St. Mary Catholic Church. Photo by Vernon Miles.
George Washington wasn’t Catholic, but he was a man who knew the importance of loyalty. So when his former aide-de-camp Lt. Col. John Fitzgerald, an immigrant from Ireland running a mercantile business in Alexandria, put out the call for a fundraiser to support a local Catholic church, Washington couldn’t refuse. At a fundraiser hosted by Fitzgerald, Washington contributed the equivalent to $1,200 today. St. Mary Catholic Church was established as the first Catholic church in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Now, 230 years later, Washington’s contribution to his old comrade is still paying off. On Jan. 14, St. Mary Catholic Church was decreed the first basilica in Northern Virginia.
“It was very exciting to receive that honor from the Holy Father,” said Father Edward Hathaway, pastor of St. Mary. “It’s given to very few churches in the country. It’s an honor to be the 84th named basilica and that recognition of the important role [in history].”
There’s one of three criteria that can qualify a church as a basilica. A basilica can contain the relics of a saint, like the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg, Md. It can receive the designation for certain architectural significance, like the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Or a church can be designated as a basilica for the church’s historical significance, like St. Mary Catholic Church.
“Recognition is good for the local community,” said Hathaway. “It’s a way for non-Catholics to be aware of the history of St. Mary’s. Receiving that honor highlights the parish, and maybe non-local residents might come and learn about our story.”
The original St. Mary Catholic Church was moved to its current location on S. Royal Street in 1810. However, Hathaway said the designation focuses on the people of St. Mary.
“This designation highlights the parish, it’s not about the building,” said Hathaway. “It’s about the story and the role the church has played here for over 223 years.”
“It’s a real honor to have St. Mary’s go from a regular parish to a minor basilica,” said Kenneth Wolfe, a parishioner at St. Mary Catholic Church. “It’s not something that is a common occurrence.”
Wolfe said what makes St. Mary Catholic Church special to him was its accessibility.
“People may not know about its accessibility,” said Wolfe. “It stays open, sometimes as late as 9 p.m. Anyone can come in and pray, and I think that’s remarkable in 2018. Chances are the average church in a city is locked by 3 p.m.”
Wolfe said discussions about trying to get the church’s historic role recognized have been ongoing for the last year, but it was a parishioner named Mary Petrino and Hathaway that really worked for years to take the case to the bishop, and then up to the Vatican.
“I heard about it from the people working on it about a year and a half ago and was very supportive of it,” said Wolfe. “I’m glad they persevered.”