St. Raymond of Penafort: A Parish of Pioneers

By Mary McCarthy
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 4/10/03)

The humble Father James Gould, pastor of St. Raymond of Penafort Parish in Fairfax Station, said that "things can only get better from here."

Masses for the three-year-old parish are currently being celebrated at the Springfield Volunteer Fire Department, and only 700 of approximately 1,700 possible parishioners attend because "One, it is crowded; two, it is smoky; and three, the homilies are better next door," said Father Gould.

Arlington Bishop John R. Keating announced the establishment of St. Raymond of Penafort Parish in Fairfax County in May 1997 with Father Salvator L. Ciullo as founding pastor.

St. Raymond Parish was the last parish established by Bishop Keating prior to his death in March 1998. He chose to name the parish after St. Raymond, the patron of canon lawyers.

The parish drew its parishioners from St. Bernadette Parish in Springfield, Nativity Parish in Burke and Our Lady of Angels Parish in Woodbridge.

Masses were first celebrated at the United Methodist Church in Silverbrook, until the first official Mass as a parish was celebrated at West Springfield High School auditorium on July 5. Masses are now celebrated at the fire hall and Angelus Academy.

Father Gould became pastor in 2000. He was previously pastor at St. Agnes in Arlington. Before coming to St. Raymond Parish, Father Gould was diocesan director of vocations from 1985-2000, during which time he resided at St. John Parish in McLean. In the 15 years he was vocations director, over 90 men were ordained to the priesthood.

Father Gould was born in Chicago. He is one of nine children, who were all born in different states. He attended Blessed Sacrament School in Alexandria for grammar school, where he met Msgr. Martin Quinn, "the first and kindest priest I’ve ever known."

Father J. Michael Beers was in residence at St. Raymond Parish before being called to active duty with the Air Force Reserves. He is currently stationed in Colorado.

Father Anthony Percy is residing at St. Raymond Parish while studying for his doctorate at the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family at Catholic University in Washington.

Sam, the dog, also resides at the rectory. "Never has a creature of the house had such a great impact on the people of the parish," said Father Gould. Sam travels with Father Gould when he takes the Eucharist to the sick, when he attends Knights of Columbus meetings and any other place Sam is welcome.

The average age of the parishioners is about 14, and the families are of many nationalities including Korean, Filipino, Hispanic and African. Father Gould says that the younger members of the parish prove themselves as future choir members with their crying during Mass.

"The marvelous experience of St. Raymond’s is the people themselves, the pioneers full of enthusiasm and willing to sacrifice," said Father Gould.

The initial enthusiasm for the parish was hampered with Father Ciullo’s departure in 2000 under a cloud of financial impropriety.

Additionally, the parish faced many hurdles in gaining zoning approval from the county.

However, since Father Gould arrived at St. Raymond Parish, the parish has demonstrated a renewed energy in raising funds and building their church.

Recently, parishioners proved their willingness to sacrifice during the diocesan Capital Campaign. St. Raymond Parish participated in a combined campaign in order to raise money to build the church. Father Gould told the parishioners, "The bishop wants $1 million, Father Gould wants $2 million, and God wants $3 million." The parish succeeded in exceeding Father Gould’s $2 million goal.

The plans for the church are complete, and the parish is simply waiting to break ground, hopefully this summer. The church will be built on 10 acres on the Fairfax County Parkway between Hooes Road and Pohick Road.

Classrooms for religious education will be constructed in the basement of the church. The rectory will include meeting rooms and parish offices on the first floor.

The church will be built in a transcendent cruciform shape. "Architecture expresses the faith of the people, and it also affects the faith of the people," Father Gould said. The interior of the church will cause people to look forward and up toward the tabernacle. The new church will seat 850.

Because of the classic beauty of the church, it might be recognized as a "wedding church," but Father Gould wants it to be remembered as a "family church."

The parish has planned a pilgrimage in 2004 to Barcelona, Spain, to celebrate its new church and visit the tomb of St. Raymond.

Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde has procured a relic of St. Raymond to be placed in the altar.

"Bishop Loverde has been very kind to us; supportive and encouraging to the people of St. Raymond’s," said Father Gould.

Father Gould describes his parish as having the "best groups." He said the Legion of Mary have been "quite heroic in going door-to-door." He also described the families of St. Raymond Parish as a "wonderful example of guardian angels reaching out for the needs of the parish."

Mark and Becky Maurer serve as youth ministers, in charge of ministering to the large number of active youths in the parish.

Father Gould claims that St. Raymond Parish has the best religious education program in the diocese. There are 390 students registered in the CCD program in preschool through 12th grade. Religious education classes are held at Angelus Academy. "If it wasn’t for Angelus Academy, we’d be sitting in the trees somewhere," said Father Gould.

Bob and Beverly Ward were approached over five years ago when the parish was formed and asked to serve as directors for religious education. "We prayed to the Blessed Mother, if she’d bring teachers and students, we’d do it," Beverly Ward said. "Her success was beyond expectation."

The Wards feel very blessed to have such enthusiastic teachers and supportive parents.

"The facilities aren’t ideal for the size of our program, yet the teachers make due," said Bob Ward.

The Wards also have organized an adult Bible study that meets twice a week.

Above all, the Wards said, "The support we have from our priests is extraordinary. They come for anything."

Rectory:

8900 Triple Ridge Rd.

Pastor: Father James R. Gould

In Residence: Father J. Michael Beers, Father Anthony G. Percy

Deacon: Charles C. Allen

Mass Schedule:

Weekdays: Monday-Friday: 8:45 a.m.; 7:30 p.m. at Angelus Academy, 6601 Springfield Center Dr., Springfield; Wednesday: Adoration 9:15 a.m.-8:30 p.m.

Saturday: 9 a.m. at Angelus Academy; 5, 6:30 p.m. (vigil) at Springfield Volunteer Fire Dept. No. 22, 7011 Backlick Rd., Springfield

Sunday: 7:30, 9, 10:30 a.m., noon at Fire Dept.; 5 p.m. at Angelus Academy

Confessions: Saturday: 4-5 p.m. at Fire Dept., Wednesday: 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Angelus Academy

DREs: Bob and Beverly Ward

703/690-6650

Youth Ministers: Mark and Becky Maurer

Parishioners: 2,383

Boundaries: Beginning at Siverbrook Rd. and Rt. 123 (Ox Rd.) — North to Lee Chapel Rd. to Fairfax County Parkway. East on Parkway to Huntsman Blvd. Northeast on Huntsman Blvd. to Sydenstricker Rd. Southeast on Sydenstricker Rd. to Fairfax County Bypass (parkway) to Rolling Rd. South on Rolling Rd. to Pohick Rd. West along prison land edges to Monocan Rd. to Silverbrook Rd. Northwest on Silverbrook Rd. to Hooes Rd. (Rt. 636) and southwest on Hooes Rd. to Furnace Rd. (Rt. 611). West on Furnace Rd. to Ox Rd. (Rt. 123) and north on Rt. 123 to intersection of Ox Rd. and Silverbrook Rd.

Read Other Diocesan Parish Profiles

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