Ave Maria

Ava Maria is the newest community with a University. It has been in the planning stages for quite a while and now is actually coming together very nicely. In the center by the University is the Oratory (a building set apart for private prayer)and it is surrounded by the La Piazza which has shops, which is really nice because one can walk and enjoy the 17,000 acres of preserved ground. There is a small water park, tennis courts, schools, and several housing developments, golf course, etc. I was impressed. I particularly liked the homes with a front porch. The town was a collaboration of Tom Monaghan, founder of Domino's Pizza and chairman of the Ave Maria Foundation, dreamed of creating the first major Catholic university in the United States in more than 40 years and the Barron Collier Companies.
The church is made of steel and has one a national award for design. It is made up of 1,270 tons most of steel which is exposed inside and outside the building! It really is amazing! It cost 24 million!!! The 65 foot crucifix is still in the making will be to the left of the church will be made of red tinted glass and aluminium! While we were walking around the clouds came in and big gusts of winds whipped through knocking over chairs at The Bean. Then lightning and downpours as we left. So much for the Sunshine State!