Four Fathers Lead St. Bernadette Parish

By Mary McCarthy
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 2/27/03)

"If you sat in the rectory for a day you’d see a constant flow of people coming in for a variety of reasons," said Father Thomas Ferguson, administrator of St. Bernadette Parish in Springfield.

When the parish was founded in 1959, there were 500 families living within parish boundaries. Today, over 4,000 families attend Mass at the church. Father Ferguson said the parish and the numerous parish groups have become so active that it has become difficult for parish groups to be able to find a place for meetings.

In 1960, the first parochial vicar, Father Ronald Naylor, was assigned to St. Bernadette Parish to help Msgr. Francis Bradican build the parish. Now the thriving parish is served by four priests, Father Ferguson and three parochial vicars, Fathers Kevin Beres, John Heisler and John Trong.

St. Bernadette Parish was formed in April 1959 after St. Michael Parish in Annandale grew too large. Msgr. Bradican was assigned to the parish and celebrated the first Mass at Lee High School.

In 1959, Msgr. Bradican found enough space in the newly opened St. Leo School to open a "school-within-a-school." With the permission of Bishop John Russell, then bishop of Richmond, St. Bernadette School opened with one class of first-grade students.

During the same year, the building program was started for the church, school and convent for the Daughters of Wisdom, who would teach at the school. In May of 1960, registration was underway for kindergarten through grade four. St. Bernadette School opened that September.

In 1972, Msgr. Edward Browne came to St. Bernadette Parish to serve as pastor. Under his direction, a fund drive was established in the mid-1970s to build the present church. In January 1980, ground was finally broken for the church, and construction began in June.

Because of the large size of the church building, and because it happened to be under construction at the time, the church was selected to house the altar used by Pope John Paul II for the celebration of Mass in October 1979 on the National Mall in Washington.

The church was dedicated on Oct. 14, 1981, by Bishop Thomas J. Welsh.

St. Bernadette Church is located on Old Keene Mill Road just over a mile from I-95, between central and western Springfield.

"It is great to have the visible reference of the Catholic Church in this crossroads," said Father Ferguson.

Father Ferguson is following three priests whom he calls, "great priests of the Church in Arlington." Msgrs. Bradican and Browne both served as pastor for over 10 years. Before Father Ferguson came to the parish in 2002, Father John Hughes was pastor for 17 years before he retired from active ministry. In September 2002, the parish center was re-dedicated in honor of Father Hughes. According to Father Ferguson, this lineage of priests who have spent many years at St. Bernadette Parish, has created a sense of stability in the community. "To me, it’s really a privilege to follow these great pastors who have come before me," he said.

There are many "founding families" who are "almost a revered presence in our parish," he said. Claire Jacques, one of many founding members, has been volunteering her time at the parish ever since it was formed. She has worked so much that she is almost considered a member of the staff and is willing to help in any way she can.

The founding families, together with the younger families involved in the school and religious education program, make the parish very vibrant.

The women’s group is an example. The members range in age from 20 to 80, but they all come together to serve the parish, community and the church. "The women’s group is involved in every type of activity imaginable," said Father Ferguson, including receptions, socials and community service. The group has included a number of young women who have pursued religious life.

St. Bernadette Parish is also considered home to four diocesan priests. Father Charles McCoart, interim administrator at St. Matthew Parish in Spotsylvania, Father William Saunders, pastor of Our Lady of Hope in Potomac Falls, Father James S. Barkett, pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Lake Ridge and Father Daniel Mode, pastor of Queen of Apostles in Alexandria, all attended St. Bernadette Parish.

Father Ferguson served as parochial vicar at St. Luke in McLean from 1998 until 2002 when he came to St. Bernadette. He also serves as Defender of the Bond of the Diocesan Tribunal.

Father Ferguson is originally from New York, but his family moved to Alexandria in 1978. He graduated from Bishop Ireton High School in 1984.

Father Ferguson served his diaconate assignment at St. Mary Parish in Alexandria when Father Stanley Krempa was pastor there. Then-Arlington Bishop John R. Keating ordained Father Ferguson to the priesthood on May 21, 1994. His first assignment was parochial vicar at St. Bernadette where he served from 1994-96.

The Daughters of Wisdom continue to support St. Bernadette School. The school serves 496 children in kindergarten through grade-8 with two classes per grade level. Sister Marie Sopr taught at the school before becoming the pastoral minister and visiting sick members of the parish. Sister Louise Dufour works at St. Bernadette School as the librarian.

The religious education program teaches over 900 students every week with the help of 100 volunteer catechists and administrators.

The youth group at St. Bernadette Parish, under the direction of John Campbell is very active with monthly meetings, small faith sessions meeting weekly, community service projects at least twice a month, and sports, social and spiritual activities mixed in as well.

Assisting weekly in the celebration of Mass are more than 150 altar servers. Also active in the celebration of Mass are the 150 choir members who make up the traditional choir that sings at the 10:45 a.m. Mass and the folk choir that performs at the 9 a.m. Mass.

The four priests at St. Bernadette Parish also tend to the spiritual needs of the residents at Greenspring Retirement Community. Mass is celebrated every Friday and one Monday each month at the assisted living center.

Late last year, St. Bernadette Parish began offering Mass in Vietnamese on the first Saturday of the month. Mass is offered by Father Trong, parochial vicar. Although the Mass has been offered for only three months, the numbers attending it are growing. Over 100 people attended the last Mass.

In order to lend a hand to their neighbors, St. Bernadette Parish was a leader in forming ECHO (Ecumenical Community Helping Others). Together with other local churches, St. Bernadette Parish participates in programs, such as food and clothing drives, to help the less fortunate in and around Springfield.

Due to the location of the parish, many of those who attend St. Bernadette Church are members of the military, or work for the federal government. Over the last 44 years, the population of the parish has grown exponentially. Today, the four priests are kept extremely busy tending to the needs of this very active parish.

 At a Glance

St. Bernadette Parish

7600 Old Keene Mill Rd.

Springfield, Va. 22152-2022

703/451-8576

Rectory:

7600 Old Keene Mill Rd.

Administrator: Father Thomas P. Ferguson

Parochial Vicars: Father Kevin J. Beres, Father John F. Heisler, Father John T.B. Trong

Convent:

Daughters of Wisdom

7676 Tiverton Dr.

Springfield, Va. 22152

703/569-0512

Mass Schedule:

Weekdays: 6:30, 9 a.m.

Saturday: 8 a.m.; 5:30 p.m. (vigil), 7:30 p.m. (Vietnamese vigil)

Sunday: 7:30, 9, 10:45 a.m.; 12:30, 5:15 p.m.

Confessions: Saturday: 4-5 p.m.

School:

7602 Old Keene Mill Rd.

703/451-8696

Principal: Catherine Gilbride

Grades: K-eight

Students: 496

DRE: Karen Murphy

Claudia Fiebig

703/569-0512

Youth Minister: John Campbell

703/451-4228

Parishioners: 12,300

Boundaries: Beginning at Beltway (I-495) and I-395 — follow Beltway west to Southern RR tracks — West on tracks to Rolling Rd. — South on Rolling Rd. to Dominion Virginia Power power line — Southwest on power line to Pohick Creek — South and east along Pohick Creek to Fairfax County Parkway — east on Parkway to Rolling Rd. — South on Rolling Rd. to Pohick Rd. and I-95 — I-95 north to Beltway.

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