By Mary Frances McCarthy
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 9/16/04)

Three years and three months after Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde established Holy Trinity Parish in Gainesville, the parish broke ground for its church last weekend.

Over the last three years, the parish family has grown from the 200 people present at the first Mass to more than 1,300 registered families.

The groundbreaking was truly a family affair as not only the parish family, but the extended family of Father Francis Peffley, pastor, were in attendance, including his parents, Bill and Mary Peffley from Norristown, Pa.

"The real Church is not a building, but a people," said Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde in his homily. "You and I need to be formed in that faith and therefore we need to gather and we do so in a sacred space called a church. We — through the Eucharist especially — are molded into this Church and that body. This building must be founded on solid rock, who is none other than Jesus Christ."

Bishop Loverde and Father Peffley turned the first shovels of dirt, assisted by architect Jim O’Brien; Reg Arnold, head of the building committee; local dignitaries and the building committee.

More than 20 fourth degree Knights of Columbus from three assemblies — Potomac, Bishop Flaherty and Shenandoah Assemblies — participated in the ceremony as members of the color guard.

"This day has been made possible because of everyone working together," Father Peffley said in a letter to the parish. "All of the people of the parish have generously shared their time, talent and treasure, which has brought us to this momentous occasion in just three years."

Masses and sacraments have been celebrated at the Benedictine Monastery, Brentsville District High School and local Catholic churches.

The new parish home will be built on 21 acres of land off Linton Hall Road in Gainesville.

The church was designed by O’Brien, parishioner of St. Agnes in Arlington. Holy Trinity Church will be a "traditional" church with a cruciform floor plan and steep pitched roof. A trefoil design — three interlocking circles — will be repeated in stained glass windows and arches — a visible reflection of the trinity.

Construction is estimated to begin in about a month. The church should be completed about 14 months later.