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Fr. Eric Hollas Honored by the Gift of a Heritage Edition to the Order of Malta
Four families gifted a Heritage Edition to the Order of Malta in honor of Fr. Eric Hollas’ decades of service to the Order and to The Saint John’s Bible.
Washington, D.C. – On the morning of September 26, 2025, St. Ann Catholic Church in Washington, D.C. welcomed a Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible to its parish.
Gifted to the Subpriory of Our Lady of Lourdes, a subpriory within the Order of Malta, a Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible is to be housed and displayed at St. Ann Catholic Church under the stewardship of Rev. Msgr. James D. Watkins, Pastor of St. Ann Church and Chief Chaplain of the Subpriory.
The Saint John's Bible lays open to an illumination of the nativity, featuring a swath of gold and animalsPresided over by Cardinal Robert W. McElroy, St. Ann consists of more than 800 families and boasts extensive spiritual programming for all ages. The church intends to use the Heritage Edition to bolster its already strong engagement.
“We are a very active church, and have a lot of visitors coming in and out,” said Natalie Plumb Lucey, Director of Communications and Youth Ministry at St. Ann. “The Heritage Edition will be a great tool, not only for education and ministry within the Church, but for encouraging new people to visit our community as well. Our parish looks forward to welcoming the people that come to see it.”
According to Msgr. Watkins, a formal event is in the works in which ecumenical leadership from the local area will be invited to experience the Heritage Edition together. The goal is for Presbyterian, Baptist, Anglican, Episcopalian, Jewish and more religious groups to feel welcomed into ecumenical and interfaith dialogue and community building at St. Ann.
St. Ann is one of four locations where an edition of The Saint John’s Bible lives in the nation’s capital. It is one of the most publicly accessible of all the editions in the area. Knowing this, the Church is constructing a unique permanent display for the Heritage Edition volumes. While construction is underway, the volumes remain on public display.
“The presence of The Saint John’s Bible at St. Ann is meant not only to honor Fr. Eric Hollas, one of its early champions, but also to inspire people of all ages and faith traditions,” said Lucey. “Visitors, schoolchildren, and faith leaders alike will have the chance to encounter this extraordinary sacred art up close—sparking imagination, prayer, and unity across Christian communities. What a blessing to house this interfaith gem.”
Internally, St. Ann plans to incorporate the Heritage Edition into adult faith formation, youth Sunday school, tours of the Church, and educational seminars.
“Using the illuminated script as a device for promoting our liturgies ties in beautifully with the Bible and Catholic worship,” said Msgr. Watkins, who often uses the Heritage Edition to reflect on the Word before or after Mass. “It’s always a joy to pass by the chapel, and to see people after Mass kneeling by the volumes, spending time with the Word.”
Four families with close ties to Hollas and strong engagement with the Order of Malta made this gift with the intent to honor and celebrate Fr. Eric Hollas, chaplain in the American Association of the Order of Malta, Prior of Saint John’s Abbey, and Deputy to the President for Advancement at Saint John’s University. (Click here to read a full feature about Fr. Hollas.)
“I was stunned when I learned of the dedication,” said Fr. Hollas. “These are all wonderful people, and I count them as good friends. This gift is deeply personal, and I feel very honored and grateful that they’ve recognized my service within The Order.”
“Fr. Eric Hollas is, in my estimation, the most outstanding Chaplain we have in the Order,” said Msgr. Watkins. “So, it is a very special privilege for us to house this Heritage Edition, dedicated in his honor, here at St. Ann.”
The Saint John’s Bible: Ignite the Spiritual Imagination
To learn more about The Saint John’s Bible at St. Ann, visit stanndc.org.
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