A marble statue of the Holy Family, crafted in Italy, now stands in front of Holy Family School in Great Bend.

The children of Leroy and Arlene Karlin donated the statue to St. Patrick Parish as a memorial. The children are Mary Waite, Susan Broeckelman, Jerry Karlin, Jean Scarfino and Joe Karlin.

“Our parents were active parishioners at St. Patrick’s for over 60 years,” Waite said. “Fr. Kola suggested the Holy Family statue as a memorial, since the parish school is named Holy Family Catholic School, yet there is nothing on the outside of the school denoting the namesake of the Holy Family besides the sign. We five children attended and graduated from the school at that location, at which time was called St. Patrick’s Catholic School, and the idea of a memorial statue to the school appealed to us.”

The school’s name was changed when St. Rose School was closed and its students combined with St. Patrick’s School to become Holy Family School.

Holy Family School Principal Debbie Hagans said the statue, which weighs 1,600 pounds, arrived in late September and was blessed by Bishop John Brungardt on Oct. 1.