RESTON — When the congregation and clergy at St. John Neumann Parish in Reston sing "All Are Welcome," the hymn conveys the theme of the church community.

Oblate Father Robert ("Bob") Brown has been pastor of St. John Neumann Parish for 11 years. He serves with Oblate Fathers Joseph Brennan and Patrick O’Connor, parochial vicars. The parish has been staffed by the Oblates since its founding in 1979.

Father Brown, the parish’s third pastor, has had his beloved dogs, one at a time, with him at each parish assignment. He has owned Boxer breeds for 30 years. One recent afternoon, his pet, Mitzy, kept him company in his office while he was working. She usually accompanies him and is well known to parishioners.

At St. John Neumann, which has 3,100 families, there are four main areas of significance, as listed in the parish’s mission statement. They are liturgy and prayer; Christian formation; fellowship; and outreach.

"We have a very fine music director, Jon Sarta," who has been at the parish for the last year, Father Brown said. "In our mission statement, we emphasize the importance of liturgy, and a very important part of that is R.C.I.A. and R.C.I.C. (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and Rite of Christian Initiation of Children). We usually have about 1,600-1,700 children in the program every year."

The parish has one of the largest SPRED (Special Religious Education for the Disabled) programs in the area, and has had a SPRED Center for more than seven years, which draws from around the diocese.

Susan Merkel Hayden has been the Minister of Religious Education (MRE) for seven years. She works with Cheryl Whapham, the coordinator of Religious Education, PreK-8 and Mary Macnamara, the coordinator of Youth Ministry (grades 9-12).

One of the religious education program highlights is "Faith in Action (FIA)," said Hayden. Each class is asked to do four FIA service projects during the year.

With so many students, the young people are contributing significantly to the greater community, she said. "I really enjoy seeing the creativity of the projects as well. They often go beyond simple collections of items and involve the students in direct works of charity. Even the pre-kindergartners learn that they can make a difference."

"The high school program is very strong," she said. "There are many choices for the teens, so they can easily find something that will fit their busy schedules." Parish youths are also integrated into the liturgies, serving as lectors and in the music ministry, she said. "It is great that at almost every Mass, there are young people actively involved in leadership. It inspires the entire community.

"At all levels, the thing which keeps all of this happening is the dedication of the volunteers," Hayden said. "I am always impressed with the enthusiasm and selflessness of these good folks, folks with families and jobs and many other demands on their time. Yet they make living their faith a priority and the children and youth of St. John Neumann are all the better for it. We literally could not do it without these amazing men and women."

Some of St. John Neumann’s fellowship offerings include after-Mass refreshments, a Mother’s Group, a Young Adult Catholics Group, a 50-Plus Group, Sages and a monthly pancake breakfast sponsored by the parish Knights of Columbus council.

Father Brown said parishioners are "very generous" in the parish’s outreach programs. Since its founding, the parish has been a member of Reston Interfaith, an organization of 16 local religious communities that assist the needy. One of St. John Neumann’s activities is a monthly food collection called Brown Bag Sunday.

The Oblates have a mission in Haiti, staffed by Father Tom Hagan. During one weekend, the parish collected $38,000 for the mission. Father Brown said it was the largest second collection he had ever witnessed. As part of the mission’s "Hands Together" program, a group from the parish hopes to visit the Haiti site, said Father Brown.

The number of parish families has almost doubled in the last decade, up from 1,700 families when Father Brown arrived in 1991. It is estimated that there will be 3,500 families there by the year 2020.

Due to a growing congregation and increasing population in Northern Virginia, a parish expansion project is underway. Currently, seven Masses are celebrated at the parish each weekend.

The parish’s two buildings, aside from the rectory, will nearly double in square footage. Several classrooms for religious education and more offices for parish current and future staff will be added. A groundbreaking ceremony will be scheduled when the parish receives its building permit.

Currently, a bilingual Mass is celebrated monthly in English and Spanish on Sunday afternoon. Some of the regular celebrants include Father Brennan or Father Kevin Walsh. In October, the bilingual Mass will be incorporated into the parish’s regular weekend schedule as one of the Saturday vigil Masses.

"It brings the Hispanic community closer; brings them into the larger community of the parish," said Father Brown. Father O’Connor attended Spanish language school in Costa Rica over the summer. The parish’s Hispanic community hosted a ‘welcome back’ party for him on Sept. 7.

Hayden said that parishioners "truly live their baptismal call to shine the light of Christ in the world. The people have adopted the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal."

She said members have enjoyed many workshops sponsored by the Salesian Spirituality Center, and have carried the perspective with them in their various ministries.

"We are truly blessed to have the Oblates," said Hayden. "They embody the spirituality of Francis and Jane — they are compassionate, gentle and great preachers."

Father Brown said that the welcoming nature of the parish "is very inclusive. The welcome includes those who are a different age, of different nationalities or people who are in a stage of remembering, meaning returning to the Church.

"The theology of St. Francis de Sales has certain characteristics," Father Brown said. "One is gentleness, emphasizing reconciliation, mercy and also what we call the principle that ‘virtue is usually found in the middle.’ It’s in contrast to extremes on issues and we direct the people to that teaching. In the parish, we try to respect different spiritualities."

There is a strong positive response to adult education offerings at the parish, Father Brown said. A Little Rock Scripture Study program begun two years ago has flourished. There are also a wide variety of lectures and series for adult faith formation at beginner and advanced levels.

"The Catechumenate process runs year-round," said Hayden. "This enables us to welcome those inquiring about becoming Catholic at any time of the year. Hospitality is key within all of these offerings."

At a Glance:

St. John Neumann Parish

Pastor: Oblate Father Robert Brown

Parochial vicars: Oblate Father Joseph Brennan, Oblate Father Patrick O’Connor

Mass Schedule:

Sat.: 8:30 a.m.; 4:30, 6 p.m.

Sun.: 7:30, 9, 10:30 a.m., noon, 5:30 p.m.

Weekdays: Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri.: 6:30, 9 a.m. Weds.: 9 a.m., 7 p.m.

MRE: Susan Merkel Hayden YM: Mary Macnamara

Parish Founded: 1979

Deanery: III

Web site: www.saintjn.org

Parish Boundaries: Beginning at Dulles Airport Rd. and the Colonial Pipeline, east on Dulles Access Rd. to Trap Rd., south on Trap Rd. to Clarks Crossing Rd., southwest on Clarks Crossing Rd. to the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad right of way, northwest on the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad right of way to Hunter Station Rd. and south fork of Difficult Run, southwest on Difficult Run to Stuart Mill Rd., southwest on Stuart Mill Rd. to Fox Mill Rd, northwest on Fox Mill Rd. to Bennett Rd., southwest on Bennett Rd. to West Ox Rd., north on West Ox Rd. to Lawyers Rd., northeast on Lawyers Rd. to Fox Mill Rd., northwest on Fox Mill Rd. to Fairfax Co. Parkway, northeast on Fairfax Co. Parkway to Dulles Airport Rd.