St. Michael Parish: Rooted in Faith, Tradition

By Irene Lagan
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 1/16/03)

ANNANDALE — Fifty years ago, St. Michael Parish in Annandale was little more than a dream of a man who was a visionary. Msgr. Thomas P. Scannell, now retired, was the founding pastor and the man largely responsible for building a parish that is firmly rooted in faith and tradition.

As the first pastor of St. Michael, Msgr. Scannell is credited with securing the property and building the parish, as well as establishing the parish in its faith, fidelity and stability. In June 1951, then-Father Scannell, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Fairfax Station at the time, began to set in motion plans for the construction of a parish. Father Scannell was the only priest in the county outside of Falls Church, and was responsible for Catholics in two-thirds of Fairfax County, including Annandale.

In December of the same year, Father Scannell heard a rumor that a man who died bequeathed 100 acres of land to the Catholic Church. After going door-to-door, Father Scannell learned that it was indeed a rumor and that 100 acres had been parceled out to heirs in seven-acre tracts. However, when family members learned he was interested in purchasing the land in order to build a church and community, they sold three tracts, 21 acres total.

On May 27, 1952, a mission opened in Annandale that eventually became St. Michael Parish. More than 125 men, women and children gathered for the first Mass at Annandale Elementary School. As word spread, the number of worshippers grew weekly.

Harry Ketcham, the parish historian known as "Tex," was one of the original parishioners. "This was a rural parish in those days," he said. "After the war, people were able to begin building again, and many of us with young families moved further inland. Now, Annandale borders on being an urban community, which is reflected in the parish."

With plans underway for the construction of a temporary church structure, Bishop Peter Ireton of Richmond established St. Michael Parish in June1953, and named Msgr. Scannell its pastor. When parishioners attended their first Mass on Sept. 20, 1953, in the temporary church, the architect, Philip Wilson, was already drawing plans for an addition that would include a cafeteria and 10 classrooms. At the same time, Msgr. Scannell had invited the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart to staff a school that was part of his vision for the parish. To this day, the sisters maintain the school with the assistance of lay people.

During its first year of operation, enrollment in St. Michael School was overwhelming, making it necessary to add five new lay teachers in addition to the five sisters who launched the school. At its peak in the 1960s more than 1,000 children were enrolled in the school, which still has a large enrollment of about 500 students.

As the parish continued to grow, further additions were made to the school. By September 1956, 18 classrooms were full. The sisters sent additional sisters to staff the school, and by the fall of 1957 had moved into a newly built convent on the parish grounds.

With the school, rectory, convent and temporary church complete, the next priority was a new church building that would accommodate the rapidly growing Catholic population. In planning for the new church, parishioners considered complex issues that addressed future needs, such as planning for priests’ retirement and the possibility of building a high school, so they purchased an additional 24 acres of land.

Even prior to Vatican II, Msgr. Scannell foresaw changes that would take place, not only in worship but in architecture. The current church building, which seats 1,600 people, is a circular structure with the altar prominently placed in the center, allowing for greater participation on the part of the laity. The organ, one of the oldest and finest in the diocese, rises up behind the altar. Purchased at a cost of $50,000 with S&H green stamps, the organ is now worth nearly one million dollars. In those days, S&H green stamps were awarded with purchases at participating stores, and the stamps could be redeemed for catalogue purchases.

Recently, the parish completed renovations on the church and plans to continue renovations on the school in the future.

According to Father Jerome R. Daly, who is the third pastor in 50 years, one of the unique aspects of St. Michael Parish, apart from its history, is perpetual Eucharistic Adoration that began 20 years ago. "The Perpetual Adoration group is very active," he said. "There is always someone there, in all weather conditions." The Perpetual Adoration group, which began under Msgr. Scannell’s tutelage, was fostered and supported by the parish’s second pastor, Msgr. Edward P. Browne. The parish has had only three pastors in its 50-year history.

Among the parish’s more than 40 organizations, there is a Mother’s group, Legion of Mary, CYO basketball, a rosary-makers group, a Seniors’ group and the Women’s Council of Catholic Women.

Father Daly said that one of the oldest and most consistent programs is the Share Program that began in the late ’60s. Each year, the parish donates a certain percentage of Sunday collections to fund missionary or relief efforts in other parts of the world. The Share committee receives requests from bishops in Africa, Asia, India, South America and other places and determines which causes to support. Total donations last year were $20,000.

Among the jubilee celebrations that are planned for this year are a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Padre Pio located in Pennsylvania, a sacred music concert in September and a dinner in October. Other parish activities and events such as the annual school festival in the Fall will focus on the jubilee, which began officially at midnight Mass on New Year’s Eve.

Church:

7401 St. Michael’s Ln.

Annandale, Va. 22003

Phone: 703/256-0446

Fax: 703/256-0446

Pastor: Father Jerome R. Daly

Parochial Vicars: Father John C. De Celles, Father Edwin E. Perez

In residence: Father Lee R. Roos

Deacons: David S. McCaffrey, Roger T. Ostrom

Convent:

Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Heart Mary

7421 St. Michael’s Ln.

Phone: 703/256-2130

Mass Schedule:

Saturday (vigil) 5 p.m.

Sunday: 7:45, 9, 10:30 a.m.; 12 noon

Holy Days: As announced in bulletin

Confessions:

First Thursday of the month, 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Saturdays: 3:30-4:30 and 7 p.m.

School:

7401 St. Michael’s Ln.

Phone: 703/256-1222

Fax: 703/941-9474

Principal: Sister Dorothy M. Mayer, I.H.M.

Grades: K-8

Students: 500

DRE: William Duffy

703/941-9403

Parishioners: 5,841

Boundaries: Beginning at Beltway (I-495) and Trammell Rd. — East on Trammel to Gallows Rd. — Southeast on Gallows to Franklin St. —East on Franklin to Valley Crest Blvd. — North on Valley crest to Holmes Run —Southeast along Holmes Run to Sleepy Hollow Rd. —South along Sleepy Hollow to Columbia Pike —East on Columbia Pike to Old Columbia Pike (Rte 712) — Southwest on Old Columbia Pike to Little River Turnpike (Rte. 236) — East on Little River Tpk. To Braddock Rd.— Edsall to Alexandria city line — South along City line to Southern RR tracks — West along RR tracks to Flag Run — North along Flag Run to Beltway —North on Beltway to Trammel Rd.

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