AbOut Saint Mary’s Communities

Saint Mary’s Communities traces its roots to 1970, when Monsignor Joseph Wingler, then pastor of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Alexandria, Virginia, recognized a growing need for safe, affordable housing for older adults living on limited incomes. In response, he founded Saint Mary’s Housing Corporation as a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating dignified housing solutions.

That commitment took physical form in 1978 with the development of Evergreen House, a 246‑unit HUD Section 8 community in Annandale, Virginia. One year later, the organization expanded its mission with Marywood Apartments, a 129‑unit HUD Section 202/Section 8 property in Manassas. Both communities were designed to serve independent seniors aged 62 and older, offering stability, affordability, and a sense of belonging.

A significant chapter in the organization’s history began in 1990, when Reverend Father Franklyn M. McAfee, S.T.D., assumed leadership as President of Saint Mary’s Housing Corporation, a role he held until 2020. Born in 1943 in Detroit, Michigan, Father McAfee completed his priestly formation at the Theological College of the Catholic University of America and was ordained in 1971. His broader ministry within the Diocese of Arlington included serving as founding director of the Diocesan Office for Family Life and as president of the Notre Dame Catechetical Institute. 

In addition to his parish leadership, culminating in his role as Pastor Emeritus of St. John the Beloved Catholic Church in McLean, Virginia-Father McAfee brought a deep pastoral perspective to his work with Saint Mary’s. Under his leadership, the organization not only sustained its existing communities but also successfully developed new housing opportunities, strengthening its mission to serve seniors in need. His work extended beyond administration, reflecting a lifelong commitment to service as a confessor and spiritual director to the Missionaries of Charity and their lay associates across North America.

Throughout his three decades of leadership, Father McAfee helped shape Saint Mary’s Communities into a trusted provider of affordable senior housing, guided by values of faith, compassion, and dignity. His legacy continues to be reflected in the communities themselves and in the lives of the residents they serve.