Parish Roots Run Deep at St. Joseph in Alexandria

By Linda Busetti
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 4/11/02)

In the early 1900s, Josephite Father Charles F. Hannigan traveled weekly from Richmond to celebrate Mass for Alexandria’s black Catholics at St. Mary Parish’s Lyceum on Duke Street. Eventually, Thomas Blair, the "Father of St. Joseph Church," along with Katie Boarman, Carrie Crouch, John Johnson and John Parker, received permission from Richmond Bishop Denis J. O’Connell to build a black mission church in Alexandria. Potential members were poor, so they held bake sales, dances, picnics and suppers to raise funds.

Mother Katharine Drexel, founder of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and member of a wealthy Philadelphia family, heard about their efforts. Mother Drexel, who supported black and Native American communities in the South and West, donated $8,000 toward building the church.

The English Gothic style St. Joseph Church at the corner of Wythe and North Columbus Streets was dedicated on May 14, 1916. Stained glass windows bear the names of founding members.

Josephite Father Joseph Kelly was appointed the first pastor in 1915 and served for 21 years. He lived in the church sacristy until the rectory was built in 1921.

In 1931, a four-room school building replaced the temporary school located in the church basement. The Oblate Sisters of Providence, an order of black sisters, traveled daily from segregated Washington to the school. "They rode in the back of the bus coming and going back at night," said Josephite Father John McBrearty, the former pastor. In 1949, the Oblates moved to Alexandria, where they taught until the school closed in 1969.

St. Joseph was designated a parish with territorial boundaries in 1967. Shortly thereafter, the "nucleus of the parish, the families who really built the parish," moved out of Alexandria as a consequence of "urban renewal," according to Father McBrearty.

St. Joseph Parish roots run deep. Families come from Fort Washington, Md., Manassas, Springfield and as far as Winchester each Sunday to Mass at St. Joseph. "Very few parishioners live in the general area," Father McBrearty said. The 486 parishioners are "mostly elderly, although young couples are moving into the parish," Father McBrearty said. "This is probably one of the most hospitable parishes in the diocese. … Many people request to be married in the beautiful little church. In such a small parish, people get to know one another. That’s what everyone likes," he said.

A blue sign in front of the church proclaims, "St. Joseph of Alexandria, Va. Is Pro-Life." Al and Beverly Anderson have led the parish pro-life committee since 1990 and joined other area black Catholics at the annual March for Life. The committee also sponsored a Health Fair, flu shots and high blood pressure testing last fall.

"The parish has probably the best gospel choir in the area," Father McBrearty said. He does not exaggerate. The choir, directed by Eugene Harper, Jr. fills the church with inspired songs of faith at 11 a.m. Mass on the first and third Sundays of the month. The John Carroll Chorale, led by Kathy Barnes, sings on the second Sunday, the children’s choir on the fourth and "if we have five Sundays, the teen choir, The Voices of Faith, sings," Father McBrearty said.

"In Josephite parishes, it’s amazing the voluntary help you have," Father McBrearty said, noting that for many years Justine Carter has volunteered in the parish office every afternoon and after Sunday Mass. "Her energy is beyond me. She does all my typing and filing," he said. "She shows up every day about 3 p.m. and stays until about 5-5:30 p.m. She takes care of all the parish envelopes, has all the parish statements ready."

CCD classes for grades 1-12 are held Sunday at 9:45 a.m. in the old school building. Wilma Anderson volunteers as director of religious education. Thelma Lucas, a parishioner for 37 years, travels from Maryland each Sunday to teach high school CCD.

As diocesan coordinator for the Office of Black Catholic Ministries, Lucas sees the need for affordable housing, education about AIDS and making Catholic education available to black youths as primary concerns. She recalls attending a meeting 15 years ago on the lack of affordable housing in the area, and yet the problem persists.

The parish Social Concerns Committee, led by Marsha Williams, supported a "living wage" for Alexandria City workers. The lack of emergency temporary housing for families is a major concern of the committee. "We would all like to see the diocese rise to the occasion to make available temporary housing that would take care of the many. … I got a call from a family the other night that was looking for housing, who were being evicted," Father McBrearty said.

Parish outreach to the needy includes an Angel Tree during Advent. A suggested gift is noted on each paper angel. Parishioners then supply gifts which are distributed to Woodbine Nursing Home residents, retired and elderly Oblate sisters and Josephite priests, and shut-ins. During Lent, suggested gifts for unwed mothers and their babies were noted on small holy cards attached to a large cross on the altar. As the cards were removed, they were replaced by flowers, creating a Cross of Flowers on Easter Sunday morning, when the sanctuary overflowed with gifts for the AAA Women’s Choice Center in Manassas.

<photo credit>HERALD Photos by Linda Busetti

<photo caption>HEART OF PARISH — The English Gothic style St. Joseph Church in Alexandria remains a vibrant center of parish life, even though many parishioners travel from outside its boundaries to attend Sunday Mass.

<photo caption>CHORALE — The John Carroll Chorale of St. Joseph Parish, led by Kathy Barnes (front row, far left), sings on the second Sunday of each month, alternating with the parish’s gospel, children’s and teen choirs.

<photo caption>PASTOR — Josephite Father John McBrearty, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Alexandria, greets long-time parishioners, including Marsha Williams (right), and welcomes newcomers on the church steps after Mass each Sunday.

<photo caption>SANCTUARY — The interior of St. Joseph Church in Alexandria, which was built in 1916, features stained glass windows that bear the family names of black Catholic founders. A window commemorates Mother Katharine Drexel’s contribution to the building of the church.

St. Joseph Parish at a Glance:

St. Joseph

711 N. Columbus St.

Alexandria, Va. 22314

703/836-3725

Pastor:

Fr. Francis Hull, S.S.J. (effective Sept. 27, 2002)

Mass Schedule:

Sunday: 8:30 and 11 a.m.

(Rosary 20 minutes before Mass)

Monday: 7 p.m. (Mass and Novena

to St. Joseph)

Tuesday-Friday: 7:45 a.m.

Saturday: 9:30 a.m.

DRE:

Wilma Anderson

Parish Founded: 1915

Parishioners: 486

Parish Boundaries: Within City of Alexandria from Potomac River and Princess St., west on Princess to Washington St., south on Washington to King St., west on King St. to RF&P RR tracks, north to Four Mile Run and east to river.

Copyright ©2002 Arlington Catholic Herald.  All rights reserved.