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Fr. Gerald Weymes, pastor of St. Timothy in Chantilly, retires after 43 years of priestly service

Elizabeth A. Elliott | Catholic Herald Staff Writer

Fr. Gerald Weymes, pastor of St. Timothy Church in Chantilly, blesses the new entrance to the school Sept. 30, 2016. MARY STACHYRA LOPEZ | CATHOLIC HERALD FILE

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Fr. Gerald Weymes, pastor of St. Timothy Church in Chantilly, lights the paschal candle during the Easter Vigil in 2015. GERALD MARTINEAU | CATHOLIC HERALD FILE

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Have you ever
seen a priest with green hair?

When Christy
Brown was getting married in Ireland 20 years ago, she dyed her hair blue and
purple. Father Gerald Weymes dyed his hair green for the day to celebrate her
nuptial Mass.

“It surprised
everyone. He has a tremendous sense of humor,” said Christy’s mother, Judie,
president and co-founder of American Life League in Stafford. “They share a
close bond and he wanted to be fully into her wedding and familiar with her in
a spiritual and artistic way.” 

The Browns
met Father Weymes when he was pastor of St. William of York Church in Stafford
in 1988.

That’s just
one of the stories former parishioners and friends tell about Father Weymes,
pastor of St. Timothy Church in Chantilly, as he is set to retire June 28. The
Irish priest, originally recruited to the Richmond Diocese, spent his 43 years
at a variety of parishes in the Arlington Diocese, which was established in
1974.

Father Weymes
said he has not had time to sort out his retirement plans, but he hopes to be
able to help around the diocese.

Though Father
Weymes calls it simply pastoral care, Maria Ho, religious education director at
St. Timothy, was grateful when he came to baptize her 91-year-old mother-in-law
who wanted to convert to Catholicism, but could not leave the house.

“We are very
grateful to Father for his kindness and speedy action to save souls,” said Ho.

Father Weymes
is described by those who know him as generous and a “priest’s priest,”
according to Father Anthony Pinizzotto, parochial vicar at St. Luke Church in
McLean.

“Never has a
priest gone to him for anything that he didn’t respond to in the affirmative,”
he said. “He welcomes people with open arms.”

Father
Pinizzotto experienced that generosity when he was looking for a place to stay.
As an Oblate of St. Francis de Sales working with the FBI in Quantico, Father
Pinizzotto met Father Weymes for lunch and explained his situation. Father
Weymes immediately invited him to stay in the Stafford rectory and told him to
make himself at home.

“One of the
nice things about living with him is you’re not living in his rectory,” said
Father Pinizzotto. “You’re living in your home.”

Father Weymes
often can be found in front of the Blessed Sacrament or walking with a rosary
in his hand. His devotion to the Blessed Mother extends to writing a song and a
novena titled “Mary, Mother of Life.”

Father Weymes
is both a chef and entertainer. He said he models himself after St. John
Vianney who said, “When entertaining your own, it should be the best you can
do.”

“You cannot
get a better example than the saints,” Father Weymes said.

He loves to
sing and enjoys quoting from William Shakespeare and Irish literary giants,
according to Father Pinizzotto. “He not only recites them, but recites them
with energy,” he said. “It is fun watching him recite a monologue or act out
different parts.”

He was born
in Dublin Feb. 10, 1942, and attended St. John Seminary in Waterford, Ireland.
He has a theater background and shared the same drama teacher as actress
Maureen O’Hara.  Though he was 15 years
younger, he was in school with one of her nephews. When she died in 2014,
Father Weymes celebrated the Mass of Christian Burial at St. Charles Borromeo
Church in Arlington.

He was
ordained to the priesthood June 2, 1974, by Bishop Michael Russell in Ireland,
and came to the United States when he was 32. His first assignment was as
associate pastor of St. Agnes Church in Arlington in 1974, before becoming
associate pastor and administrator pro tem at St. Mary Church in Fredericksburg,
1977-78. He then became associate pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church in
Alexandria in 1980 and at St. Mary Church in Alexandria in 1981.

Father Weymes
was diocesan Scouting chaplain from 1981 to 1985. He became associate pastor of
St. Ann Church in Arlington in 1984 and pastor of St. William of York in 1988.
He has been pastor at St. Timothy since 1999.

When asked if
he had a favorite assignment, Father Weymes said every assignment was his
favorite at the time. “I’ve had a wonderful time with the people,” he said.
“Being a pastor has been the greatest experience of my life.”

Father Weymes
has this advice for the newly ordained priests: “Say your prayers and love your
people.”  

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