By Michael Flach
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 3/25/04)

The wait is finally over for parishioners at St. Joseph Church in Herndon.

Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde blessed the new parish hall on March 19, the Feast of St. Joseph, a little more than one year after the roof of the new structure collapsed under the weight of a heavy snow storm. A standing-room only crowd gathered with the bishop last Friday to launch a new era in parish history.

Dedication of the facility, with an original price tag of $7.5 million, was scheduled for March 19, 2003. But the Feb. 10 roof collapse left four feet of standing water in the basement and a tangled mess of steel and concrete. Months of repairs and legal battles followed before reconstruction could begin. The final cost is estimated to be $9.9 million, with Catholic Mutual Insurance paying $1.9 million.

The new 21,000-square-foot hall is part of a larger parish construction and renovation project that includes offices, state-of-the art commercial kitchen and courtyard. In addition to school and parish functions, the new facility is available for wedding receptions and other rental opportunities.

Father David Bonarrigo, T.O.R., pastor, was joined by a large contingent of Franciscans for the festive occasion. He thanked former pastor Father Edmund Carroll, T.O.R., for his foresight in initiating the project. He thanked the Town of Herndon for its support and especially Principal Joan Cargill and the staff of St. Joseph School for their patience and creativity in dealing with the extended construction period.

Father Bonarrigo paid special tribute to Danny Rucker, the parish’s facility superintendent, whose two daughters attend St. Joseph Elementary School. Rucker invested countless hours in recent months to make sure the reconstruction stayed on schedule.

Bishop Loverde said three words summarized his thoughts on the special occasion: gratitude, hope and commitment.

"We are grateful to all those who made possible this great parish building," he said. "We hope that from this facility many blessings will flow."

The bishop said it was hope that prompted Father Carroll’s original vision that led to the reality of the new building. "We renew our commitment tonight to the faith," he said.

Father John Heisler, parochial vicar at St. Bernadette Parish in Springfield, was master of ceremonies. Father Kevin Larson, pastor of St. Thomas a Becket Parish in Reston, Moon Kim, supervisor of construction at the diocesan Construction Management Office, and Dr. Timothy J. McNiff, diocesan superintendent of schools, also attended the dedication.