HERNDON — On an open piece of land in Herndon stands a large statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary where people regularly leave flowers. This is the property of St. Veronica Parish, founded two-and-a-half years ago. Currently, Masses are celebrated in a local elementary school and at two United Methodist Churches. Although neither the church nor the proposed school has been built yet, members have been very dedicated, generous and welcoming, said Father Marcus Pollard, pastor.

"The parishioners are really great; they’re fantastic," he said. "For a little parish, we’ve got a lot going on." The recent St. Veronica dinner gala and auction drew a large percentage of the parishioners and raised more than $35,000, which boosts the building fund to $750,000. Father Pollard said that the single most effective fundraiser has been a request that parishioners donate their first hour’s wages each week, rather than have a pledge campaign.

The parish, now numbering 600 families, is in the northwestern edge of Fairfax County, where the population continues to increase. Father Pollard said St. Veronica consists of mostly adults between the ages of 28 and 42 and many children.

"The parents want the Faith for their kids, and that’s unique to each family," he said. "Some want a Catholic school; some are content with public school, which means they want and a strong parish CCD program; and some want support for their homeschooled kids."

The rectory, a home in a residential neighborhood near the St. Veronica site, serves as a priests’ residence as well as for offices and meeting space. Father Christopher Buckner, in residence, is on staff at Catholic Distance University in Hamilton and helps with the parish weekend Mass schedule. St. Veronica’s Knights of Columbus Council No. 12579, the first parish group Father Pollard formed as new administrator, has finished the house’s lower level, which includes a small chapel where the Blessed Sacrament is kept.

Father Pollard said his parish is appreciative of the assistance offered from nearby St. Timothy Parish in Chantilly. Father Gerald Weems, pastor, has been "phenomenal," according to Father Pollard. "They have been very supportive, like our big sister parish." St. Timothy Parish donated the statue of Our Lady at the St. Veronica site, let their groups use meeting space and the priests help Father Pollard cover the Fair Oaks Hospital ministry. He said the local Protestant pastors have also been very accommodating.

A unique aspect of St. Veronica Parish is the CCD program, with most classes for the 350 students being held in 30 private homes. Director of Religious Education (DRE) Carol Krieger calls St. Veronica’s a "virtual parish." The religious education begins with three-year-olds in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Father Pollard said the program has received invaluable aid from Natia Meehan of the Catholic Shop in Centreville.

The Sunday Masses are celebrated at the elementary school, where attendees sit on plastic chairs and use gardening pads for kneelers. Since the cafeteria location has only one entrance, "I get to shake the hand of every one of my parishioners who comes and to at least say hello, which I really enjoy," Father Pollard said. He noted that a positive point is a fair number of people use a "new, small parish to reconnect with Catholicism again."

He also instituted a question box, where Mass attendees drop questions about the faith that Father Pollard answers in the following week’s bulletin. One of his goals as the parish grows is to retain a small-parish, personal atmosphere. He estimates that there will eventually be 10,000 members.

On the first, third and fifth Sundays of the month, Father Pollard holds a two-hour afternoon open house at the rectory to where five or six different families are invited each time. "It gives people a chance to connect with each other and the pastor," he said.

There are several Bible studies each week, some for adults and one each for home schoolers and for high schoolers. On Sunday evenings, Father Pollard holds a youth meeting. "It’s partly for studying the faith, partly something fun," he said.

Once a month he and the teens embark on a "drive-by flamingoing" to help make people aware of the parish’s existence. Bright orange-pink plastic flamingos are put in the front yard of someone they like, and left for up to 24 hours. "There has been talk of flamingoing Bishop Loverde’s residence," Father Pollard said. Last summer the bishop celebrated Mass at the school and visited the rectory. It was the first parish he established in the Arlington Diocese.

One week each month, no CCD classes are held and Father Pollard instead has a catechists’ meeting where he concentrates on three things: how the program is going; teaching them to pray the Liturgy of the Hours; and going through Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales.

Mike and Cathy Cahill have belonged to the parish since the beginning and are very involved. He heads the finance and fundraising organizations, is on the parish council and a member of the Knights, and she helps with the St. Vincent de Paul Society and is on the building fund committee.

"Father Pollard has attracted a lot of people to the parish because of his traditional Catholic views and level of energy," said Mike. "It’s a fun time to be involved. It’s still a small parish; young and active." He pointed out that more than 10 percent of the parish men have joined the Knights council. During his adult life, Cahill has been a member of about 14 parishes, due to extensive travel. "I’ve never been in a parish that has this level of participation," he said.

An annual November 5K walk is another fundraiser, in which Father Pollard’s auction donations always bring the highest bids. Last year he offered his services as a babysitter for one night and this year sold seats in the van for the parish pilgrimage, during which he will drive and be tour guide.