The Eucharist Is at the Heart of St. Louis Parish

By Linda Busetti
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 5/16/02)

ALEXANDRIA — When the new pastor, Father John Riley, arrived at St. Louis Parish in Alexandria two years ago, a woman told him, "Father, we’ve had an assortment of priests in this parish over the years — liberal, conservative, quiet, loud, outgoing, shy, administrators and saints — but one thing has always been a constant here. This parish loves its priests."

Father Riley has built on the foundation of faith established by those priests, especially Father Richard Ley, pastor from 1994-2000. "Father Ley instilled in our parish family a true sense of what the Mass is all about — Holy Communion with Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament," Father Riley said.

If people know nothing else about St. Louis, Father Riley would like them to know how the Sacrament of Penance heals and strengthens the parish. Confessions are heard seven days a week. "In this parish the people actually come! They are really learning to love this beautiful sacrament," Father Riley said. The confession schedule changes from week to week. Posting the schedule under a portrait of Jesus’ Divine Mercy in the church vestibule was Parochial Vicar Father Paul Richardson’s idea.

St. Louis’ parish history goes back to the early 1920s, when Father Louis Smet, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Alexandria, began Sunday school for children in the Groveton area of Alexandria. Father Smet saw the need for a mission church and purchased an old schoolhouse and land in 1925, the start of Sacred Heart, a mission of St. Mary.

L.A. Popkins used a team of horses to pull the school building from its location overlooking Route 1 to what is now Popkins Lane. The school was converted to a church and enlarged in the 1940s to seat 175. The mission was renamed St. Louis to honor Father Smet, who died in 1940.

Father Albert Campbell became St. Louis’ first pastor in 1949. Under Father Campbell and his successors, Father Michael Igoe and Father Eugene Walsh, St. Louis grew to 1,700 parishioners by 1955. Father Walsh purchased land for a school and convent, which were dedicated by Richmond Bishop Peter Ireton in 1956. Mass was celebrated in the old Groveton High School auditorium until the current St. Louis Church was dedicated on May 5, 1962.

In 1974, while Msgr. Justin McClunn was pastor, St. Louis became part of the new Diocese of Arlington. From 1977 to 1983, then Father James W. McMurtrie served as pastor, concentrating on Catholic education, liturgy and youth ministry.

In 1983, the original church building was renovated and dedicated as Msgr. McClunn Hall.

The parish continued to grow under pastors Fathers Vincent Keane and Dominic Irace. Father Irace oversaw renovations to the church and rectory.

Father Ley initiated Eucharistic Adoration at St. Louis. When Father Riley was named pastor in 2000, he expanded Eucharistic Adoration to include Nocturnal Adoration and 40 Hours Devotion.

Eucharistic Adoration is the "heart" of St. Louis Parish, Father Riley said, adding, "I’d say this parish has three hearts. The first is the Eucharist, the second is the Poor Clares Monastery — the hidden treasure of the diocese — and the third is St. Louis School."

Parishioners participate in Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Monday evenings from 7:45-8:45 p.m. and on First Friday beginning after 9 a.m. Mass and continuing until benediction at 2:30 p.m. Nocturnal Adoration begins that evening at 9 p.m.

According to Joanne Robertson, who coordinates sign-up for Adoration, the more than 100 parishioners who participate are enthusiastic and "very faithful" about fulfilling their commitments. Robertson says she agrees with Father Riley that "everything springs from that [Eucharistic Adoration] and radiates to all the work in the parish."

At an 8:45 a.m. Children’s Mass every other Sunday, children are invited to sit in the sanctuary. "Children sense the feeling of reverence in the parish and it works," Father Riley said.

Parochial Vicar Father James Tucker will soon start a First Friday Holy Hour featuring Gregorian chant. Father Tucker often celebrates Mass for the Poor Clares.

Even though parishioners do not see the cloistered Poor Clares, whose monastery is within walking distance of St. Louis Church, "They are a real part of the parish," parishioner Ann Stidd said. The sisters, who were invited to the diocese in 1977, are dependent on others for their material needs. Sometimes when she has brought food to the monastery door, Stidd has seen the sisters’ eyes through a slat in the door. "Their eyes are so joyful," she said.

Parishioners attend daily 7 a.m. Mass in a public half of the monastery chapel. Iron grillwork behind the altar separates the public from the Poor Clares.

"The people love their Poor Clares," Father Riley said, as evidenced by a very generous Easter Sunday second collection to help finance a planned mausoleum at the monastery.

The Poor Clares have been described as a powerhouse of prayer that energizes the diocese. St. Louis School Principal Noreen Gilmour says it is a wonderful feeling to know the Poor Clares are praying for the parish and the schoolchildren.

On Sept. 11, the sisters happened to call the school office just as news of the terrorist attack was first reported and immediately began to pray for students’ parents at the Pentagon.

Another religious order, the Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis, served St. Louis School from its opening in 1956 until 1977. From 185 students in 1956, the school grew to 1,100 by the 1960s. In 1968, class sizes were reduced to meet Virginia state accreditation requirements.

Gilmour, who has been principal since 1987, says, "The 1990s brought significant changes as technology was added to the curriculum and Extended Day Care Services were provided." An after-school fine arts program was instituted and the CYO sports program expanded.

Throughout the school year students participate in community outreach programs ranging from local United Community Ministries to the adoption of a family in Viet Nam.

Gilmour credits a "decisive administration, strong faculty and a highly supportive PTO" for creating a happy, loving learning environment for 457 students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Father Riley and Gilmour hope to use funds the parish receives from the diocesan Capital Campaign for expansion of the school.

St. Louis is described by its pastor as a "United Nations parish," with more than 10,000 parishioners "of diverse social and ethnic backgrounds from El Salvador to the farthest reaches of Africa and Asia, who want to be part of America," coming together for worship and the Catholic education of their children.

Father Riley reports the parish has just hired a youth minister, Luis Brown, a graduate of the Franciscan University of Steubenville. His fiancée, Carolyn Pierce will be the parish music director.

Sixty parish organizations — 15 of them added in the past two years — offer parishioners opportunities to get involved in the Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, the St. Lucy or St. Rose of Lima service guilds, Welcome Committee, Mothers’ Group, the Silver Seniors, social ministry, the Language Bank, pro-life committee, or transportation committee. Newly registered parishioners receive a phone call asking them to share their talents with the parish. A Ministry Fair, where representatives of parish organizations recruit members, is held on Pentecost.

In a good example of the "family atmosphere" of St. Louis Parish, Father Riley instituted the Sunday Evening Program. After 5 p.m. Mass, parishioner Ray High cooks supper for up to 200 people. Afterward, there is religious education for the children, high school CYO and adult education simultaneously. "So nobody has to go. Everybody can stay and then, when we are done, they go home as a family," Father Riley said.

St. Louis Parish at a Glance:

St. Louis Church

2907 Popkins Lane

Alexandria, Va. 22306

703/765-4421

Pastor: Fr. John J. Riley

Parochial Vicars: Fr. M. Paul Richardson, Fr. James A. Tucker

Deacon: Paul J. Plaisance, Jr.

Mass Schedule:

Saturday: 9 a.m., 5:30 p.m. (Vigil Mass)

Sunday: 7:30, 8:45, 10:30 a.m.; 12:30, 5 p.m.

School: 2901 Popkins Lane

Principal: Noreen Gilmour

703/768-7732

Parish Founded: 1949

Parishioners: 11,814

Parish Web Site: www.saintlouisparish.org

Parish Boundaries: Beginning at Beltway (I-495) and Telegraph Rd. — South on Telegraph to N. Kings Hwy. (Rte. 241) — Southeast on N. Kings Hwy to Fort Dr. Follow Fort Dr. to Fairhaven Ave. — cross US 1 and continue south on Quander Rd. to Beacon Hill Rd. — East on Beacon Hill to Fort Hunt Rd. — South on Fort Hunt Rd. to Morningside Dr. — East on Morningside to Mt. Vernon Pkwy. and Potomac River — South along river to Collingwood Rd. — West on Collingwood to Sherwood Hall Ln. (Rte. 6626) — West on Sherwood Hall to US 1 — South on US 1 to Telegraph Rd. (Rte. 611) — Northeast on Telegraph Rd. to Rose Hill Dr. — North on Rose Hill and Bush Hill Dr. to Beltway — East on Beltway to Telegraph Rd.  

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