Cultures Combine at Christ the Redeemer Church

By Mary Frances McCarthy
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 10/10/02)

As the population of Loudoun County has become more diverse, so have the parishioners of Christ the Redeemer Parish in Sterling. Although there are some parishioners who have been members from baptism through marriage, there are also many people who have moved into the area recently.

Christ the Redeemer Parish serves a large number of Spanish-speaking Catholics in Loudoun County. Father Donald Howard estimates that between 15-20 percent of the people in his parish speak Spanish as their first language. The Sunday Spanish Masses draw, on average, about 1,400 people.

Because of the number of Spanish-speaking parishioners, the parish has hired a coordinator of bilingual formation, Dora Marroquin. Religious education and First Communion are both offered in Spanish.

"It has been a great blessing to me to be part of another culture, to have been made a part of their faith and faith expression," said Father Howard

The church sponsors Escuela de Liderazo, a school of leadership for 18-35-year-old Hispanic men and women. This school offers classes to teach them a trade.

Religious education at Christ the Redeemer serves over 900 students. Classes are held Monday through Thursday for children in kindergarten through grade 12. There are 130 catechists who teach the students. There are currently 35 adults and older children involved in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults.

The parish community focuses many of its efforts on outreach projects. Parishioners help those in need in their own parish, and also extend help to people in their communities, and throughout the world.

One of the largest outreach efforts that the parish participates in is LINK. This ecumenical society is comprised of 19 churches in the Ashburn/Herndon/Sterling area who are "Linked" together to help people in need. LINK’s motto is Christians Helping their Neighbors. The congregations take turns collecting and distributing food, clothing, furniture and limited financial assistance.

Another way in which Christ the Redeemer seeks to help the community and cross religious boundaries is by lending their facilities to other groups. The Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation of Reston celebrated Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur at the parish center.

Christ the Redeemer church began with its first Mass in the Sterling Middle School cafeteria. On March 5, 1972, Father Kenneth Dougherty, an Atonement Friar, celebrated the first Mass there. Soon after, the Atonement Friars of New York agreed to staff a mission in Sterling. The first pastor of the mission was Father Norman Boyd.

Construction began on the church in August 1979, and it was dedicated less than one year later on June 22, 1980. The church included a worship space that seats up to 700 people, parish offices and a small chapel.

Father William Schmidt, currently the parochial vicar, was the first pastor of Christ the Redeemer and he played a key role in the building of the church.

Father Donald Howard, pastor, was assigned to Christ the Redeemer in 1988. He was ordained on June 3, 1972.

Because of the growth that Loudoun County has experienced over the last couple of decades, a new wing was added to the church which included a larger worship area, and 18 multi-purpose rooms. On Feb. 27, 2000, the new addition was dedicated by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde.

The cornerstones in the two sections of the church both contain the same message, a message that seems to encompass the goals of Christ the Redeemer Church in their parish and in their outreach efforts. The stones from 1980 and 2000 read, "That All May Be One."

At a Glance

Christ the Redeemer

46833 Harry Byrd Hwy.

Sterling, VA 20164-2250

703/430-0811

Friars Residence

12494 Cliff Edge Dr.

Herndon, VA 22170

703/430-1686

Pastor: Fr. C. Donald Howard, S.A.

Parochial Vicar: Fr. William F. Schmidt, S.A.

In Residence: Fr. Michael Daniel, S.A.

Deacons: Lawrence V. Hammel, Joseph R. Singer

DRE: Maureen Roan

703/430-0813

Youth Minister: Cindy Stalcup

Mass Schedule

Saturday: 9 a.m.; 5:30 p.m. (Vigil), 7 p.m. (Spanish)

Sunday: 7:30, 9, 10:30 a.m.; 12 noon (Spanish), 5:30 p.m.

Weekdays: 8 a.m.

Holy Days: 8 a.m.; 7 p.m.

Confession: (bilingual) Saturday: 4-5 p.m.

Parish Founded: 1972

Parishioners: 7,679

Boundaries: Beginning at the Junction of Rt. 28 and Rt. 7, east on Rt. 7 to the Loudoun/Fairfax County Line to Rt. 28N to Rt. 7. 

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