“From the Archives” — The Blizzard of 2016

Alexandria’s most impressive snowstorms typically have occurred in January and February. Regardless of the weather, Masses take place at Saint Mary since the priests reside in a rectory attached to the church and they can reach the church without going outside. A large snow (also called “Snowmageddon”) that hit the Washington, DC, area in January 2016 did not stop the annual March for Life. The city of Washington cleared Pennsylvania Avenue so Pro- Life marchers, including a contingent from Saint Mary, could trudge from the Mall to the U.S. Capitol and U.S. Supreme Court, defying the snow and cold temperatures, witnessing to the sanctify of life.

The Blizzard of 2016 also did not stop a wedding in Saint Mary Church, which made the front page of the Arlington Catholic Herald: “Despite a record-breaking snowstorm last weekend, the wedding of Jenna and William McLaugh- lin took place as scheduled at St. Mary Church in Old Town Alexandria. The couple braved near white-out condi- tions during the height of the blizzard to get to their reception at a nearby hotel. Fr. Gregory Thompson, chaplain of Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington and a cousin of the bride, officiated.”