Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church

Here follows an excerpt from the church's website:

During World War II, the housing shortage in the Washington Metropolitan area was legendary, the subject of magazine articles, radio comedians’ jokes, and even movies.

Building Blessing:
To provide some housing for the multitudes of federal workers and military personnel, particularly those in the newly built Pentagon, the federal government subsidized the building of North and South Fairlington and Park Fairfax astride Virginia Highway 350 (Shirley Highway) in Arlington and Alexandria, less than four miles south of the Pentagon. The more than 2,500 families in these developments included hundreds of Catholic families.

Recognizing the needs of these families, in 1943, Bishop Peter L. Ireton of Richmond directed Fr. Edward L Stephens, newly appointed pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Alexandria, to buy sufficient land for the ultimate construction of a complete parish plant for the people of Fairlington and Park Fairfax. In four separate purchases in 1943 and 1944, Fr. Stephens bought 24 lots (about 3 acres) in the West Braddock Heights Subdivision on West Braddock Road in Alexandria. The total cost was $34,200.

On April 16, 1944, the Sunday after Easter, Fr. Stephens celebrated Mass in Fairlington Elementary School. On that Sunday, a group led by Virgil C. Funk, Sr., collected the names of and distributed envelope boxes to 163 persons, noting that there were many more to be added in the coming weeks. Within a year, Fr. Stephens and his assistants were celebrating four Masses at “Blessed Sacrament Mission” each Sunday.

Original Church:
Building materials were impossible to obtain during the war. With the war’s end in August 1945, an architect and a construction firm were retained to build a church. The intent was to erect a building that would serve as a church for some years and could later be converted to a parish hall or gymnasium. The eventual church was to be built on the block to the north of the temporary church. Excavation started in September 1945, but shortages of materials delayed completion until September 1946. The cost was $90,000.

On December 20, 1945, during the course of construction, Bishop Ireton appointed Fr. Martin T. Quinn, then pastor of St. John’s Church in Front Royal, as the first pastor of Blessed Sacrament, Monsignor Quinn thereby establishing an independent parish. Born in Roscommon County in Ireland and trained for the priesthood there, Fr. Quinn had come to the United States shortly after his ordination in 1926. He was one of the many Irish priests to come to the Richmond Diocese, which had no seminary to train its own priests. Through the years, Fr. Quinn was influential in bringing many other young Irish priests to the Richmond Diocese.

Fr. Quinn was installed by Fr. Stephens on January 20, 1946, which is regarded as the official parish birthday. The first Assistant Pastor was the recently ordained Rev. Vincent L. Campi. The priests lived in two bungalows next to the church. In December 1947, the parish would buy a frame house, the “white house,” facing Cypress (now Kenwood) and convert it to a rectory. Two masses were celebrated on weekdays in the rectory.

After two years, the Fairlington School auditorium could no longer accommodate the increasing congregation. On Easter Sunday, 1946, the owners of the Centre Theatre, immediately to the north of the construction site on Quaker Lane, granted the parish use of the theater for Sunday and Holy Day Masses, free of charge. Because parishioners quickly became used to its comfortable seating and summer air conditioning, the priests looked forward to moving to the new church with some trepidation.

On September 15, 1946, Bishop Ireton dedicated the new church, which faced West Braddock Road at the corner of Braddock and what is now Radford. Fr. Stephens delivered the homily. At the time of the dedication, 700 families were registered. Virgil Funk would later write about the event: “Bishop Ireton blessed the cornerstone and dedicated the church so that Blessed Sacrament, already a people, became a place as well.”

With the end of World War II and the return of veterans, Blessed Sacrament’s population steadily grew, attendance was to so grow that the community celebrated eight masses each Sunday, using the main church and the basement simultaneously. The liturgy was like that everywhere in the Roman Rite-mass in Latin, priest’s back to the people, altar boys reciting responses in Latin, the congregation following the mass in personal missals or reciting their own private prayers, and communicants kneeling at a communion rail separating the altar from the body of the church.

Downstairs Church:
By 1983, the parish was forced to choose between a substantial renovation of the church or constructing a new one. An architectural firm was commissioned to study the feasibility of a new church. Parish property along West Braddock Road was chosen as the best location and proceeds from the sale of the old church property provided part of the funds required for the new church. Parishioners pledged over $750,000 during fundraising to cover additional building costs.

On Sunday, June 8, 1986, Blessed Sacrament celebrated two significant events in its history. Founding Pastor Martin T. Quinn celebrated his 60th anniversary as a priest and ground was broken for the new church. On August 18, 1986, Bishop Keating approved a revised building plan which included a school and a gym. In April 1987, the parish lost its beloved pastor, Monsignor Quinn. On September 10, 1988, Blessed Sacrament parish moved into its new church and school.

The overall design of the church and school buildings are modeled after medieval cloisters and Mediterranean villages built around an open plaza, with covered walkways which brings the people into frequent contact with one another as they wander the facilities. Persons entering the worship space are immediately confronted by the baptismal font, in which new members are brought into the community. The continually running waters of the font and the flowing waters of the stained glass window above the font add to the serenity of the worship space.


<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>
<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>

Here follows an excerpt from the Arlington Catholic Herald newspaper:

‘A great name for a parish’
Written by Kevin Schweers | Catholic Herald Executive Editor of Content
12/21/21

Nestled near the often-gridlocked intersection of three major Alexandria arteries — King Street, Quaker Lane and Braddock Road — Blessed Sacrament Church is a peaceful respite for spiritual renewal and fortification for countless Catholics. As they reflect on its establishment 75 years ago, longtime parishioners say don’t let its tranquil interior fool you: parish life here abounds with a bustling array of vibrant ministries and ways to get involved.

That legacy dates back to its earliest days, said Msgr. John C. Cregan, who served as pastor for 19 years. He returned to give the homily at a Mass Dec. 19 celebrated by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge to mark the parish’s jubilee year on the fourth Sunday of Advent.

When the first church was built, its basement was converted into a homeless shelter, which accommodated as many as 60 people on cold, winter nights, and eventually paved the way for the establishment of Carpenter’s Shelter in Alexandria.

“That became so much of a part of this parish: reaching out in so many ways to help other people in need. To be aware of what’s going on and to be involved in social justice issues,” said Msgr. Cregan. “In the heart of this parish from the beginning was a desire to share the blessings that they had received with many other people.”

For 10 years during its early history, Blessed Sacrament adopted a parish in West Virginia. After that parish became self-sufficient, the church’s leaders struck a new partnership with a parish in Honduras. As parishioners returned from visiting their Central American friends, Msgr. Cregan said many wondered who benefited most from the exchange. “So many lives were touched and we were enriched by that relationship.”

“It has always been an extremely active parish,” said Ginger Harrington, who joined the parish as a toddler when her parents helped establish it in 1946.

Blessed Sacrament’s zeal for outreach and engagement, she said, was fueled in part by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, the school’s first faculty members. Sister M. Laurentia Boyle started a social group that drew people in as well as a visiting committee that ministered to the homebound.

“That same spirit has always existed,” Harrington said. “I hope it never goes away.”

Longtime parishioner Pat McArtor agreed that Blessed Sacrament is very active in the community. For 60 years, she volunteered to work the polling place the church hosted every election. Reflecting on the 75th anniversary, she recalled her sister’s wedding and other family milestones. “I can still see my parents at the midnight Mass.”

Father John D. Kelly, pastor since 2015, said the jubilee was “a great blessing for our parish,” which has grown and prospered. He noted that parishioners support many ministries and a wide range of charities, including efforts to address food insecurity, such as Catholic Charities’ St. Lucy Food Project, ALIVE! and the Mother of Light Center. Blessed Sacrament School has achieved national recognition. At Sunday’s Mass, he thanked Bishop Burbidge, Msgr. Cregan and the parishioners.

“You are the living Blessed Sacrament. You are the good and faithful people who come each day, who come each week, who support us, (and) pray together to receive the holy sacraments. So, we thank you for all that you do to make our parish the wonderful place it is.”

Parishioners say the feeling is mutual. Father Kelly “is very approachable, like the monsignor,” said Kevin Harr, a member of the Knights of Columbus.

The parish’s history started during World War II, which drew many people to the Washington area, either in military service or as part of the federal civilian workforce. The federal government subsidized construction of the North and South Fairlington and Park Fairfax housing developments. Of the thousands of families that relocated here, hundreds were Catholic. That prompted Richmond Bishop Peter L. Ireton to take steps that culminated in the Jan. 20, 1946, installation of Fr. Martin T. Quinn as Blessed Sacrament’s first pastor.

For a time, the parish gathered for Mass at the since-demolished Centre Theater on Quaker Lane. While they came to worship, sometimes they lingered for entertainment and the air conditioning, especially during summer months.

“We’d go to the noon Mass,” Harrington said. “After that they would take the altar down and we would stay for a movie, maybe even a double feature.”

“What a great name for a parish,” Msgr. Cregan said in his homily. He recalled cases he witnessed of the Blessed Sacrament sustaining individuals through severe illnesses, inspiring the young in their faith and leading lapsed Catholics back to rediscover theirs. “To see the hope in people’s eyes, when you bring them the Eucharist,” he remarked.

He shared the words of St. John Paul II at the conclusion of the World Youth Day in 2000, which was attended by millions, including the Blessed Sacrament youth group: Love the Eucharist. Cherish the Eucharist. Center your life on the Eucharist.

“And so here we find out more and more clearly that Jesus is the vine and we are the branches,” Msgr. Cregan said. “Without him, we can do nothing. But with him, great things will continue to happen for this parish, for our church and for our country.”