Cardinal, coach, Clinton help Jerry Lundergan dedicate spiritual gardens in Maysville 

MAYSVILLE — Jerry Lundergan capped off his lifelong love affair with the Catholic church by presenting it with a unique religious tourism destination Wednesday in his Northeastern Kentucky hometown.

A former president, a former governor, a cardinal and a national championship coach were there for the dedication.

The guest list included former President Bill Clinton; former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who was chair of the Democratic National Committee; Coach John Calipari, formerly of the University of Kentucky men’s basketball program and currently coaching at Arkansas; and Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York.

Lundergan is a former state representative and chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party who succeeded in the catering business and founded a large-scale emergency disaster services company.

At this week’s ceremonies, he turned over to the Catholic Diocese of Covington a spectacular religious display known as the Gardens at St. Patrick’s. The Diocese will lease the property for 99 years to a nonprofit independent board consisting of three members of the Lundergan family and two members of the local St. Patrick’s Parish.

Lundergan and his wife, Charlotte Case Lundergan, who also is from Maysville, developed about six acres at the entrance of St. Patrick Cemetery owned by the diocese in historic Old Washington with their five daughters and their families. The garden replicates the Garden of Gethsemane near Jerusalem where the New Testament says Jesus prayed the night before his crucifixion.

It contains 15 Stations of the Cross, or Way of the Cross of Jesus, with life-size bronze sculptures from Italy, a visitors center displaying works of art, and a 70-foot cross. The last station represents the Ascension of Christ into heaven 40 days after his resurrection.

Lundergan said at the Wednesday ceremonies that he hopes visitors from all faiths and backgrounds throughout the world will come there to reflect and pray. He said the board will soon decide on a small admission fee — with discounts to senior citizens and students —- to support the school and cemetery and help with maintenance of the Gardens. The public grand opening will be May 12.

Good Friday services will be livestreamed from the Gardens at 6 p.m. Friday, April 3, and Easter sunrise service at 8 a.m. Sunday on Facebook and at gardensatstpatricks.org.

Lundergan spoke at a noon endowment luncheon Wednesday at the Limestone Center in Maysville, the former home of the Tom Browning  Boys Club that Lundergan transformed into a banquet hall.

He  thanked all who have supported the Gardens and in a personal moment spoke about the power of redemption, saying it comes from faith, family and friends.  

“These Gardens are more than sand and stone,” he said. “They tell the story of redemption. What matters to me is how we carry the cross.”

No one is beyond redemption, said Lundergan, who was convicted in 2018 of illegally contributing to the 2014 U.S. Senate campaign of his daughter, former Kentucky Secretary of State Allison Lundegan Grimes. In January 2025, President Joe Biden issued Lundergan a pardon, restoring all his rights. 

Cardinal Dolan told the crowd of several hundred at the luncheon of his gratitude to the Lundergans and that the occasion was most appropriate, especially during Holy Week.

He joked about the guest list, saying that a president of the United States and a Catholic cardinal “are not used to being shown up by a coach.” Lundergan and Calipari have been friends since the coach’s days at UK.  They attended mass regularly at Christ the King Church in Lexington. Lundergan and Clinton have been friends since 1985. Lundergan said Cardinal Dolan and he are “new friends.” 

Also present at the luncheon were Rocky Adkins, a former state legislator from Elliott County who now is special advisor to Gov. Andy Beshear and is a likely candidate for governor next year; former House Speaker Greg Stumbo; former state Sen. Ed Worley of Lexington; former state Rep. Mike Denham of Maysville; longtime Democratic consultant Dale Emmons of Richmond; and Bishop John Iffert of the Diocese of Covington.

Several local officials also were in attendance as well as family and friends.

Cardinal Dolan, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony three hours later, urged anyone who believes God is distant to “come to Maysville” and look into the eyes of the sculptures of Christ at the Gardens.

The day after the ceremonies, Lundergan was still excited. 

“I hope all this will be meaningful,” he said.

Lundergan said the church has been meaningful to him.  He said he was baptized as a baby at St. Patrick Church, received his confirmation and first communion there, attended its school and was married there.

“And most likely someday my funeral will be there and I will be buried at the cemetery. I am very thankful.”