Good Shepherd Parish's Mission Is Community

By Linda Busetti
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 6/6/02)

MOUNT VERNON — Father George Griffin characterizes Good Shepherd Parish in Alexandria as "a Catholic parish community in the Vatican [Council] II tradition … we like to enable and empower lay people to really participate in the mission of the parish."

A sense of belonging or membership in the parish community and "not just attendance" is fostered by lay participation, Father Griffin said.

Good Shepherd’s tradition of outreach goes back to its early years. The parish was founded in 1965, with Father Joseph F. Schwartz as first pastor.

For two years, Mass was celebrated in the crowded cafeteria of Walt Whitman School (the current location of Mount Vernon High School) in Alexandria. Baptisms and small weddings took place in an old rectory on Adrienne Drive. Funerals and large weddings were held at St. Louis or St. Mary churches in Alexandria.

Parish property sits on 11 acres formerly part of George Washington’s Mansion House Farm at Mt. Vernon.

About 160 children received their First Communion at the first Mass celebrated in Good Shepherd’s multipurpose building on April 29, 1967. Richmond Bishop John J. Russell formally dedicated the building on June 17.

Under Pastor Father Thomas Quinlan (1971-74), planning began for a $1 million worship center, chapel, religious education space, and administrative offices. A planned fall 1974 groundbreaking came to a halt when the new Arlington Diocese was formed. Father Quinlan decided to remain in the Richmond Diocese and was replaced by Father John Hannan who served as co-pastor with Father Thomas Egan until 1975, when they were succeeded by Father Frank Mahler.

Plans for a new church and parish center were resurrected when Father Gerard Creedon became pastor in 1979. The church, which was dedicated in October 1984 by Arlington Bishop John R. Keating, features a rough-edged cornerstone quarried at the Mount Vernon Estate. The mahogany altar’s design suggests an 18th-century sideboard in the dining room at Mount Vernon.

Parish social justice ministry also expanded under Father Creedon, who was director of Catholic Charities at that time.

Father Griffin, formerly associate pastor at Good Shepherd, became pastor in 1991, soon after the parish center was dedicated. A rectory is currently under construction, with completion scheduled for late 2002.

Good Shepherd Parish has 1,200 registered Hispanic families — about 40 percent of the parish, according to Leah Tenorio, Good Shepherd’s Hispanic Ministry Coordinator.

Father Griffin hopes the diocese approves a Hispanic permanent diaconate program so Hispanic deacons "can work with the Hispanic community" and take some of the burden off Hispanic priests, "who are a little overworked right now."

Tenorio organizes and runs parish Hispanic programs including 600-student religious education program, sacramental preparation, "Circle of Caring" ministry to the sick and homebound, the Legion of Mary, Mother’s Group and Youth Group as well as retreats, posadas at Christmas time, Corpus Christi procession, Virgin of Guadalupe Mass and reception and Epiphany children’s Mass. She also writes the weekly "Rincon Hispano," a Spanish translation of the bulletin. Sister Ana Maria Colocho assists as part-time secretary/receptionist.

Together with Father Jesus Navarrete, who is in residence at Good Shepherd, Tenorio started Progreso Hispano ("Hispanic Progress") 1½ years ago, "because we found such a big void of services for Hispanics in this part of the county/diocese," she said. Previously, she referred Spanish-speaking people, many of whom lacked transportation, to Arlington and Falls Church for services. "We hope to provide a vehicle for bringing existing programs/services to this area and for advocating for access to other programs. When we can’t … we will provide these services," she said.

Progreso Hispano recently moved into temporary office space on Route 1 in Alexandria, where it will remain for about a year until permanent space is ready closer to Good Shepherd. To meet the most critical need of Hispanic immigrants — immigration services — Progreso Hispano now employs Karin Yanez, an immigration specialist (703/431-4703). There is no other agency in the southern Route 1 corridor of Fairfax County that provides immigration services, according to Tenorio.
"I like to think of Good Shepherd as the parish with a heart," Father Griffin said. "It’s a very social-minded, socially concerned parish." This concern is expressed through parish social justice ministry, directed full-time by Mary Jane Masciola. According to Masciola, the need for social services in southern Fairfax County has "grown larger and faster" than can be met, especially in terms of affordable housing. Masciola directs the parish emergency assistance program and coordinates 25 parish committees in outreach services such as serving food at Christ House and the ecumenical Route One Community Kitchen (ROCK). She also directs people in need to appropriate agencies such as United Community Ministries or Good Shepherd Housing, which originated at the parish.

Masciola helps put together "financial packages." She explained that, with doubled security deposits, it can cost $2,000 or more for an area family just to get into an apartment.

According to youth minister Brian McAlevy, parish youth activities include outreach, spiritual formation and service projects. A youth representative sits on the parish council. The parish will send about 13 high school students and young adults to World Youth Day in Toronto in July. Another group of about 10 youths, three of whom are from the Hispanic youth group, will participate in the diocesan WorkCamp in Montross at the end of June.

A senior member of the parish, Art Friedberg, takes the kids every month to serve dinner at Christ House, goes with them on retreats and volunteers as a security guard at WorkCamp. When Friedberg was recognized at a recent volunteer awards dinner, "kids all started hollering" with appreciation, McAlevy said.

McAlevy hopes to get youths more involved in advocacy work. "At WorkCamp we talk not only about hammering nails and cutting boards, but predominantly about social justice," he said.

Because lay people play a significant role at Good Shepherd, Parochial Vicar Father Ronald Escalante said, he is free to concentrate on evangelization through counseling, ministry to parishioners in hospitals and nursing homes, and students in the weekly double class sessions of religious education.

Good Shepherd welcomes visitors from throughout the diocese to their annual International Festival held Labor Day weekend. According to Father Griffin, last year’s festival raised $40,000 for charity. Among this year’s beneficiaries will be a Vietnamese resident of Mount Vernon Nursing Home, who uses a motorized wheelchair. About $10,000 of festival profits will be earmarked for a new wheelchair for this gentleman, Father Griffin said.

At a Glance

Good Shepherd Church

8710 Mt. Vernon Hwy.

Alexandria, Va. 22309

Pastor: Fr. George Griffin

Parochial Vicar: Fr. Ronald S. Escalante

In residence: Fr. Jesus Navarrete

Deacon: Thomas G. White, Jr.

Mass Schedule:

Sat.: 5, 6:30 p.m. (Spanish)

Sun.: 7:30, 9, 10:30 a.m., 12 noon, 2 p.m. (Spanish)

Parish Founded: 1965

Parishioners: 6,499

Web Site: www.gs-cc.org

Boundaries: Beginning at U.S. 1 and Sherwood Hall Ln. (Rte. 626) — South on U.S. 1 to southeast boundary of Fort Belvoir — East along boundary to Potomac River — Northwest along river to intersection of George Washington Memorial Pkwy. and Collingwood Rd. (Rte. 628) — West on Collingwood to Sherwood Hall Ln. — West on Sherwood Hall Ln. to U.S. 1. 

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