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St. Lawrence Parish celebrates golden anniversary

Michael Flach | Catholic Herald

Fr. Ronald J. Gripshover (standing at right), pastor, and Fr. Daniel S. Spychala, parochial vicar, show former pastor Fr. Franklyn M. McAfee the memorial plaque bearing his name as the founder of the parish rose garden. Michael Flach | Catholic Herald

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Former St. Lawrence pastors concelebrating the May 20 anniversary Mass included (from left): Msgr. Frank Mahler, Fr. Christopher Mould and Fr. Franklyn McAfee. Michael Flach | Catholic Herald

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Msgr. Frank E. Mahler, the founding pastor, talks with parishioners Sarah and Terry Bolger, following the May 20 golden anniversary Mass. Michael Flach | Catholic Herald

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“What can we do to help?”

That saying epitomizes what St. Lawrence Church in Alexandria is all
about, said Msgr. Frank E. Mahler, the founding pastor of the parish.

“If there’s one legacy for this parish, it’s the care of the
needy poor,” he said.

Msgr. Mahler was the homilist for the parish’s golden anniversary
Mass May 20, which was celebrated by Arlington Bishop Michael F. Burbidge.

Msgr. Mahler was joined by two other former pastors — Father
Franklyn M. McAfee and Father Christopher J. Mould — as well as the current
pastor, Father Ronald J. Gripshover, and parochial vicar, Father Daniel S. Spychala.
Deacon Michael Waters assisted at the altar.

“It is a great joy for me to be with all of you this evening,”
Bishop Burbidge said. “We give thanks to God for the many blessings bestowed
upon this parish over the past 50 years.”

At the end of Mass, the bishop presented Father Gripshover with a
papal blessing in honor of the anniversary.

Father Gripshover said that that in a meaningful nod to the
history of St. Lawrence, the chalice used by Bishop Burbidge at the anniversary
Mass once belonged  to Father Austin
Ryder, the parish’s second pastor. Bishop John R. Keating gave the chalice to
Father Spychala when he was ordained to the priesthood as Father Ryder left it
to the diocese when he died.

Msgr. Mahler, who served as pastor at St. Lawrence from 1967 to
1972, recalled how he purchased the land for the new church for $50,000 and a
house that was used as a temporary rectory for $27,500.

He celebrated Mass at nearby Thomas Edison High School until the
church was dedicated in December 1970 by Richmond Bishop John J. Russell. Bill
Curley was the lector for the first reading at the anniversary Mass and he also
was the lector for the church dedication in 1970.

Oblate priests from Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria
assisted with Sunday Masses and Msgr. Mahler’s first assistant pastor was
Father Paschal Balkan, a Trappist monk who he said had a penchant for ice
cream.

“The generosity of the people has made this a beautiful church,”
he said.

Msgr. Mahler noted the great legacy of religious vocations that
has blessed the parish. Three former parishioners currently serve as diocesan
priests: Father Robert J. Wagner, Bishop Burbidge’s secretary; Father Anthony J.
Killian, parochial vicar of St. John the Apostle Church in Leesburg; and Father
Ramon A. Baez, parochial vicar of Good Shepherd Church in Alexandria. 

In addition, Father Stanley Bosch, the son of the late Deacon
Joseph Bosch, is a member of the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity,
a religious community working with the poor and abandoned in Los Angeles.

Bishop Burbidge is scheduled to ordain another former
parishioner, Deacon Steven Oetjen, to the priesthood June 10 at the Cathedral
of St. Thomas More in Arlington.

“We’re all in this vocation work together,” Msgr. Mahler said.

 See and buy photos from the 50th anniversary celebration at catholicherald.smugmug.com.

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