Dave and Kathy Maurer

Home Parish: St. Mary of Sorrows, Fairfax, VA

Dave was born and raised on Long Island in a Catholic home. I received my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in naval architecture and marine engineering in 1979 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). I moved to Virginia in 1979. I am presently the Chief Naval Architect of the Washington Office of Gryphon Technologies.

Kathy is a native of Northern Virginia (well, she was conceived here, born in Berkeley, CA while her father was attending graduate school, and returned before the age of one). I met Kathy when she was interning with my company during her senior year at Emory and Henry College in southwest Virginia. While at Emory and Henry, she joined the Methodist Church. As things grew more serious in our relationship, Kathy’s insistence on being open about our faith challenged me to first articulate, and then to explain why I wanted to stay connected to my Catholic faith. This began a shared journey of learning and growing ever more deeply committed to following Christ.

We were married in July 1983 and Kathy entered the Church the following Easter. We have six children: Anna, Gerard, Susie, Sarah, Peter, and Mary Rose. We have home schooled all of them from the time Anna entered 1st grade. Anna graduated with honors from George Mason University in May 2008. Gerard is at the Franciscan University in Steubenville. Susie is completing an associate’s degree and certification in American Sign Language interpreting and will pursue a bachelor’s degree in communication at George Mason. Sarah is in 11th grade, Peter is in 9th grade, and Mary Rose is in 6th grade.

We have been active in Catholic Engaged Encounter, Cursillo, and in many roles at our parish of Saint Mary of Sorrows. We provided for the catechism of our children at Saint Mary’s in the Family Group program, meeting in the homes with several other families and sharing the teaching. I have also taught seventh and eighth grade Confirmation classes at the parish. We are also both extraordinary minister of Holy Communion and are active with the parish youth ministry. I am a volunteer contractor for the Diocesan Work Camp. Kathy and I have a keen interest in vocations; we are charter members and have served as officers of the Serra Club of Arlington.