Holy Family Parish: Faith and Charisma

By Alfonso Aguilar
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 3/7/02)

DALE CITY — It is difficult to imagine a place where Father Josè Eugenio Hoyos of Holy Family in Dale City is not known. He is known in practically all Latino places in the metropolitan area, and also in many American or Filipino places.

Recently, while having lunch in an American restaurant in Vienna, an elderly American recognized him and lamented that he was moved from St. Anthony Church to another parish. "I heard that you are in … Dale City, and I’m really sorry that I don’t yet know your new church," the man said, and promised to attend a Sunday Mass.

During a February meeting in Arlington to help victims of a horrendous fire in Peru, four Hispanic ladies approached him and said, "Ah, you are ‘El Padre Hoyos!’. Do you remember us?" "No, I am not sure," he said staring at them. Then the ladies asked him if he remembered "El Padrecito Hoyos" (the Little Priest Hoyos).

Then he remembered, and laughed. "You are from St. Agnes Church in Arlington. Where is the altar boy?" he asked. "He’s still at the Church, with the same name: ‘El Padrecito Hoyos,’" said one lady. "You know that when he was a little boy he adopted that name by himself," remembered another lady.

That happened many years ago, when Father Hoyos celebrated occasional Masses at St. Agnes. An altar boy named Alexandre Hyamann, 7, so much admired the priest that he decided on a new name, and said, "From now on my name is Padrecito Hoyos, and I want you to call me by this name." At least in that church, everybody knows two Hoyos, the priest, and the altar boy, now 14. Curiously, in the Latino community many people call Father Hoyos "El Padrecito."

After a Sunday Mass, a weeping woman from the Philippines asks Father Hoyos to attend the funeral of a relative before the body is sent to their native country. He promises to be there, then hugs and blesses the woman.

"I do not understand how our priest can do so many things at the same time," said Fidel Hurtado, a parishioner and catechist. "It is not just fundraising for poor people, a funeral, a visit to a hospital; sometimes people ask him to bless their houses, cars, belongings and pets."

Father Hoyos admits that frequently people ask him to bless their animals, which he always does, or almost always. "Once I said no because it was a big snake, a really a big snake," he remembers laughing. "But then I changed my mind and, with fear, blessed the snake," he laughs again.

Usually it is the pastor’s happy personality, which makes him very charismatic beyond the Catholic community. That is the happiness he is trying to spread in Holy Family, where he was appointed administrator eight months ago. "I am really happy because our church is constantly growing. Americans, Portuguese, Hispanics, Filipinos all are growing. We are many communities, but only one Church. We do not pray together because there are many languages from 38 countries and different attitudes related to cultural aspects, which we respect, but we share our same Faith and organize many activities together, such as festivals and fundraisers."

Father Hoyos, from Colombia, is particularly proud of his parishioners. "They are vibrant, generous, enthusiastic, young people with children; they have an open heart," he said.

Holy Family parish was established in September 1970 by then Bishop of Richmond John J. Russell, its founding pastor being Father R. Roy Cosby. Its pioneers remember that there were five possible names for the new parish, which were submitted to Bishop Russell in "order of desirability by the parishioners." The names were: Christ the King, St. Joseph the Worker, St. Stephen (Martyr), Prince of Peace and Holy Family. The bishop chose the last one.

While renovations took place, Masses were celebrated in a small chapel constructed in a garage at the rectory, and Holy Family also administered a mission church, Sacred Heart. The new church was dedicated June 2, 1974, and eventually the mission became a new parish.

"The church complex sits on a wooded site in the Forestdale section of Dale City off Ferndale Road. The life of the parish revolves around the main church, activity center and rectory," reads the Web site of the church.

The center, dedicated in 1990, now houses the Holy Family Preschool established in 1992 and Holy Family School, inaugurated in 1995 and currently led by principal Barbara Mertens. It has 150 in the school and 60 in preschool.

"Next year we will expand the classes and establish a middle school to accommodate a total of 280 students," said Mertens. In addition, the school will introduce new courses in technology and religion.

Father Hoyos was named administrator in June 2001, after serving many years at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington and St. Anthony of Padua in Falls Church. He succeeds five previous pastors who contributed to making Holy Family a real family: Msgr. Cosby (1970-1978), Fathers Vincent A. Keane (1978-1983), George J. Griffin (1982-1991), Joseph P. Biniek (1991-1998) and Stephen F. Leva (1998-2001).

In front of a beautiful statue of the Virgin surrounded by roses, Father Hoyos looks around the parish and has no doubts that the parish will need additional space soon.

"We are celebrating Masses in both English and Spanish with more than 1,500 people; we have six choirs; a dedicated Knights of Columbus Council with more than 250 volunteers; a very active Legion of Mary; a dynamic youth ministry and many other groups," he said, concluding that his dream is to create a multicultural center and add additional space for religious and social events.

"We can make it. Our parishioners are very generous and committed," said Father Hoyos.

Holy Family Parish at a glance

14160 Ferndale Rd.

Dale City, Va, 22193-2198

Administrator: Fr. Josè Eugenio Hoyos

Parochial Vicars: Fr. Tran Dinh Nhi

Fr. Michael T. Orlowsky

Boundaries: Beginning at I-95 and State Road (SR) 639 (Horner Rd.) — West to SR 640 (Davis Ford Rd.) — Southwest on 640 to SR 642 (Davis Ford Rd.) — Northwest on SR 642 (Davis Ford Rd.) to intersection of SR 663 (Davis Ford Rd.) and SR 642 (Hoadly Rd.) —Southwest on SR 642 (Hoadly Rd.) to a point directly north of SR 784 (Dale Blvd.) and Neabsco Creek — directly south to Neabsco Creek — follow Neabsco Creek through Dale City Park to intersection with Lindendale Rd.— directly south (not including Silverdale Rd. or Sudberry Ln.) to SR 640 (Minnieville Rd.) — West on SR 640 (Minnieville Rd.) to Prince William Forest Park boundary — Southeast on Prince William Forest Park boundary to SR 643 (Spriggs Rd.) — North on SR 643 (Spriggs Rd.) to SR 640 (Minnieville Rd.) — Northwest on SR 640 (Minnieville Rd.) to SR 610 (Cardinal Dr.) — Southwest on SR 610 (Cardinal Dr.) to I-95-north on I-95 to SR 639 (Horner Rd).

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