By Mary Frances McCarthy
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 8/5/04)

It’s hardly news to say that the Arlington Diocese is growing and new churches and schools are celebrating groundbreakings and dedications. But just how is it possible that so many new churches are being built, new schools are opening almost yearly and plans are in the works for a spirituality center and priests’ retirement home?

One accomplishment that has made the diocese’s accelerated growth possible is the "Rooted in Faith — Forward in Hope" Capital Campaign. With the active campaign beginning in 2002 and lasting a little over a year, this effort succeeded in raising approximately $115 million to "build and endow the Church of Arlington."

More than $44 million in pledges are planned for parish needs and the "building" is evident across the diocese.

St. Timothy Parish in Chantilly is currently experiencing several different stages of construction, partially funded by their capital campaign. The rectory has been recently renovated to update the utility area and add a garage, and a larger multi-purpose room is being built by the parish offices. The old multi-purpose room will become offices for the religious education program.

Behind the school, a two-story structure is almost complete to house four classrooms and a new library and media center. With this addition, St. Timothy School will be able to open a preschool program this fall.

Holy Trinity Parish in Gainesville, which was formed in 2001 and is one of the newest parishes in the diocese, will break ground Sept. 12 for its church.

The founding families of Holy Trinity succeeded in raising more than $5 million through the Capital Campaign.

Father Francis Peffley, pastor, said the parish is thankful for the diocesan Capital Campaign because they were able to benefit from the professional experience and expertise of Community Counseling Service (CCS) who aided parishes in their fund-raising. CCS employees helped train Father Peffley and his parish volunteers in effective fundraising techniques.

Without the diocese’s "Rooted in Faith — Forward in Hope" Campaign, the parish would have had to organize its own capital campaign and pledge redemption. Because they were able to participate in a combined campaign through the diocese, pledge redemption is handled by the diocese, saving the parish a lot of work.

St. John the Apostle Parish in Leesburg succeeded in raising more than $3 million to start it on the path to building a new church. While there is still more money to be raised, Father Robert Brooks, pastor, hopes to begin construction next year.

"Significant progress" has also been made in planning a diocesan retreat and meeting center, according to Kevin Bohli, head of the Spirituality Center Committee. The committee has performed a survey of the diocese through directors of religious education, priests, youth ministers, parish and diocesan groups and town hall meetings to find out what area Catholics want in a spirituality center.

The center will be designed to provide a truly Catholic environment to host day-time programs, retreats and meetings as well as some overnight retreats.

The committee considered approximately 10 properties and is investigating which will best fit its requirements. MTFA Architects has been hired to perform engineering site surveys on two properties to help identify the most suitable property. Once the final site is chosen, the committee will be able to begin the design process.

A diocesan retirement home for priests is a priority that 88 percent of laity and 80 percent of clergy polled named before the start of the Capital Campaign. It is estimated that over the next 25 years, more than 40 diocesan priests will reach retirement age. A retirement facility for retired priests would create not only a place for older priests to enjoy the fellowship of brother priests, but also be located where they could assist in ministering to local parishes as needed.

Father John Hughes, head of the Priests’ Retirement Home Committee, said they are currently in the design stage. The center will be built in phases. At the end of the first phase it will accommodate eight priests, and when the center is complete it will accommodate 20. Although planning is still in the earliest stages, the committee hopes to have the center completed by mid-2006.

To increase their ability to house the homeless, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington (CCDA) has established a housing advisory committee that is currently in the beginning stages of planning improvements to Christ House and building a family residential facility. Following a feasibility study they will have a better idea of how Christ House can be improved to provide longer term care housing than was provided in the past and what location would be most suitable for a family facility. According to Steve Luteran, executive director of CCDA, the committee is currently focusing on "looking at program models that will best serve the homeless in this area."

In order to offer a Catholic education to more youths in the diocese, plans are still in progress to build two new Catholic high schools in Prince William and Loudoun Counties. To fund this project, $25 million from the campaign were set aside for these schools.

Of the $115 million pledged through the campaign, more than $43 million have been paid to date.

Although it will take time for investments to mature and for funds to be available, the Capital Campaign will also contribute to a number of endowments. Once the funds for these endowments are invested, the interest that they generate will be used to contribute to various programs. Catholic educators and students will benefit from a $2.5 million endowment for faculty development in the diocese’s Catholic schools and a $10 million endowment for tuition assistance for students. The Office of Catechetics will benefit from a $2 million endowment to aid in continuing the formation of directors of religious education and catechists.

The youth ministry office also will benefit from an endowment. At least $500,000 will be set aside to help youth ministers expand training programs and further their education.

Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde said he is grateful for the outpouring of support from donors who are continuing to contribute to the "Rooted in Faith — Forward in Hope" Capital Campaign. "Many initiatives are needed on both the parish and diocesan levels as we continue to grow as a vibrant community of faith," the bishop said. "Progress is being made towards the realization of these initiatives due to the generosity of our parishioners across the diocese. We are enabled to move ‘forward in hope’ because we are being sustained by the prayer and commitment of our people."