Old Traditions Get New Life at St. James, Falls Church

By Linda Busetti
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 9/5/02)

"To teach and to administer the sacraments, to make Christ available to our people," is St. James Parish’s "principle reason for being," Father Cornelius O’Brien said.

The Irish-born pastor, who guides the 110-year-old parish in Falls Church, is well aware of the vital role St. James has played through the years.

In 1873, Richmond Bishop James Gibbons established St. James as a mission of St. Mary Parish in Alexandria. Six years later, a frame chapel was built on land donated by Sabilla Sewall about half a mile from the West End Station of the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad. The clapboard chapel served Falls Church Catholics for 23 years. On the chapel site today is St. James Cemetery at S. West Street and Fowler Street. Old tombstones tell stories of Irish Catholics who came to work on the railroad.

In 1892, St. James, with 325 members, became a parish of the Richmond Diocese. Father Edward Tierney from Harper’s Ferry, W.Va., was appointed first pastor.

In 1902, construction began on St. James Church, a beautiful stone edifice on Spring Street. Lives of various saints are depicted in stained glass windows on either side of the church. A rose window over the altar memorializes Sister Calista, who taught at St. James School.

"The beauty of this place is that, in a way, it expresses the permanence of Our Lord," Father O’Brien said. "The purpose and idea of a church is clearly visible here."

Father O’Brien explains that a "marvelous church" such as St. James requires loving care. He credits master carpenter Bill McCarthy with providing that care. McCarthy and his family live nearby on parish grounds.

Father O’Brien describes St. James’ more than 7,500 parishioners as very diverse, with significant numbers of Hispanics, Vietnamese, Koreans and African-Americans. Young families, as well as senior citizens, fill the pews.

"One of the things I’ve noticed is the wonderful youthfulness of some of our older people," Father O’Brien said. Retirees help prepare for daily Mass and count the Sunday collection. Three daily Masses are "amazingly well-attended," he adds.

Father O’Brien is assisted by parochial vicars Msgr. Frank Mahler and Father Frederick Edlefsen. In addition to starting a bible group for teens, Father Edlefsen leads a book discussion group and the Legion of Mary.

"Handing on the Faith to the young is of primary importance," Father O’Brien said.

St. James School was founded in 1905 with funds provided by Mrs. Thomas Fortune Ryan. Father Tierney was able to build a brick, three-classroom school building. In the early days, some children rode on horseback from nearby farms to St. James School.

From 1906 to 1923, Perpetual Adoration Sisters staffed the school. Since then, Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary have taught at St. James.

The original school building was replaced in 1948, and numerous additions have been made since.

In 1999, while Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister Janet Regina was principal, St. James was honored by the U.S. Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School. St. James was the first elementary school in the diocese to receive this prestigious recognition for academic excellence, parental involvement and community spirit.

School enrollment for 2002 is about 750 students, with three classes of each level from kindergarten to eighth grade. An additional 325 students receive religious education in the parish CCD program.

In addition to its fine academics, St. James offers band for fourth- through eighth-graders, after-school instruction in French and Spanish and a Great Books Program for younger students.

McCarthy not only keeps the church in great condition, but he has also made significant improvements to St. James School.

The Joseph Knecht Gymnasium was added to the school several years ago. McCarthy and his crew converted the former gym space into a high-ceilinged library, a music room and art room. This summer, the crew completely refurbished the school cafeteria.

In ongoing renovations, McCarthy’s crew gives mid-20th-century classrooms 21st-century looks and makes them compatible with current computer technology.

"His vision of what will work maintains the old school feeling in an up-to-date school," Sister Teresa Ballisty, St. James principal, said of McCarthy.

Parents and grandparents of many current students are St. James alumni themselves, Sister Teresa said. At kindergarten graduation, students, whose parents went to St. James, sing a special tribute song to them, she said. Such traditions may explain strong parish support for the school. This loyalty includes St. James’ teachers, as well, many of whom remain at the school long enough to see the children of their early students, Sister Teresa said.

Including Sister Teresa, there are eight I.H.M. sisters serving St. James, four of whom are classroom teachers. "We are blessed to have the sisters with us. I will do my very best to keep them here and to be appreciative of them," Father O’Brien said. "There’s something visually important in having sisters. They give an expression to a kind of life of dedication that people need to be reminded of now."

"The church is packed Sunday after Sunday," Sister Teresa said. "Families are there, so you can see their faith is important to them. I see this [the school] as an outreach of their faith. We want to see it continue to grow."

At a Glance

St. James Parish

103 N. Spring St.

Falls Church, VA 22046

703/532-8815

Rectory:

905 Park Ave.

703/532-8815

Pastor:

Fr. Cornelius O’Brien

Parochial Vicars:

Fr. Frederick Edlefsen

Msgr. Frank Mahler

In residence: Fr. Michael G. Taylor, Fr. Roberto Orihuela

Deacons: Rev. Thomas Bello, Rev. James Fishenden

Mass Schedule:

Saturday:

5 p.m. (Vigil)

Sunday:

7:30, 9, 10:30 a.m.; 12 noon; 2:30 p.m. (Spanish)

School:

830 W. Broad St.

Falls Church, VA 22046

703/533-1182

Principal: Sr. Teresa Ballisty, I.H.M.

Students: 750

Parishioners: 7,354

Boundaries: John Marshall to Little Falls Rd. — East and then south on N. Lexington St. to Lee Hwy. (Rte. 29/211) — West on Lee to N. Roosevelt St. to E. Broad St. — Southeast on Broad to Arlington Blvd. — West on Arlington to Graham Rd. — North on Graham to Lee Hwy. — West on Lee to Beltway (I-495) — North on Beltway to Rte. 7 — Southeast on Rte. 7 to Pimmit Run — Northeast on Pimmit Run to Great Falls St. — South on Great Falls to Kirby Rd. — East on Kirby to Freedom Ln. — South on Freedom to Wicomico St. — South on Wicomico to Orland St. — East on Orland to N. Powhatan St. — Southeast on Powhatan to the Arlington County line — Northeast along county line to John Marshall Dr. 

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