that “Guadalupe” translates, “Crusher of the Stone Serpent,” and that Mary’s apparition in that personage to Blessed Juan Diego in Mexico City, in 1531, hastened the end of native worship of a stone serpent deity.

Most compelling, perhaps, is the mystery of Venerable Father Baker's already mentioned lifelong devotion to Our Lady of Victory, the Victory referred to being of course, the Triumph of Her Immaculate Heart.  Might time reveal that his having lived his holy life and built the Basilica of Our Lady of Victory, so near the site of the great Golden Arch that will hail and commemorate that Triumph, is not mere chance?

Mention must also be made, that the Arch of Triumph and Holy Innocents Shrine will stand on ground in a region made hallow, not alone by Venerable Father Nelson Baker's life, but also by the traversings, labors and sacrifices of the glorious Jesuit Martyrs of North America.  Indeed, Buffalo is situated between two awesome and inspiring shrines dedicated to those great saints, one at Auriesville towards Albany, New York, the other in Midland, Ontario. 

The proposed Site itself has strong positive features.  A strip of land one-half mile long and 470 feet at its widest, it will have verdant expanses of lawn and many open-air spots suited for rest, reflection and prayer.  There is land enough on which to build, eventually, a conference center and retreat house or other complementary facility.  Between the Site and Lake Erie is unimproved public land, including an unused beach that may be publicly developed with facilities that will enhance the attraction of the Arch and Shrine.

To the northeast is a Coast Guard station with an historic lighthouse at the tip of the peninsula, pointing to Mary's role as the Star of the Sea, Stella Maris, a sure guide for wave-tossed pilgrims.  The station includes a beautiful, under-used public park with picnic areas.  Immediately to the south along the lakeshore are large tracts of empty land held by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, which would be valuable for parking (with shuttle buses or light trains to the site), and eventually may be locations for many enhancing public amenities.  The NFTA tracts are under consideration for the Project Site itself, and would offer certain advantages of accessibility and size.

Impressive views of the Arch and Shrine will appear at considerable distances on all the major approaches to downtown Buffalo, including the New York State Thruway spur (Route 190), which follows the Niagara River into downtown, and passes quite near the Site.  A most dramatic view will greet travelers on our Skyway, New York Route 5, which will pass within a few hundred feet of the Arch and Shrine, at a height of about 100 feet.  Skyway travelers will view the statue of Our Lady of Victory (reconfigured somewhat from Father Baker's statue), at just above their own height.

III. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Almost needless to say, any description of such significant architectural and artistic undertakings, even before the first plans are drawn, is unavoidably tentative.  Specific details and ideas in what follows may well be revisited and revised over time, and as events unfold.

 IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

The monumental, triumphal arch is an ancient architectural device, frequently used in Roman times (e.g., the arches of Augustus, Titus, Septimius Severus, Constantine), and used by the French to commemorate Napoleon's victories (L'Arc de Triomphe).  The Gateway Arch, that national public monument in St. Louis, Missouri, is a triumphal arch, commemorating America's fulfillment of its "manifest destiny" to expand westward to the Pacific.  Thus an arch need not commemorate only military triumphs, although there was a military aspect to America's westward expansion.  Nor is a "military" aspect lacking in the Church's passage from Church Militant in the present age, to Church Triumphant in the age to come.

Indeed, there exists no other architectural construct besides the monumental arch, which is associated specifically with triumphal historic occurrences.  It would therefore seem more than acceptable and appropriate, but even necessary and inevitable that the grandest triumphal arch ever constructed be built to commemorate the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which is the glorious triumph also of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and of His Holy Cross.

The architectural goal, if impossible to realize fully, is to create a truly fitting tribute to the Queen of Queens, commemorating the Triumph of Her Immaculate Heart predicted by Herself at Fatima in 1917, which is believed to be already in our midst by faith, and will be fully realized with the coming inception of the Reign of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, and the Era of Peace Mary predicted also at Fatima.

The spiritual goals of the Arch of Triumph, outlined in the Introduction of this Prospectus, will be promoted by the presence of three chapels:  Chapel of the Sacred Heart in the Arch's north leg, Chapel of the Immaculate Heart in the south leg, and Chapel of the Triumph in the Arch's peak.  It is to be hoped that Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration will be maintained, in all three chapels.

It is conceived that the Arch of Triumph will have a heavenward-pointing Gothic-style peak, rather than a rounded top like the Gateway Arch, which will be surmounted by a golden cross.  The Arch will have a gleaming gold, or hammered gold finish.  Its frame will be rounded rather than angular like the Gateway Arch, as more fitting for femininity of Mary.  The Arch's lower portions will be engraved, or embossed in some manner, with the Immaculate Heart (south base), the Sacred Heart (north base), and other iconography, such as emblems of Mary recited in the great Litany of Loreto (Gate of Heaven, Mystical Rose, Ark of the Covenant, House of Gold, Tower of Ivory)(see Litany of The Blessed Virgin Mary).  The south base may bear the word FIDES (Faith), and the north base, OPERA (Works), the "twin pillars" of salvation.

The upper part of the Arch's legs will show the 12 stars of the crown of the Woman Clothed With the Sun (Rev. 12:1).  The Arch's inner contour should resemble or suggest the letter M, understated but recognizable.  A golden cross will top this “M” as noted, so that seen as a whole the Arch will be an architectural rendering of the reverse side of the Miraculous Medal.  The arch part of the Arch, between the tops of its legs, will resemble a beautiful golden crown or tiara, and may be embossed with the crowns of Jesus and Mary, at its summit.

Needless to say, great artistic care will be taken to ensure an effect that is thoroughly graceful, tasteful and appealing, which will require that details of ornamentation be subtle relative to the grandeur of the large construct.

The legs will be sufficiently large, perhaps 100 or more feet in diameter, to accommodate not only the Chapels of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts, but also various facilities including certainly confessionals, and perhaps also a museum or gallery, a book/gift shop, and a refreshment area.  It may be possible to house administrative offices and perhaps caretaker or retreat quarters, on upper floors within the Arch's legs.

There will certainly be ample room made for other Catholic organizations to promote, with permanent displays, other shrines and pilgrimage destinations throughout the world, but especially in North America.  As stated, a major goal will be to enrich the spiritual lives of visitors, by encouraging pilgrimages to other shrines and holy places.

The bases, perhaps 500 feet apart, will be either straight or only slightly curved as they ascend at perhaps 70-75 degree angles, so as to allow (it is hoped) the use of near-conventional elevators, hoisted by below-grade motors, and avoid any need to employ a complex and uncomfortable capsule transport system, as was necessitated by the inconstant curving of the Gateway Arch's legs.

Special efforts will be made to decrease waiting time from the discouraging 2-5 hour wait at the Gateway Arch.  Thus, the Arch of Triumph should have a larger observation platform (below the Chapel of the Triumph) than the Gateway Arch, which holds 200, and the elevators (which may be bi-level) should deliver and remove visitors at a faster rate.  Ideally, waiting in line will be eliminated by a paging system that allows visitors to see other attractions until their elevators depart.  Visitors will be allowed to stay on the observation platform as long as they want within reason, and to make prayerful visits to the Chapel of the Triumph located above in the peak (which likely will be accessed by stairs).  It is expected that a voluntary fee to ascend the Arch must be asked, commensurate with fees paid at comparable attractions; however, every effort will be made to permit free or reduced-fee access to those unable to pay the suggested donation.

It may be possible to incorporate golden-mirrored glass in the Arch's legs, so that elevator passengers may enjoy the breathtaking experience of seeing the landscape recede as they rise swiftly heavenward.  If so, this will be another great improvement over the Gateway Arch's metal-enclosed transit system.

The observation area, due to the inclines of the sides of the Arch's gothic peak, likely will consist of large, stepped platforms.  The ceiling and walls will be ornamented with Catholic art, including probably Mary's titles from the Litany of Loreto, and a variety of excellent spiritual music and vocal works will play softly.  All will combine with inspiring views of awesome natural beauty through ample windows, to make a visit to the top of the Arch a unique and powerful spiritual experience.

THE INTERNATIONAL SHRINE

OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS

The Catholic Church, and Christians generally, are increasingly recognizing the onslaught of worldwide abortion as paralleling Herod's slaughter of innocent children and babies, after the magi failed to direct him to the Christ Child (see Catholic Encyclopedia entry for Holy Innocents, go to http://www.newadvent.org/).   Through Herod Satan attempted futilely to prevent Christ's First Coming, by killing Him in his infancy.  By encouraging mass elective abortions, and the creation of a permissive culture of abortion, he tries vainly now to frustrate Christ's Second Coming, even by killing Innocence itself and thereby rendering many hearts incapable of receiving Him.

It is fitting and it is time, for a glorious shrine to memorialize this quasi-martyrdom of abortion's innocent, unborn victims.  The Holy Innocents Shrine is conceived of also as a place of spiritual healing, for abortion's many millions of living victims.  Project Advisory Board member, Rev. Albert G. Roux, National Director of The Marian Movement of Priests (http://www.mmp-usa.net/), has stated well the hope that inspires the Holy Innocents Shrine:

I believe it will be a silent but powerful witness to the world that we in America stand up for the lives of our unborn little brothers and sisters.  May this Arch of Triumph of the Immaculate Heart be a sure sign of hope for all these little ones whose lives are in the balance and for those who come to their defense!

As presently seen the International Shrine of the Holy Innocents, centered directly beneath the apex of the Arch of Triumph, will be a two-tier structure.  At the base, a stonework and glass enclosure, possibly including a chapel, but in any event containing theme-consistent artwork, statuary (certainly an Infant of Prague), devotional candles, and other usual accoutrements of a wayside shrine.  The clear glass-enclosed front of this first level will face toward the city, and rise to a height of approximately 75 to 100 feet with a front perhaps 150 to 200 feet across.

The rear wall of the first level, perhaps 75 feet long, will abut the foundation of a white marble column, that will rise to 130 feet above grade, and will be finished with a golden capital on which will stand a white marble statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, holding aloft the Christ Child as the Prince of Peace; both may wear crowns of gold.  His right arm will be upraised and extending a golden olive branch.  His left arm will be lowered and held slightly away from His torso, in His left hand a golden scepter, the Scepter of Judah, signifying His triumphant reign as Prince of Peace.  The statues of Father Baker's Patroness, Our Lady of Victory, of Our Lady of the Visitation, and of the Virgin of Alsace by Antoine Bourdel, which has stood for decades at the north portico of Buffalo's Albright-Knox Art Gallery, will be inspirations for this statue.

               

The rear (possibly altar) wall of the Holy Innocents Shrine will be adorned, to a height of 30 to 40 feet, by a mural depicting the Slaughter of the Holy Innocents.  Whether this important work will be neo-classical and realistic, or as abstract and interpretive as Picasso's Guernica, or somewhere in between, is an open question that may be decided through a national or international competition.

Above the mural this wall will be gold, and will feature a large, possibly 15 to 20-foot-tall mural replica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and perhaps over Her, the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove. Censer-swinging angels may embellish the upper part of this wall, one to the left, and one to the right of Our Lady.  The north and south walls of the Innocents Shrine will project outward from the rear wall at angles of perhaps 130 degrees, and will feature large stained-glass windows, depicting the Annunciation on the south wall, and on the north wall the Coronation.

The front of the Holy Innocents Shrine may be enclosed by retractable clear glass, which can be withdrawn in good weather so that the Shrine may be used for concerts and other religious festivities and events.  A lush green lawn will be maintained for this purpose, and the entire Site's grounds will be mostly green lawn, with walkways, rest stops and flowerbeds.

Immediately above the roof and around the base of the above-described white marble column, white marble putti, babies, representing the Holy Innocents including the innocent victims of abortion, will ascend upon billowing clouds upwards between 20 to 40 feet.  They will be in joyous postures, and many of their faces and arms will be upraised and directed toward Mary and the Infant Prince of Peace atop the column.  Others will look outward and some downward toward viewers with engaging gaze, drawing us into their ascension to the heavenly sphere.

Directly behind the Shrine of the Holy Innocents, in the open and facing Lake Erie, will be another center of devotion, a golden, or possibly white marble, large statuary grouping of the Holy Family.  It will feature St. Joseph in his glorious role as Protector of the Holy Family, and Guardian of the Redeemer.  The Flight into Egypt, which of course relates immediately to the Slaughter of the Holy Innocents, is the perfect theme for this grouping.

IV. CONCLUSION

It is a major and immediate goal of this great Project, to advance the pro-life, evangelistic, educational and charitable endeavors of other Catholic organizations to the maximum possible extent, promoting their shrines and activities, and, when the Arch of Triumph and Holy Innocents Shrine become operational, co-hosting conferences and other events such as liturgical celebrations, concerts and retreats.

It is to be expected, especially if voluntary funding for this Project is sufficient, that the large volume of visitors will generate revenues above the costs of maintenance and administration (which will always be by a non-profit corporation), and other costs.  All such excess revenues will be channeled into the worthy activities of other Catholic organizations.  Mary's Triumphal Arch and the Holy Innocents Shrine will become quickly a self-replenishing Foundation, promoting the Faith and helping support God's servants throughout the world, both financially and by publicizing their labors of love.