Christmas shopping just got a little easier for parishioners of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church — and anyone else who wants to make a visit to their welcoming Lake Ridge campus — with the opening of a new gift shop.
A revamped library with some 2,000 volumes was launched simultaneously; both gift shop and library are downstairs from the church’s spacious sanctuary.
After the Dec. 2 vigil Mass, parishioners gathered on the stairway and in the lower lobby as their pastor, Father Brian G. Bashista, blessed both spaces.
“Grant that, imbued with true learning, they may strive to create a more civilized world,” Father Bashista petitioned for library patrons, followed by a request to “Bless all those who will use this shop, either buyers or sellers.”
Wielding an oversized pair of scissors, Father Bashista then cut a bright red ceremonial ribbon — and quickly stepped aside as an enthusiastic crowd surged forward.
Father Bashista praised his staff as instrumental in making the remodeled areas — the second phase of a five-phase, multi-million-dollar master renovation plan — a reality.
Gift shop manager Karen Kiesner has a retail background that includes Bloomingdale’s, while librarian Laura Plourde holds a master’s in library science.
“So, God just continues to send us the people who are going to carry his mission here,” said Father Bashista. “It is a vast, collaborative effort.”
Noting that “everybody has to stretch a dollar today,” Father Bashista hopes the library can offer a thrifty alternative for book purchases. It’s also computer-equipped for faith formation classes.
Father Bashista, a trained architect, observed that, in addition to their hospitable ambience, the improved spaces have achieved another purpose. He now finds “many people staying after Mass — hanging out, building community.”
Shoppers browsed the shelves and walls of the gift shop, which feature a variety of religious items at all price points — books, art and icons, statues, and rosaries.
Lorrie Aitken, who bought a children’s Bible for an upcoming first Communion, was delighted with the selection. “I’m thrilled,” she said. “I can’t wait to get more stuff.”
Kiesner, a parishioner of 35 years, previously taught at the parish school, St. Thomas Aquinas Regional.
“Father just kept trying to recruit me into different things,” Kiesner said. “And I said to him one day, ‘Well, when you get that gift shop going, I’ll tell you about my retail background.’ So that’s how it came about.”
Kiesner spent the summer establishing relationships with vendors and scouting the competition. Unlike some parish gift shops, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s will be open daily, with various hours, for a total of 21 hours.
Next door, Plourde, a military veteran who said she practically grew up in a library, distributed colorful plastic library cards emblazoned with the parish logo.
“This was a good opportunity to use what I’ve learned, and use what I’m qualified to do,” Plourde said, “and to do it for our parish.”
Heatherington is a freelancer in Alexandria.
