All Saints: Largest Diocesan Parish Is One in Christ

By Linda Busetti
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 2/21/02)

The wooden mission church of All Saints in Manassas was dedicated on a hot August day in 1879 not far from the site of some of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War.

With a 75-foot steeple and seating for 100, the church was the largest religious structure in town and served hundreds of square miles, north to the Potomac River, east to Woodbridge and west to Gainesville. For years, priests traveled 22 miles from Warrenton to celebrate Sunday Mass.

Father Michael Cannon became the first resident pastor of the independent parish of All Saints in July 1929. Richmond Bishop Peter Ireton invited the Stigmatine Fathers to take over pastoral responsibility in 1942. Under their guidance, the parish grew and the current church was built in 1974. The Stigmatine Fathers remained until 1993.

Father Bob Cilinski was named administrator of All Saints, the largest parish in the diocese, in June 2000. At that time, the parish served 5,900 families. About 700 families have since transferred to the new Holy Trinity Parish in Gainesville. Father Cilinski was appointed pastor on Jan. 5.

It is not unusual for the current church, which seats 850, to be full for 8 a.m. Mass on Saturday. As All Saints looks forward to its 75th anniversary as a parish in 2004, Father Cilinski envisions a new, larger church within the next three or four years. The parish initiated a building campaign in 1995. Phase I was accomplished with an addition to the education center and school. Phase II is construction of the church. In the "dreaming phase," Father Cilinski is soliciting ideas from parishioners about the new church.

"Despite the number of families, the parish community works hard at having a family spirit, a real sense of community. Last year we chose as our theme hospitality … opening wide the doors for all to come. We added greeters to our Sunday Mass. We expanded office hours. We took opportunities to really celebrate together," Father Cilinski said. This year’s theme is unity, recognizing that the diverse parish is one in Christ.

All Saints School, which was founded by the Benedictine Sisters of Linton Hall in 1957, now includes 516 students from Pre-K to eighth-grade.

"All Saints School has a very open, hospitable community starting with the teachers and staff," Principal David Conroy said. Each morning, Conroy starts the day by gathering the teachers for prayer in the front hallway of the school.

Walking through the colorfully decorated hallways, Conroy pointed out the newly equipped computer lab, bright, high-ceilinged art room, roomy band room and festive Spanish classroom. Conroy noted that students respect each other’s property — there are no locks on the lockers.

The very supportive PTO raised funds for new Pentium 3 computers, Conroy said. "Now we have a committee comprised of school parents, parishioners and school alumni to network the school and lab. It will be very helpful for communication within the school as well as with parents and in accessing the Internet," he said. The school also received a grant from The Washington Post to bolster the math program.

All Saints School welcomes parish homeschoolers to use classroom space, join in the Walk for the Homeless and attend school events, Conroy said.

To say All Saints is a very active parish is an understatement. A 12-page parish bulletin is evidence of the many opportunities to become involved in parish life. Hispanic parishioners filled the courtyard between the school and church at 6 a.m. to celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Children pulling rolling book bags arrive for school around 8 a.m. The Golden Agers tutor students or gather for a holiday luncheon. About 1,500 students attend CCD classes. Teens are encouraged by youth minister Rob Tessier to meet in the "Upper Room" above the gym for "Time-Out Tuesday.

"The Sunday liturgy is the most important activity at the parish. We work hard at making our Sunday worship life-giving…. and it’s not uncommon to find 200 people at a weekday Mass," Father Cilinski said.

"There are also opportunities for action," he said. Parishioner Dr. Gil Irwin founded Medical Missionaries. This year the parish funded Medical Missionaries’ delivery of services and supplies to the diocesan mission in Banica, Dominican Republic, and to All Saints’ sister parish in Thomassique, Haiti. A wooden carving of the crucified Christ and plaque in a small garden outside All Saints Church memorialize "Rev. Lagneau Belot, pastor of our Sister Parish…who was shot and killed May 3, 2000 while on his way to All Saints Parish to thank the parishioners for their generosity."

In planning the 75th anniversary of the parish, Father Cilinski said, "All Saints will celebrate the many blessings God has bestowed."

Parish Boundaries: Beginning at Rts. 29/211 and Bull Run (Fairfax County line) — Southwest on Occoquan River through Lake Jackson Watershed to Cedar Run to boundary of Quantico marine Reservation — West along this boundary to the Fauquier County line — Northwest along county line to Rte. 55 — East on Rts. 55 and 29/211 to Fairfax County line.

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