Priest retirement home will be expanded
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| St. Rosa of Lima Priest’s Retirement Villa. |
The retirement home for Catholic priests at 4597 Ravensworth
Road in Annandale is being expanded. The home currently houses seven priests, most of them in
their 70s or 80s, and the addition will have six new apartments.
Road in Annandale is being expanded. The home currently houses seven priests, most of them in
their 70s or 80s, and the addition will have six new apartments.
It is
expected to be completed in October, says Sister Kathryn Mullarkey, a
Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist, who serves as the facility’s residential manager.
The building, officially known as the Saint Rose of Lima
Priests’ Retirement Villa, was built in 2008 by the Catholic Diocese of Arlington. Although it’s next door to St. Michael, it’s not connected with that
church.
Priests’ Retirement Villa, was built in 2008 by the Catholic Diocese of Arlington. Although it’s next door to St. Michael, it’s not connected with that
church.
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| Priests socialize and meet their guests in the living room. |
In addition to individual apartments, the retirement home
has a chapel, dining hall, kitchen, living room, meeting room, laundry room, and garden. The facility’s staff
provides housekeeping and laundry service.
has a chapel, dining hall, kitchen, living room, meeting room, laundry room, and garden. The facility’s staff
provides housekeeping and laundry service.
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| The chapel |
The newest resident is Father John Kreegan, who became a
priest after retiring from a career as a colonel in the Marines and was a
chaplain at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Alexandria. Another resident, Philip
Majka, formerly of St. James Catholic Church in Falls Church and St. Patrick’s
in Fredericksburg, currently serves as a chaplain in the interfaith chapel at
Dulles Airport.
priest after retiring from a career as a colonel in the Marines and was a
chaplain at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Alexandria. Another resident, Philip
Majka, formerly of St. James Catholic Church in Falls Church and St. Patrick’s
in Fredericksburg, currently serves as a chaplain in the interfaith chapel at
Dulles Airport.
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| The dining room. |
Also living at St. Rose of Lima: Monsignor Frank Mahler, who
had been a priest for 60 years, most recently at Blessed Sacrament; Father
Francisco Mendes, formerly of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Arlington;
Father John Trong from St. Michael; and Father Paul Richardson from Little
Sisters of the Poor in Richmond.
had been a priest for 60 years, most recently at Blessed Sacrament; Father
Francisco Mendes, formerly of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Arlington;
Father John Trong from St. Michael; and Father Paul Richardson from Little
Sisters of the Poor in Richmond.
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| There’s an outdoor dining area and garden in the back. |
Bishop Paul Loverde, 75, of the Arlington Catholic Diocese, is
expected to move into one of the new apartments after the Vatican approves his
retirement.