Mary Lou Cochran was a high school student in the late 1950’s when some women in Opus Dei came to Washington DC and opened Stonecrest Center on Massachusetts Avenue, near Dupont Circle . Mary Lou was the oldest of six children in a closely knit family. She recalls how they lived a deep faith, simply and naturally, with the family rosary being an important devotion in their home. Mary Lou met Opus Dei because her local parish, Blessed Sacrament Church, was unable to offer a seminar program that year. The parish priest let her know that there was a new group in town that might have something for her. He gave Mary Lou the phone number of Stonecrest and that began a 60 year friendship which would involve the whole Carroll family—and many others as well.
Loretta Lorenz, who answered Mary Lou’s call, invited her to meet for a chat and, over time, the two began to get to know one another. Loretta shared the teachings of Saint Josemaria Escrivá with Mary Lou and encouraged her to find God in her daily life. For Mary Lou, this idea made perfect sense, as it was a very natural extension of the pattern of life she was already living at home.
After graduating from high school, Mary Lou became a part-time student at the University of Virginia extension school, later to become George Mason University. At the same time she worked a part-time job while still living at home. In 1961, Stonecrest opened as a residence for college and young professional women; Mary Lou was among the first women to live in the new center. On October 7, that year, Mary Lou asked to be a member of Opus Dei. She recognized the guiding hand of Our Lady in this step (October 7th is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary). Not long after, Mary Lou’s younger sister, Jan, also joined Opus Dei. Little did they know that one day, Jan would be asked by Saint Josemaria to help begin Opus Dei in Australia! Eventually, each member of the Carroll family would come to serve those around them, inspired by the spirit of Opus Dei.
In 1970, Mary Lou got an amazing, impromptu opportunity to travel to Mexico on Pilgrimage with a group of friends from Arnold Hall in Boston, MA. Saint Josemaria was visiting Mexico on a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Guadalupe during that time. On her second day in Mexico City, Mary Lou was able to meet the future saint and receive his blessing! It was one of the most profound experiences of her life!
Mary Lou went on to have a dynamic career working for the U.S. Government at the Pentagon and later at the White House under the Reagan administration. However, the project that meant the most to her was when she helped found a school for boys in Boston. Getting the school off the ground was hard work; however, she was able to meet many new people through the process, including many Mexican exchange students whom she hosted as part of her efforts.
When she moved back home to Northern Virginia, Mary Lou met Andy Cochran at the engagement party of her dear friends, Kelly and Tom McCabe. Not long after that, Andy asked her to be his wife! Now, 34 years later, Andy and Mary Lou continue to vigorously support Stonecrest and are very excited about the new Opus Dei center for women in Virginia!
Mary Lou Cochran has spent the past 60 years carrying out Stonecrest’s mission, through her cheerful friendship, her professional work, community initiatives as well as her positive influence on everyone she meets. Mary Lou has touched the lives of many people – just as the ripples from a drop of water reach the distant shores of the lake.