1/8/2024 0 Comments St rita church neverlandEverett, whose feast is celebrated on March 22nd. Rita Parish would not be complete without mention of St. In the fall of 2011 this prompted the addition to the school of a new preschool (located in the Parish Center building), which offers these parents a unique program for their children, including the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori-based program for teaching children the Faith.Ī history of St. This annual celebration brings together not only the Hispanic Community but also parishioners from the English-speaking community.Īnother recent demographic change is the addition of more and more young families to the parish, complementing the base of long-standing parishioners. The Hispanic Community also organizes a celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe every December, complete with a Mariachi band, as well as hot chocolate offered after Mass. The Hispanic Community provides a rich contribution to the life of the parish and supports many apostolates, including an active Legion of Mary group, a young adult group, and a group that meets weekly in the church to pray and worship God through music. Recent decades have also seen a demographic shift in the region, including an influx of immigrants from Central America, which led to the addition of a weekly Sunday Mass in Spanish at St. Today the new organ continues to foster reverence and beauty in worship, and to support St. Rita’s long tradition of elevating worship through music, which began with a simple pump organ in the old church on Hickory Street. The organ was dedicated in 1990 and continues St. One notable addition to the parish since the celebration of the 50th anniversary in 1974 is the installation of a magnificent pipe organ. Rita’s has continued to thrive as a parish under the leadership of several pastors, including Father Martin McGuill (1986-1992), Father Clarence Watkins (1992-2000), Father Denis Donahue (2000-2010), Father Daniel Gee (2010-2021), and Father Christopher Christensen (2021-present). In the nearly 50 years that have followed since that Golden Jubilee celebration, St. Welsh, was an honored guest and speaker at the Golden Jubilee Mass on September 21, 1974, commemorating the date St. The Bishop of the newly formed Diocese of Arlington, Most Reverend Thomas J. During Father Bradican’s tenure, the parish celebrated its 50th Anniversary (in 1974) with a year full of celebrations. Rita’s was the re-decoration of the church interior, including the cleaning of the stone arches, and the addition of oriental rugs in the sanctuary. On many a hot summer Sunday, parishioners can be grateful to Father Browne, who installed central air-conditioning in the church.įollowing Father Browne’s transfer in 1972, Father Francis L. Father Browne fostered the establishment of a unit of the Legion of Mary and promoted the Fifty-Plus Club. In 1967, following Monsignor Gallagher’s retirement, Father Edward P. Dedication Mass in the new Church building, celebrated by Father Koster. Bishop Ireton, Bishop of Richmond, lays the cornerstone on December 18, 1949. Sometimes he and his associates visited more than 100 homes in a week, creating a strong bond between the priests and their parishioners.įather Gallagher (with shovel), Father McGonigle, and members of the congregation at ground-breaking for Saint Rita Church on Russell Road on September 8, 1948.īelow is an illustrated timeline of the building of Saint Rita on Russell Road. In addition to his commitment to Catholic education, Monsignor Gallagher was known for his dedication to making a visitation of the parish every year. Rita School was dedicated in September 1952, and originally was staffed by the Sisters of St. Described as a beautiful example of Gothic architecture, the church was constructed of Virginia fieldstone and Indiana limestone. Despite the difficulty of securing materials during the Korean War, Saint Rita Church was dedicated on December 18, 1949, with Bishop Peter L. In the meantime, in order to accommodate additional Masses, Mass was offered in the Palm Theatre, as well as the Vernon Theatre.Īfter Father Koster’s transfer in 1947, the new pastor, Father Gallagher, embarked on a program of construction which would give Saint Rita a complete plant including church, school, rectory, convent and annex. Father Koster secured three acres on Russell Road from the Beall and Conlon families. Father Koster and Mission Helps of the Sacred Heart, First Communion, 1943īy 1940 the parish had grown to 1,000 people and a new church was needed.
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