From the Archives – History Series on the Basilica of Saint Mary

In 2020, to commemorate the 225th anniversary of our parish, we started “From the Archives” as a weekly feature online and in our bulletin to spotlight the history of Saint Mary’s. Due to its popularity, we are continuing the series in 2021.

• Introduction – January 5, 2020
• History of Our Baptismal Font – January 12, 2020
• Going to Confession – January 19, 2020
• A Special Message from Father Stephens about Saint Mary’s School – January 26, 2020
• A Requiem Mass for Pope Pius IX in 1878 – February 2, 2020
• Monsignor Stephens Gets and Answered Prayer from Lourdes – February 9, 2020
• George Washington and the Basilica of Saint Mary – February 16, 2020
• Stations of the Cross – February 23, 2020
• Consecration of the Current Church Building – March 1, 2020
• A Missing Masterpiece – March 8, 2020
• Saint Joseph in the Basilica of Saint Mary – March 15, 2020
• Confirmation During the Civil War – March 22, 2020
• The Influenza Epidemic of 1918 – March 29, 2020
• The Lamb of God in the Basilica – April 5, 2020
• Parish Firsts – April 12, 2020
• The Xaverian Brothers’ School – April 19, 2020
• Altar Boy Antics – April 26, 2020
• World Events in 1795 – May 3, 2020
• Irish Grocer Rosey Latham Vaccari – May 10, 2020
• May Procession and Crowning at Saint Mary – May 17, 2020
• Streetcars on South Royal Street – May 24, 2020
• 1945 Chalice from Saint Rita’s – May 25, 2020 – Memorial Day
• Early Parish Ordinations to the Priesthood – May 31, 2020
• The Impact of the Civil War on One Parish Family – June 7, 2020
• The History of Our Sacred Heart of Jesus Statue – June 14, 2020
• The History of Our Saint Thomas More Statue – June 21, 2020
• Saint Mary’s Early Black Parishioners, Slave and Free – June 28, 2020
• The Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary War Soldier – July 5, 2020
• Black Catholics at Saint Mary and the Founding of Saint Joseph’s Parish – July 12, 2020
• 1929 Fire at Saint Mary’s – July 19, 2020
• Black Catholic Life in Alexandria in the Early 20th Century – July 26, 2020
• The History of Our Rectory – August 2, 2020
• Early Artists at Saint Mary Parish – August 9, 2020
• Thomasina Elizabeth Jordan – August 16, 2020
• The 2011 Earthquake – August 23, 2020
• Pioneer Black Educators from Saint Mary Parish – August 30, 2020
• Father Patrick Healy, S.J. – September 6, 2020
• The Assassination of President Abraham Lincoln – September 13, 2020
• Father Rankin and the House at 314 Duke Street – September 20, 2020
• Our School Playground in the 1950s – September 27, 2020
• Saint Mary School and World War II – October 4, 2020
• Oktoberfest – October 11, 2020
• Father James Aloysius Martin, S.J. – October 18, 2020
• Mass Manners – October 25, 2020
• Unusual Cemetery Notes – October 31, 2020
• The Italians at Saint Mary’s – November 8, 2020
• More History from Saint Mary Cemetery – November 15, 2020
• Ministering to Woodbine – November 22, 2020
• Hurricane Katrina Missions – November 29, 2020
• World War II and Saint Mary School – December 6, 2020
• Monsignor Robert Avella – December 13, 2020
• The Musical Monroe Family – December 20, 2020
• The Holy Cross Sisters – December 27, 2020
• Saint Louis Mission – January 3, 2021
• Saint Joseph at the Basilica of Saint Mary – January 10, 2021
• Father Stephen L. Dubuisson – January 17, 2021
• Saint Mary’s and the Pro-Life Movement – January 24, 2021
• Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart – January 31, 2021
• Side Altars in the Church – February 7, 2021
• Saint Rita Mission – February 14, 2021
• Father John F. Aiken – February 21, 2021
• The Alms House – February 28, 2021
• Saint Mary’s Lyceum – March 7, 2021
• A Parish Mission from 100 Years Ago – March 14, 2021
• Saint James Mission – March 21, 2021
• Father Kroes and the Civil War – March 28, 2021
• First Diocesan Pastor and Major Reconstruction – April 4, 2021
• The Divine Mercy Image in the Basilica – April 11, 2021
• Pew Customs – April 18, 2021
• Colonel John S. Mosey: In the Wrong Place at the Right Time – April 25, 2021
• First Communion at Saint Mary in 1872 – May 2, 2021
• Statue of the Blessed Mother in the Sanctuary – May 9, 2021
• Our Mission in Maryland – May 16, 2021
• Anti-Catholic Sentiment – May 23, 2021
• Priests at Saint Mary: 1830s through 1850s (Part I) – May 30, 2021
• Ordinations at Saint Mary – June 6, 2021
• Catholic Daughters of the Americas at Saint Mary: The Beginning – June 13, 2021
• Priests at Saint Mary: 1830s through 1850s (Part II) – June 20, 2021
• Emily the Cat – June 27, 2021
• Father Joseph P. O’Hagan – July 4, 2021
• James Shaw of the Washington Senators Baseball Team – July 11, 2021
• Monsignor Stephens’ Hearing Aids – July 18, 2021
• Saint Mary’s Boxing Club – July 25, 2021
• Saint Mary’s Stained Glass Windows – August 1, 2021
• Early Religious Vocations – August 8,  2021
• John Lannon, Parishioner and Young Businessman – Aug. 15, 2021
• 10 Years Ago: 2011 Earthquake – August 21, 2021
• Saint Mary’s Stained Glass Windows – August 29, 2021
• Saint Mary’s Ladies’ Altar Society – September 7, 2021
• Saint Mary and the September 11, 2001 Attacks – September 12, 2021
• A New Diocese – September 18, 2021
• Monsignor Frank J. Hendrick – September 26, 2021
• Catholic Education in the 1950s and 1960s: More than Just Dick & Jane – October 3, 2021
• Civil War Cruises – October 11, 2021
• Saint Mary’s Stained Glass Windows, Part 3 — October 24, 2021
• Revolutionary War Veterans Resting in Saint Mary Cemetery — October 31, 2021
• Union Solders in Saint Mary Cemetery — November 7, 2021
• Blessed Sacrament, Our World War II Mission — November 14, 2021
• Lamb of God Triumphant Skylight — November 21, 2021
• Catholicism in the Colonies — November 28, 2021
• The Panic of 1873 — December 5, 2021
• 2106 Jubilee Year of Mercy — December 12, 2021
• Civil War-Era Christmas at Saint Mary Church — December 19. 2021
• Holy Family Symbolism — December 26, 2021
• Father Joseph Finotti — January 2, 2022
• Bob McCaslin — January 9, 2022
• The Lawler Family — January 16, 2022
• Saint Mary’s Stained Glass Windows, Part 4 — January 22, 2022
• The Last Two Holy Cross Sisters At Saint Mary — January 30, 2022
• Funerals — A Century Ago — February 6, 2022
• Early Jesuit Priests at Saint Mary– February 13, 2022
• President George Washington and Saint Mary Parish — February 20, 2022
• Stations of the Cross — February 27, 2022
• Itinerant Priests at Saint Mary — March 6, 2022
• Two White Caskets — March 13, 2022
• Civil War and Confirmation — March 20, 2022
• Jesuit Brothers Serving at Saint Mary — April 3, 2022
• Keeper of the Gate: Danny Barnett — April 10, 2022
• Saint Mary and World War II — April 17, 2022
• Father Leo Massei and Vatican II — April 24, 2022
• George Brent, Reluctant Rebel — May 1, 2022
• Saint Mary School & The Woodrow Wilson Bridge — May 8, 2022
• The Mystery Bell– May 15, 2022  
• Parish Bereavement Committee Serving For 25 Years! — May 22, 2022       
• Baltimore Archbishop Visits Saint Mary, 1818 — May 29, 2022
• Civil War Comes to Alexandria — June 5, 2022
• Francis C. Hammond — June 12, 2022
• Jane & Carrie Crouch — June 19, 2022
• Father O’Kane, Last Jesuit Pastor — June 26, 2022
• Countering Anti-Catholic Sentiment — July 3, 2022
• The 1995 Bicentennial — July 10, 2022
• Saint Anthony Mission — July 17, 2022
• A New Church Is Consecrated — July 24, 2022
  
• Defending the Faith — July 31, 2022
• Virginia’s Earliest Catholic Settlers Memorialized — August 7, 2022
• The Great Depression, Frozen Custard & Father Rankin! — August 14, 2022
• First Public Catholic Mass in Alexandria — August 21, 2022
• The Crusaders — August 28, 2022
• Academy for Young Ladies — September 4, 2022
• Saint Mary’s Stained-Glass Windows, Part 5 — September 11, 2022
• Father Louis J. Smet — September 18, 2022
• Cemetery Improvements — September 25, 2022
• Saint Mary’s Stained-Glass Windows, Part 6 — October 2, 2022
• Owls in the Belfry — October 9, 2022
• Saint Mary’s Stained-Glass Windows, Part 7 — October 16, 2022
• Saint Mary of Sorrows Mission Church — October 22, 2022
• Garden Statues — October 30, 2022
• Saint Mary’s Stained-Glass Windows, Part 8 — November 8, 2022
• Saint Joseph in the Basilica — November 13, 2022
• Saint Mary of Sorrows Mission Church — November 20, 2022
• Saint Mary’s Stained-Glass Windows, Part 9–November 27, 2022
  
• First Baptism at Saint Mary — December 4, 2022
• Father Stanley J. Krempa — December 11, 2022
•  First Burial at Saint Mary Cemetery — December 18, 2022
• A Christmas Tree Calamity Averted! — December 25, 2022
• First Burial at Saint Mary Cemetery — January 1, 2023
• First Burial at Saint Mary Cemetery — January 8, 2023
• First Confirmations at Saint Mary — January 15, 2023

• The Xaverian Brothers’ School — January 23, 2023

• Celebrating Mass in Secret in the Late 1700s — February 5, 2023

• Thomas Tracy — February 12, 2023
• 1868 Black Children’s Sunday School Exhibition —February 19, 2023

• First Saint Mary Women to Enter Religious Life –February 26, 2023

• “Bull’s Eye” Windows — March 5, 2023
• Father Lawrence Kelly — March 12, 2023
  
• A Unique Catholic Event — March 19, 2023
• Special Events at Saint Mary in The 19th Century — March 26, 2023
• The Diocese of Richmond — April 2, 2023
• Basilica of Saint Mary Ceiling Paintings — April 9, 2023
• Basilica Ceiling Painting of The Holy Trinity — April 16, 2023
• The Assumption of Mary Ceiling Painting — April 23, 2023
• Ceiling Painting: The Death of Saint Joseph — April 30, 2023
• Parish Organizations of The Past – Part One — May 7, 2023
• Parish Organizations of The Past – Part 2 — May 14, 2023
• Mother M. Vincentia, C.S.C., and the Fannon Family — May 21, 2023
• Saint Mary School & World War II Air Raids – May 28, 2023
• Altar Boys — A Century Ago – June 4, 2023
• Father Benjamin Aloysius Young, S.J. – June 11, 2023
• How Saint Mary Church Almost Moved from Royal Street – June 18, 2023
• Saint Mary As A “Mission” Church — June 25, 2023
• Independence Day, 1828 — July 2, 2023
• Saint Mary Cemetery Plaque – July 9, 2023
• Permanent Diaconate: An Old Custom Revived – July 16, 2023
• A Modern-Day Missionary, Sister M. Bruno, C.S.C. — July 23, 2023
• Evangelism, 1920 — July 30, 2023
• Lawrence Hurdle: Revolutionary War Veteran — August 6, 2023
• Zorobabel Hill, A Fascinating Parishioner — August 13, 2023
• Saint John’s Academy in Wartime – August 20, 2023
• A Sad Saint Mary Family Saga — August 27, 2023
• Saint Mary School in the New York Times — September 3, 2023
• A New Cross for The Church — September 10, 2023
• Father Kleinmann And The Packers — September 17, 2023
• Holy Cross Convent Humor – September 24, 2023
• Movies at Saint Mary School — October 1, 2023

• One Way to Pay for Church Improvements – October 8, 2023

• A New Cross for The Church – October 15, 2023

• Aide-De-Camp Colonel John Fitzgerald — October 22, 2023

• Saint Mary Makes News in 1798 — October 29, 2023 

• The Saint Vincent de Paul Society — November 5, 2023
• Reverend George Doane, Civil War Chaplain — November 12, 2023
• Flags Displayed in The Basilica – November 19, 2023

• Judge Enoch Magruder Lowe – November 26, 2023

• Saint Mary Parish and The War Of 1812 – December 3, 2023

• Let There Be Light! Two Centuries of Change — December 10, 2023
• Basilica School of Saint Mary — Its Long History – December 17, 2023

• Winter & Pot-Bellied Stoves — December 24, 2023

• Francis P. Hagan, Patriot — December 31, 2023

• George Mason’s Catholic Descendants — January 7, 2024

• Basilica of Saint Mary Altars — January 14, 2024

• Extremely Odd Occurrences — January 21, 2024

• Saint Mary School Featured In The New York Times — January 28, 2024

• Philip N. Dwyer, Architect – February 4, 2024

• How Big Is the Basilica of Saint Mary? — February 11, 2024

• President George Washington & Saint Mary Parish — February 18, 2024

• Hugh Latham, Mayor of Alexandria — February 25, 2024

• “A Singular Incident” – March 3, 2024

• Reverend John Thayer (1755-1815) — March 10, 2024

• Irish Women & Saint Mary Parish – March 17, 2024

• Father J. Bryan Hehir, Priest in Residence – March 24, 2024

• Finding Father Smet — March 31, 2024
• Duke Street Houses — April 7, 2024
• Prelates in Alexandria — April 14, 2024
• Charles Lloyd Neale — April 21, 2024
• Church Organs  — April 28, 2024

• Crucifixion Painting Update — May 5, 2024

• First Communion in the 1960s and 1970s — May 12, 2024

• Refuge in Mary During 19^th-Century Turmoil — May 19, 2024

• Saint Mary Parishioners & World Wars I And II — May 26, 2024

• Finding the First Chapel — June 2, 2024
• A Capitol Funeral — June 9, 2024
• Witnesses to Church History —  June 16, 2024
• Saint Mary Parish School — June 23, 2024

• Revolutionary War Veterans – June 30, 2024

• Sister Anne Frederick Tardiff, C.S.C. — July 7, 2024

• Parish Histories – July 14, 2024
• Hill’s Opera House – July 21, 2024
• 150th Anniversary Performance – July 28, 2024
• Dr. Francis J. Murphy – August 4, 2024
• The First National Eucharistic Congress – August 11, 2024
• Pastoral Sports Fan – August 18, 2024
• Saint Ignatius, The First Mission – August 25, 2024
• A Unique Flyover – September 1, 2024
• Monsignor Frank Hendrick – September 8, 2024
• Early Reminiscences – September 15, 2024

• The Hill Family—Two Centuries of Service — September 22, 2024

• Where Is John Fitzgerald? — September 29, 2024
• Tabernacle Doors, c. 1895-1920 — October 6, 2024
• A Good Citizen — October 13, 2024

• A Visit from A Future Pope — October 20, 2024

• Election Stories From 1928 — October 27, 2024

• Stories of The First Saint Mary Chapel —  November 3, 2024

• Father Anthony Rey, S.J., Mexican War Chaplain – November 10, 2024

• Historic Stained-Glass Windows — November 17, 2024

• Civil War Hassles – November 24, 2024

• An Eyewitness To Pearl Harbor Attack — December 1, 2024
• Heavenly Symbols — December 8, 2024
• Learning to Diagram a Sentence — December 29, 2024
• Convents — January 5, 2025
• 230 Years Ago — World Events In 1795 — January 12, 2025
• The Teen Club — January 19, 2025
• A Memorable Baptism— January 26, 2025
• A Sad Saga of Enslavement in Alexandria — February 2, 2025

• Noon Mass — February 9, 2025

• Young Catholic Friends Society – February 16, 2025

• Shuman’s Bakery — February 23, 2025
• Early Parish Church Buildings — March 2, 2025
• Civil War-Time Collections — March 9, 2025