By Linda Busetti
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 3/28/02)
Midway between Fredericksburg and Colonial Beach, St. Elizabeth’s mission, St. Anthony Church, sits on a hill overlooking Route 3 in King George.
An old black and white photograph shows founding pastor Father P.A. Ryan, S.J., and early parish leaders in front of the original St. Elizabeth Church built in 1906. St. Elizabeth became an independent parish of the Richmond Diocese in 1917.
During Colonial Beach’s heyday as a riverside gambling resort in the 1960s, a larger church was constructed next to the old one at 12 Lossing Ave. Richmond Bishop John J. Russell dedicated the second St. Elizabeth Church in 1964. The old church was razed, but its bell remains as a monument to the faith of early parishioners. A stained glass window depicting Pentecost was relocated from the old church and set behind the new altar.
Over the course of 50 years — from Father Francis Donahue’s arrival in 1943 until Father Thaddeus Searles’ departure in 1993 — 35 Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity (Trinitarians) served the parish as well as Tappahannock, Kilmarnock, The Hague, King George and the Sacred Heart Chapel at Dahlgren Naval Center. The Trinitarians’ mission was "the preservation of the faith in those areas and among those people who are spiritually neglected and abandoned, especially the poor." At one time, the St. Elizabeth mission covered more than a thousand square miles of the Northern Neck.
Arlington Bishop John R. Keating dedicated St. Anthony Church on Sept. 28, 1986.
Father Thomas Vander Woude, who was named administrator of St. Elizabeth Parish in Sept. 2001, likened the parish to a friendly Midwestern community. "I’ve dreamed of going to a small parish because my friends in the Midwest talk about their small parishes. They know the people and the people know them," Father Vander Woude said. " I can look out on a Sunday and know if someone is missing."
After Father Vander Woude celebrated his first Mass at St. Elizabeth, all the parishioners lined up to say hello and shake his hand.
There are approximately 470 parishioners of St. Elizabeth and 780 members of St. Anthony. Most of St. Elizabeth’s parishioners are retirees. On the other hand, young families are common at St. Anthony. There are a dozen children in St. Elizabeth’s CCD program and more than 100 at St. Anthony. According to Father Vander Woude, many Latinos, especially Mexicans, live in the Northern Neck. About 30-40 attend the 5 p.m. Spanish Mass at St. Elizabeth each Sunday.
Father Vander Woude and parochial vicar Father Vincent P. Bork take turns celebrating Mass at each location. Driving long distances is part of everyday life in the Northern Neck, and can be an opportunity for prayer, according to Father Vander Woude. "It’s a challenge, but it is a joy, too," he said.
"There is a goodness. There is a simplicity here" at St. Elizabeth, Father Vander Woude said. He praised the parishioners for their charity work — one brings baked goods to the church for distribution to the needy. Mary Norton, who relocated to Colonial Beach from Alexandria in 1996, joined other St. Elizabeth parishioners transporting Christmas gifts for needy families to St. Anthony. If parishioners are having trouble paying a utility bill, Deacon Bob Baker calls a representative at the electric company on their behalf. The representative knows Baker because he has been an advocate for so long, Father Vander Woude said.
Other parish activities include the Knights of Columbus and Altar and Rosary Society. St. Elizabeth Parish will assist "in any way possible" when Work Camp is held again this summer in King George and Westmoreland Counties, Father Vander Woude said.
Father Vander Woude is still learning about parish history and parishioners’ needs, but there is always someone handy who can fill him in on the past 50 years or so. "There are a lot of good people here," he said.
At a Glance:
St. Elizabeth
12 Lossing Ave.
Colonial Beach, Va. 22443
804/224-7221
St. Anthony Mission
10299 Millbank Rd.
King George, Va.
Administrator: Fr. Thomas P. Vander Woude
Parochial Vicar: Fr. Vincent P. Bork
Deacon Bob Baker
Deacon Ed Cleary
Rectory: 21 Irving Ave. S.
Colonial Beach, Va. 22443
Mass Schedule:
St. Elizabeth
Mon. -Thurs.: 8 a.m.
Fri.: 1 p.m.
Sat.: 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Sun.: 10:30 a.m.; 5 p.m. (Spanish)
St. Anthony Mission
Mon. – Tues.: 7 a.m.
Wed. – Thurs.: 7 p.m.
Fri.: 7 a.m.
Sat.: 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Sun.: 8:30 a.m.; 11 a.m.
Parish founded: 1906
Parishioners: 1,250 (includes St. Anthony Mission)
Copyright ©2002 Arlington Catholic Herald. All rights reserved.
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