By Mary Frances McCarthy
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 11/4/04)

Louise Vlkojan has lived in Page County, Va., for all but three years of her life. When she and her husband John were married in 1938, they had to drive to Front Royal to St. John the Baptist Church to attend Mass. In the last 50 years, they have witnessed the formation and growth of Our Lady of the Valley Parish.

When the parish was formed in 1954, "Catholics were not very well received," Louise said. "There was a lot of prejudice, but it was because the religion was not known. But it has changed a lot. It really has."

Our Lady of the Valley was founded by about a dozen families. "We never nearly filled the church," Louise said.

But the church was almost overflowing last weekend when the only parish in Page County gathered to celebrate its anniversary.

Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde celebrated the afternoon Mass, assisted by Third Order Regular Fathers Christopher Lemme, pastor, and Andrew Draper, former pastor.

"Your pastor is like the leader of a symphony," the bishop said. "If they don’t lead, there is no music."

The bishop recognized not only Father Lemme for his leadership, but also the Redemptionist Fathers and Third Order Regular Franciscans who have served at the church, saying that the local Church is not complete without the presence and help of religious men and women.

The first recorded Mass in Page County was celebrated at the home of John Cole Sr. of Rileyville in 1876. In the 1880s, Catholics traveled more than 50 miles to Front Royal to St. John the Baptist Church.

In 1951, Richmond Bishop Peter Ireton invited the Redemptionist Fathers to the valley. In the 1,000-square miles from Luray to Grottoes, there were 36 Catholics. With Elkton as their headquarters, the priests began establishing a church in the Shenandoah Valley. They served missions in Luray, Stanley, Shenandoah, Grottoes and Charlottesville. Mass was celebrated in the Rotary Room of the Mimslyn Hotel each week and religious education was taught at the Page Valley Bank building. With the permission of Bishop Ireton, Our Lady of the Valley Chapel was created in Room 1 of the hotel.

In 1953, the Church of the Holy Infant was dedicated in Elkton, and 10 acres of land was purchased in Luray. On June 3, 1954, ground was broken by Father Eugene Walsh, pastor of St. John Parish in Waynesboro. The cornerstone to the church was placed by Bishop Ireton on Oct. 31, 1954. In 1968, the Redemptionist priests left the parish and diocesan priests took over. In 1992, the first Third Order Regular priest, Father Gervase Cain, came to the parish. Franciscans have been serving the parish since, with Father Draper serving from 1997-99, and Father Lemme serving for the past five years.

"We are grateful for our Blessed Mother for showering our parish with her grace," Father Lemme said.

As the Catholics of the Shenandoah Valley gathered to celebrate the anniversary of their parish, it seemed the valley itself had decorated for the occasion. Nestled in the country just two hours southwest of Arlington, the air was crisp and the foliage was bright with autumn colors.