On June 3, 1967, Most Reverend John J. Russell, Bishop of Richmond, established St. Lawrence Parish in Franconia, VA. Father Frank E. Mahler was appointed founding pastor, and the 500 families who formed the original parish met at Edison High School to celebrate Mass until the church facility was constructed.
Bishop Russell dedicated the Church building, the Parish Hall and the Rectory on December 12, 1970. In 1974, St. Lawrence was one of 52 parishes that was formed into the new Diocese of Arlington under the leadership of the Most Reverend Thomas J. Welsh, first Bishop of Arlington.
In 1988, the Rose Garden was begun with the Stations of the Cross, the Divine Mercy Icon and a Memorial to the Unborn among other statues and memorials. On May 20, 2017, the garden was named in honor of Father Franklyn M. McAfee in recognition of his extensive work in the expansion of the garden. This parish and all of those who visit our Fr. McAfee Garden are grateful for all of his efforts to make it beautiful for future parishioners and visitors.
Pastors who have served at St Lawrence Parish are:
| Father Frank E. Mahler 1967-1972 | Father William J. Erbacher 1997-2001 |
| Father Austin L. Ryder 1972-1979 | Father Terrance R. Staples (Administrator) 2001-2002 |
| Father Henry E. Hammond 1979-1988 | Father Christopher Mould 2002-2015 |
| Father Franklyn M. McAfee 1988-1997 | Father Ronald J. Gripshover, Jr. 2015-Present |
Parishioners of St. Lawrence who answered the call to a vocation in Religious life:
| Deacon Gerald A. Melvin Parishioner 1967-1986. Ordained to the Permanent Diaconate for the Diocese of Arlington on 6/18/1978. His ordination was at St. Lawrence. He died on 5/17/04. |
Deacon Joseph L. Bosch Parishioner from 1967-2000. Ordained to the Permanent Diaconate for the Diocese of Arlington on 6/16/81. He died on 3/9/2002. |
| Fr. Stanley Bosch Parishioner 1967-1986. Ordained to the Holy Priesthood for the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity on 6/07/86. |
Deacon Walter E. Claassen, Jr. Parishioner 1982-1999. Ordained to the Permanent Diaconate for the Diocese of Arlington on 5/13/89. He died on 7/26/99. |
| Sr. Maria Grace Dateno, F.S.P. Parishioner from her Baptism on March 10, 1968 to 1984. She made her Perpetual Profession of Vows on 6/25/95. |
Fr. Paul A. Berghout, J.C.L. Parishioner 1990-1992. Ordained to the Holy Priesthood for the Diocese of Arlington on 5/18/96. |
| Sr. Michelle Marie Kelly, S.N.D. Parishioner 1975-1989. She made her Perpetual Profession of Vows in July 1998. |
Sr. Ann Hyacinth Genow, O.P. (Name at birth: Leslie Ann Genow) She was received into the Church at St. Lawrence in April 1992 and made her Perpetual Profession of Vows in August 2001. |
| Sr. Mary Celeste D’Souza, O.P. She made her Perpetual Profession of Vows in 2001. |
Fr. Ramon A. Baez Parishioner 1999-2005. Ordained to the Holy Priesthood for the Diocese of Arlington on 6/11/05. |
| Sr. Marie Celine Laird, O.P. (Name at birth: Brandee Marella Laird) Parishioner 1991-1998. She made her Perpetual Profession of Vows on 8/08/2005. | Fr. Scott A. Haynes Parishioner 1996-2000. Ordained to the Holy Priesthood for the Cannons Regular of Saint John Cantius on 5/31/2007. |
| Fr. Anthony J. Killian Parishioner 1992-2008. Ordained to the Holy Priesthood for the Diocese of Arlington on 6/14/2008. |
Fr. Robert J. Wagner Parishioner 2001-2003. Ordained to the Holy Priesthood for the Diocsese of Arlington on 6/13/2009. |
| Sr. Cecillia Tsao (Name at birth: Cecillia Ching-Wen Tsao) Parishioner 2000-2003. She made her Perpetual Profession of Vows on 8/22/2009. |
Fr. Patrick Kokorian Parishioner 2000-2002. Ordained to the Holy Priesthood at Most Holy Trinity Monastery in Petersham, Massachusetts on 10/27/13. He was elected second Abbot of the Monastery on 9/24/19. |
| Deacon Michael A. Waters Parishioner 1999-2024. Ordained to the Permanent Diaconate for the Diocese of Arlington on 1/17/2015. |
Fr. Steven Oetjen Parishioner 1988-2017. Ordained to the Holy Priesthood for the Diocese of Arlington on 6/10/2017. |
Parish Boundaries
All Catholics living within the geographical boundaries of St. Lawrence parish are encouraged to register. Boundaries are set by the Arlington Diocese. If you reside within St. Lawrence parish’s boundaries, please complete the parish registration form.
We would love to meet you and personally welcome you to the parish.
For all of the parish boundaries throughout the Diocese of Arlington please click here.
St. Lawrence boundaries for parishioners is bounded by the following:
- Beginning at I 95 and the Beltway (I 95/495)
- East along the Beltway to Bush Hill Dr.
- South on Bush Hill Dr. to Franconia Rd. => continue south on Rose Hill Dr. to Telegraph Rd. (Rte. 611)
- Southwest on Telegraph to Fairfax County Parkway (Rte. 286) – West on Rte. 286 to I 95 – North on I 95 to Beltway
