St. Agnes Parish Begins New Era

By Alfonso Aguilar
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 11/21/02)

When Msgr. James W. McMurtrie was installed pastor of St. Agnes Parish in Arlington he told parishioners that some changes would take place and emphasized: "We will always let you know why. I would be responsible to you and for you."

In the special Mass officiated this summer by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde, the new pastor also encouraged parishioners to bring their friends back to the parish, where he was a resident priest in the 70s.

Msgr. McMurtrie was born in 1936 and was ordained in 1962. Among other positions, Msgr. McMurtrie was principal of Bishop O’Connell High School; pastor of St. Louis Parish in Alexandria and of Holy Spirit Parish in Annandale; member of numerous diocesan organizations and administrator of the Arlington Diocese before Bishop Loverde was named its third bishop.

Msgr. McMurtrie’s long and rich religious life also includes the foundation of St. Theresa Parish in Ashburn in 1991. "I was allowed to name it after my mother," remembered the pastor.

In addition to being the pastor of St. Agnes, Msgr. McMurtrie is currently episcopal vicar for parish development in the diocese and a diocesan consultor.

The St. Agnes Crusader, a new publication project of St. Agnes School, wrote in its first issue that "people of St. Agnes turned out in numbers to install their new pastor. With the exception of Msgr. Thomas P. Scannell, the full contingent of St. Agnes clergy were in attendance." Msgr. Scannell is 93 years old.

Among others present were retired Msgr. John T. Cilinski, Deacon William J. Donovan and Father Christopher Pollard, who also was installed parochial vicar during the same Mass.

"Parishioners have expressed their eagerness to work with the new pastor," continued the school’s bulletin. "Along with many years of experience, Msgr. McMurtrie brings a desire to serve, a deep love of Catholic education, and a strong devotion to the Washington Redskins."

"I’ve been a season ticket holder for 27 years," said Msgr. McMurtrie, who wears the official Resdskins sweater and is surrounded by very visible memorabilia of the team in one of his two offices, this one located in the new remodeled rectory.

"Do you mind?" he asked while doing what seems to be accounting, continuing calmly and with confidence.

"This is really a great parish, a very caring parish, a wonderful parish," he said. "It is already a good parish. I feel proud of it. It doesn’t need to be reinvented."

St. Agnes Parish began as a mission of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Arlington almost 100 years ago. In the early 1920 it was necessary to seek a new property to attend the needs of a growing community. Thanks to the generosity of Admiral A.W. Weaver, three lots were bought to build a new mission, whose name was changed to St. Agnes in honor of Admiral Weaver’s sibling, a Sister of Charity of St. Vincent DePaul, whose religious name was Agnes.

In 1936, the mission was declared an independent parish of the then-Richmond Diocese.

Its first pastor was Edward W. Johnson. Father Johnson remained pastor until he was called to active duty in World War II in 1942. This year the church began a new expansion. In 1946, the convent was built, and St. Agnes School opened in 1946 under the administration of the Sisters of Notre Dame. That first year, the school enrolled 200 students. There are currently 360 students and 28 teachers. Dr. Carol Stabile has been the principal for the last three years.

In the late 1950, the parish had 1,500 families. New construction projects were under consideration. Finally, in 1966, the new St. Agnes Church was reborn as it looks today, with a tall, white tower at the center of the church, and above the tower a cross.

In a special publication of the 50th anniversary of the church (1936-1986) many pictures remember the blessing and dedication of the church. Father Bernard Moore was the pastor.

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary in 1986, then-Arlington Bishop John R. Keating wrote: "For fifty years priests and people at Saint Agnes have cooperated in caring pastorally for the faithful of the community. Only the Lord himself knows how many persons have been touched by the pastoral service provided by Saint Agnes."

Msgr. McMurtrie also mentioned this characteristic of the parish’s history. The Brother Dennis Program, initiated in the ‘60s to aid needy missions in this country and abroad "continues to be one of our most important programs. We also help the diocesan missions in Latin America and Africa and provide assistance to local hospitals, shelters, and police and fire departments," said Msgr. McMurtrie.

Stabile said that in the school students develop a sense of helping people in need oand those suffering from unexpected disasters. "Sometimes they make sandwiches for the homeless, join a marathon for a good cause or participate in activities to raise money for local or international missionary groups," she said.

For this coming Thanksgiving, for example, students are collecting food for 20 families and sending letters to U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

In addition to teaching human virtues, Stabile is proud of heading a school

that cultivates the potential of children through daily religious instruction and academic excellence. "We have a junior state-of-the-art library, a state-of-the-art science program and many winners in national competitions," she said.

"Our diocese has been blessed with three wonderful bishops and St. Agnes Parish with many good priests," said Msgr. McMurtrie, whose experience in the field of education "is a plus for the church and for the school," said Stabile.

Pastor: Msgr. James W. McMurtrie

Parochial Vicar: Father Christopher J. Pollard

In Residence: Msgr. Thomas P. Scannell, Msgr. John T. Cilinski

Deacon: William J. Donovan

School

2024 N. Randolph St

Arlington, Va. 22207

Grades: Pre-K-8 with Extended Day Care

Students: 394

Tel. 703/527-5423

Principal: Dr. Carole Stabile

Religious Education Director: Fr. Christopher J. Pollard

Mass Schedule:

Saturday: 5, 7:30, 9 p.m.

Sunday: 7:30, 9, 10:30, 12:00 noon, 5 p.m.

Weekday: 6:30, 9 a.m.

Monday: 7:30 p.m. (Spanish)

Confessions: Saturday: 9:30-10 a.m.; 3-4:45 p.m. Wednesday: 7:30-8:30 p.m.

Parish Founded: 1936

Parishioners: 6,051

Web Site: www.saintagnes.org

Boundaries: Beginning at Key Bridge—West on Lee Highway (Rts.29/211) to I-66 (just west on Kirkwood Rd.)—West on I-66 to N. Glebe Rd. —north on N. Glebe Rd. to N. 17th St—West on N. 17^th St. to N. Edison St. —North on N. Edison St. to N. 22^nd St. —West on N. 22nd St. to N. Lexington St. —North on N. Lexington St. to little Falls Rd. —West on Little Falls Rd. to N. John Marshall Dr. —North on N. John Marshall Dr. to the Arlington—Fairfax County Line—East on the Arlington-Fairfax County Line to the Potomac River—South on the Potomac River to Key Bridge. 

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