By Michael F. Flach
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 11/13/03)

St. Michael Parish in Annandale concluded its yearlong 50^th anniversary celebration on Nov. 9 with Mass celebrated by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde and a visit by its founding pastor, Msgr. Thomas P. Scannell.

The parish’s original anniversary celebration was postponed in September because of Hurricane Isabel, which knocked out power and water in the Annandale area.

Father Jerome R. Daly, pastor, and parochial vicars Fathers Edwin R. Perez and John De Celles concelebrated the Mass with the bishop. Afterward, the bishop blessed a plaque commemorating Msgr. Scannell’s contribution to the parish, that has had only three pastors in its history. Msgr. Edward P. Browne bridged the gap between Msgr. Scannell and Father Daly.

During a reception following Mass, Msgr. Scannell, a priest for 66 years, had a chance to visit many "old friends" from his 33 years at the Annandale parish. He recalled with humor and wit the innovations he attempted, including a circular church design, the perpetual adoration chapel and a unique parking arrangement for parish functions.

In his homily, Bishop Loverde noted that Nov. 9 is also the anniversary of the Lateran Basilica in Rome, "the first Christian basilica in history and the mother of every church building in the world." The bishop pointed out that the Lateran Basilica is the cathedral of the pope, who is the Bishop of Rome and the Universal Pastor of the Church.

"An inscription, which greets every pilgrim entering the Lateran Basilica, proclaims the meaning and significance of that church: ‘The most holy church of the Lateran, the mother and head of all the churches of the city and of the world.’

"As members of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, we join one another in thanking God for the grace to belong to the Church, which Christ founded and for His call to each of us to be holy," Bishop Loverde said.

"We celebrate the anniversary of St. Michael Parish to give thanks to God for the countless blessings given here these past 50 years, to recall more deeply who we are as members of the Church and to recommit ourselves to living more faithfully as the Body of Christ made visible and tangible by this local expression of Church: the parish," he said.

"On this day of celebration and rejoicing, how can we not give thanks over and over again for the seed planted here in Annandale in 1953, the seed of the newly established parish of St. Michael. This seed was planted and intended to grow in this particular place: Annandale, and among this particular people linked together by their Roman Catholic faith and tradition."

The bishop also recognized and gave thanks for the large number of religious vocations that have originated at St. Michael Parish, as well as the many blessings provided by the parish’s perpetual adoration chapel.