The Growing Community of St. John the Apostle

By Mary Frances McCarthy
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 9/26/02)

LEESBURG — Near the edge of historic downtown Leesburg, on the corner of North King and Union Streets, there is a small, simple, 124-year-old chapel. This historic church was the first Catholic Church in Loudoun County.

Just a mile or so down the road, bordering the suburban sprawl, is the more modern St. John Parish Center. Father Robert C. Brooks, pastor of St. John, hopes that within a year or two, they will begin building a new church. Father Brooks notes that the recent growth in Leesburg has seen "a mixture of people and enthusiasm that they bring as they move here."

The St. John Parish mission statement focuses on the growth around Leesburg in saying, "We are a growing and diverse Catholic community on a journey of faith, becoming one family through, with and in Christ. Guided by the Holy Spirit and strengthened in the Eucharist, we, as disciples of Christ, strive to make the Gospel alive through our words and deeds. We reach out to nourish those hungry in mind, body and spirit."

The parish has been nourishing the Leesburg community for over 140 years.

The first known Mass to be celebrated in Leesburg was offered by Irish-born Father Michael Costello in 1862 at the Loudoun Hotel. Father Costello traveled to Leesburg from his parish, St. Peter’s in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, until 1866. Following him, Father John J. Kain celebrated Mass at Cline’s Hall and the Oak Hill estate of Sophia Louisa Delany.

On Feb. 8, 1877, the lot at the corner of King and Union Streets was purchased for $700. The church was dedicated on Sunday, Oct. 13, 1878, by Bishop John Keane of Richmond. The church had no name until 1881, when it became Immaculate Conception Church. In 1892, it became the mission St. James Parish in West Falls Church. In 1910, Father Amadeus Joseph Van Ingelgem became pastor, and in 1920 he began referring to the church as "Our Lady of Lourdes."

The church officially became a parish on July 18, 1926, with Father Joseph Govaert as its first pastor. The church was officially renamed on July 4, 1927, with the permission of Bishop Andrew J. Brennan, and then became St. John Parish.

The parish celebrated its centenary in 1978 and received papal blessings from Pope Paul IV and Pope John Paul I.

Father Brooks, the current pastor of St. John, joined the parish in 1990. In 2001, he celebrated his 40^th jubilee as a priest.

The St. John Parish Center was blessed Sept. 19, 1992, by the late Arlington Bishop John R. Keating. The parish center contains six classrooms and a large multi-purpose room that is used for weekend liturgies.

The parishioners are very active. The church is comprised mostly of families, and there are over 900 students in the religious education program and more than 90 catechists who volunteer their time to share their faith with the students. Classes meet three nights a week to accommodate all of the different age groups.

St. John’s Preschool operates five days a week. The goal of the school is not only to encourage educational growth, but also spiritual growth. The school encourages the children to have fun while learning, and tries to make the children more aware of God’s presence. There are both morning and afternoon classes for three- and four-year-old students.

The parish Knights of Columbus chapter celebrated its 25^th anniversary last year, with 25 new members, and a goal of recruiting 30 more this year. Membership is up to 140 members. The Knights focus on family activities, picnics and evening programs. They are working on re-establishing a women’s group and a Caring Committee, which would help to support the older members of the group, with transportation or other assistance. One-third of the members have been Knights for 25 years. The Knights also integrate with parish programs by ushering, reading at Masses and being involved as Eucharistic ministers.

Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde recently visited the church cemetery to dedicate a new sculpture, "The Flame." The sculpture was created by Tomas Fernandez. The three elements of The Flame are a reminder of "Our Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." The water flowing through the fountain symbolizes the living water and God’s promise that His followers will never thirst and the rock symbolizes Jesus; immovable, eternal, the foundation of everlasting life.

As St. John the Apostle Church looks ahead to the building of a new church, they are still very much a part of history. Perhaps they should remember the words of Bishop John Russell as he walked with Father Joseph Baran in the 1960s looking for the site for their new parish center. Bishop Russell said, "Maybe we should always keep our beautiful and historic chapel—no matter when we build our new church."

At a Glance

St. John the Apostle

King and Union Sts., NW

Leesburg, VA 20176

703/7771317

Parish Center

101 Oakcrest Manor DR., N.E.

703/7776477

Rectory 302 North King St., N.E.

Pastor: Fr. Robert C. Brooks

Parochial Vicar: Fr. Sean K. Rousseau

DRE: Kathleen Fridley

703/777-3891

Mass Schedule

Saturday: 9 a.m. (Little Church); 5:30 p.m. (Vigil Mass at Parish Center)

Sunday: 7:30, 9, 10:30 a.m.; 12 Noon (Parish Center)

Weekdays: 8:30 a.m. (Little Church)

Confession: Saturday: 4-5 p.m. (Parish Center)

St. John’s Preschool

101 Oakcrest Manor Dr., N.E., 20176

703/777-7873

Director: Jane Taylor, Ed.D.

Children 3-4 years of age

Students: 56

Parish Founded: July, 18, 1926

Parishioners: 4,457

Website: www.stjohnleesburg.com

Boundaries: Beginning at the Potomac River and Goose Creek (in Loudoun County) – South along Goose Creek to Rte. 7 – West on Rte. 7 to Rte. 653 – South on Rte. 653 to Rte. 621 – continue west on Goose Creek crossing Rte. 15 until it intersects Beaverdam Creek Fork – follow Beaverdam Creek Fork west on Rte. 729 – North on Rte. 729 to Rte. 704 – North to Rte. 662 – North on Rte. 662 to Rte. 698 – North on Rte. 698 to Rte. 681 – North on Rte. 681 to Rte. 663 – North on Rte. 663 to Rte. 672 – East on Rte. 672 to the junction of Rts. 15 and 65 at the Potomac River – Southeast along the Potomac River to Goose Creek.

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