Doors Are Open Wide at Triangle Parish

By Linda Busetti
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 7/18/02)

The mission of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Triangle is to serve God and build community in a "uniquely Franciscan" way.

Outreach includes staffing the parish food pantry at Francis House and supporting a sister parish in Lima, Peru. It means inviting lapsed Catholics to a dialogue about the Faith in the Come Home program or offering divorced and separated Catholics support at monthly New Hope meetings. St. Francis’ Many Members, One Body — one of the first such programs in the diocese — ministers to gay and lesbian Catholics and their families, while Pax Christi promotes non-violence locally and globally.

Community is built at St. Francis in a very simple way when children receive First Communion and babies are baptized amid the welcoming parish family during Sunday Mass.

"As our provincial has said … people have many options and choices in life as to how they are going to be committed, or what they are going to do," Pastor Franciscan Father John O’Connor said. "We try to make sure that our door is open the widest so that we are able to welcome people of different backgrounds and different experiences and different struggles in life."

In 1957, the Richmond Diocese established St. Francis of Assisi Parish for Catholic families living at Quantico Marine Base. Richmond Bishop Peter Ireton entrusted the parish to Franciscan friars with Franciscan Father Gervase C. McMillin as first pastor. The construction of St. Francis’ school/auditorium in 1957 benefited from $27,500 contributed by Catholic Marines.

Franciscan Sisters came from Allegheny, N.Y., to staff St. Francis of Assisi School. Mother Anne Perpetua was principal when the school opened in September 1957 with 143 students in grades one through three. However, the nuns were recalled from St. Francis in1968. With only 90 families, the parish was unable to support the school, which closed for the next 11 years.

By the time St. Francis joined the newly formed Arlington Diocese in 1974, there were 235 parish families. Then-Pastor Franciscan Father Angelus DeMarco considered reopening the school, but instead leased the property to Christendom College.

In 1979, Arlington Bishop Thomas Welsh gave Father Angelus permission to re-open the school.

On the feast of St. Francis of Assisi in 1981, Father Angelus announced plans to build a church and formed a building committee. Unfortunately, in December 1983, Father Angelus suffered a stroke that left him incapacitated. Longtime parishioners were saddened Father Angelus did not live to see St. Francis Church dedicated on Nov. 3, 1984.

Parishioners remembered Father Angelus warmly. "I gave him a coat for Christmas, to replace the worn tattered one with missing buttons," Joseph Palagruto recalled on the parish’s 35th anniversary. "I didn’t see him wear it, so I asked Father where the coat was and he said someone else needed it more than he did."

When Father John O’Connor arrived in 1991, he reorganized the parish council and established parish committees, a school board and religious education board. Parish growth continued with the addition of an administrative wing to the church in 1996 and pre-school and nursery facilities in 1999.

Although St. Francis Parish has 2,000 families, Father John says the number may rise to 3,500 or more within the next decade. New housing developments quickly add to the young families that predominate, but a planned senior citizens development nearby may change the parish demographics.

New parishioners cannot slip into the back pew and remain anonymous. They are required to attend a new parishioners orientation with presentations on the many opportunities for getting involved in parish life.

A highlight of the parish calendar, Francis Week, is celebrated in October, beginning with a family potluck dinner and culminating in the parish Art Auction. Celebration of an outdoor Mass brings schoolchildren and parishioners together on St. Francis’ feast day.

In true Franciscan spirit, community outreach is central to parish life. When Father John came to St. Francis, he established Francis House, a community-based service ministry in a local townhouse. Besides staffing the food pantry, parish volunteers offer computer training and children’s programs. In Clare’s Closet women can find appropriate clothing for job interviews. Physical health needs are not overlooked — a van from Potomac Hospital provides free weekly health screenings.

Through grant money, St. Francis is also able to make loans to families for housing security deposits and rent.

Parish ministries work together, Jeanne Mitcho, parish board member and business manager, said. The Pax Christi group presented a video on consumerism to youths. This, in turn, sparked parish interest in environmental and recycling issues.

Youths and their families arriving for the recent CYO Hunger Banquet were surprised when they were divided into "haves," who enjoyed a chicken dinner, "have nots," who sat on the floor to eat a dinner of rice and "dirty" water, or an in-between group with larger portions of rice. "One person in the family would be in the haves and one in the have nots," Father John said. "They would think, ‘All I have is this little rice and I’m still hungry.’ They would look over and see people with tablecloths and candles. It helped them to see that’s what happens in the world." It also made the youths see this happened as a matter of chance, and through no fault of their own, Father John said.

Parochial Vicar Franciscan Father Bob Menard has coordinated ecumenical gatherings at St. Francis such as bringing Christians, Jews, Muslims and Buddhists together for an interfaith prayer vigil for world peace in January.

The Triangle parish sponsors the education of Peruvian students in its sister parish Our Lady of Lourdes in Lima. Father John hopes St. Francis parishioners will have the opportunity to visit Our Lady of Lourdes, as Father Bob has done. In a spirit of solidarity, Peruvian crafts are sold at St. Francis’ Christmas Bazaar.

As chaplain for the Department of Fire and Rescue of Prince William County, Father John leads the parish in community service by example. His career as a volunteer firefighter goes back more than 25 years to New York State and includes service with the Montgomery County, Md., Fire Department. After his transfer to St. Francis, Father John was approached when Prince William County was looking for a chaplain with firefighting experience. As chaplain, he is the only volunteer serving with Prince William’s career firefighters.

St. Francis School is prospering with about 330 students enrolled and new classroom space. Principal Dr. Tricia Barber explains the curriculum integrates religion and academics. Sixth graders, who study world history and world religion, visited a synagogue and a mosque in the course of their studies and all middle school students regularly study social justice issues.

Two summers ago, two-thirds of the original school building was demolished in preparation for a new parish center. One hallway of classrooms remained intact and middle school moved to "modular units," Barber said. Architect Frank Schlesinger designed a modern facility, utilizing light and geometric form, to create a multipurpose room, parish center, full kitchen, school and a library for the entire parish.

"After you have heard our story, I think you can see that our parish and the choices that we make are modeled on St. Francis," Barber said.

There are many opportunities within the parish to follow St. Francis. About 30 Secular Franciscans, a community of men and women who pattern their lives after Christ, meet regularly.

In addition to Francis House, Anne Tunney, director of social outreach, oversees the bereavement support group, Many Members, One Body and the social ministry board.

Margaret Bruni directs parish faith formation programs for youth, families and adults. Kathy Walker coordinates CCD for pre-K to eighth-grade students.

Knights of Columbus collect baskets of food for the poor, assist at parish events such as the Art Auction, promote vocations and sponsor a seminarian at the Franciscan seminary in Silver Spring.

While youth minister Mary Kay Jones took eight teens to the annual diocesan WorkCamp in Montross, parishioners back home made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that were delivered to the kids for lunch.

The doors are wide open at St. Francis to anyone looking for a "uniquely Franciscan" experience.

At a Glance:

St. Francis of Assisi Parish

18825 Fuller Heights Rd.

Triangle, Va. 22172

Pastor: Fr. John F. O’Connor, O.F.M.

Parochial Vicars: Fr. Robert J. Menard, O.F.M.

Fr. Gene B. Pistacchio, O.F.M.

DRE: Margaret Bruni

YM: Mary Kay Jones

School: St. Francis of Assisi School

18825 Fuller Heights Rd.

Triangle, Va. 22172

703/221-3868

Principal: Dr. Patricia Barber

Mass Schedule: Sat.: 5:30 p.m.

Sun.: 8, 9:30, 11:45 a.m.; 5:30 p.m.

Parish Founded: 1957

Parishioners: 6,776

Boundaries: Including the area within the boundaries of the Quantico Marine Corps Reservation, Prince William Forest Park and Chopawamsic Recreational Area. Also that area to the north and east of Prince William Forest Park starting at intersection of Rts. 234 and 643 — North on 643 to Rte. 640 — Northeast on 640 to Rte. 610 — East on 610 to Potomac River — South on river to Quantico Marine Corps Reservation.

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