What is your parish’s charism? The parish charism is twofold. One is service: Every month we have what is called “Share Sunday” where people contribute both money and food to a multidenominational organization. The other is prayer, with Adoration and people praying the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet after Mass. People are frequently present praying in the church, particularly since we have it open for about 15 hours a day.
The garden, with many devotional items such as a miniature of Michelangelo’s “Pietà,” Stations of the Cross and several statues of the Blessed Mother, is popular. During the pandemic, the garden was frequently used by the faithful to pray. A large statue of the Blessed Mother is illuminated throughout the night because people come at any hour to pray for her intercession.
What’s the one unique thing visitors to your parish should see while there? They should visit the garden and the new narthex, which was finished in May 2020. The interior of the church has gone through changes throughout the years, but nothing had been done to the narthex. The old narthex had no light and was small and crowded. We expanded the restrooms and there’s a new storage room. The Sacred Heart statue that greets people in front of the church is original, and it has been here for many years. The roses around the Sacred Heart and in the garden are a legacy of Father Franklyn M. McAfee, who grew and nurtured them. In the late 1980s, he trained the current caretaker, Tien Vu, to care for the roses. Tien has been here since 1986 and the roses thrive because of his care. The roses around the Sacred Heart Statue are known as “knockout roses” because of their beautiful bloom.
What are some highlights of your longstanding ministries? Our Knights of Columbus are very active. The first Sunday of the month, they host a very popular parish breakfast. On Fridays during Lent, the Knights put on a great fish fry. It’s huge, people line up before it starts. In the summer, we have a cookout and there’s a parish festival in September.
Is there a special way your parish encourages and supports faith formation? What we probably do best is pray for vocations. After every Mass, we pray a Hail Mary for vocations. Whenever the Bishop sends us a seminarian, the parish embraces him. A number of men from this parish have been ordained priests. We pray for vocations because God knows we need them.
How are you supporting the faith journey of particular cultures represented in your parish? There are several people and families from Africa who come to Mass here. Our parochial vicar, Father Maurice Mei Akwa, is Cameroonian, and Father Joseph Ocran, our priest in residence, is from Ghana.
What would a visitor say about your parish, and how do new parishioners get involved? I think a new parishioner would say we are very faithful. In the registration card we list the ministries in which new parishioners can get involved. In a certain sense, we have a very passive way. We let them come forward, we don’t hunt people down. People volunteer to be in various ministries. There are parishioners who are in their 90s, even nearing 100. Some of the founding members from the late 1960s are still alive and members of the parish.
What’s something we should know about your clergy? They are very eclectic. We have two Americans, a Cameroonian and a Ghanaian. The diversity is good. They all have different talents that help in different situations. They complement each other. Father Ronald Gripshover Jr. has a background in science. Father Akwa is very good with people and Father Ocran has a quieter, low-key personality and is very engaging with the faithful. They all bring different perspectives to different issues.
Is there a standout or longtime staff member or volunteer you’d like to tell us about? Tien Vu, our maintenance man, has been here since and is a behind-the-scenes guy. He does a lot of work in the garden, particularly with the roses. He also puts up the Christmas and Easter decorations. His wife, Lan, also works at the parish as a housekeeper and cook. Cindy Dreslin, parish secretary, along with Deacon Michael Waters, help in keeping the parish moving along smoothly.
Quick facts
St. Lawrence Church
6222 Franconia Rd.
Alexandria, VA, 22310
(703) 971-4378
Website: stlawrencealex.org
Pastor: Fr. Ronald J. Gripshover Jr.
Parochial Vicar: Fr. Maurice Mei Akwa
In residence: Fr. Joseph Ocran
Visiting Priest: Msgr. Patrick Dempsey
Mass Schedule:
Saturday Vigil: 5 p.m.
Sunday: 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m.
Monday-Friday: 6:15 a.m. and 9 a.m.
Saturday 9 a.m.
Confession times:
Monday: 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday: 7-7:45 p.m. (6:30-8 p.m. during Lent)
Friday: 6:45 a.m. (and 7 p.m. during Lent)
Saturday: 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Year established: 1967
Total parishioners: 1,680 families
