Parish Profile: Woodstock Parish Is Small but Vibrant

By Patricia Rudy
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 1/24/02)

Although it is a small parish, St. John Bosco in Woodstock is a "vibrant community," according to Father William Aitcheson, pastor. "People are good here; they’re generous with their time and resources." Many parishioners are involved in 16 ministries, from Bible study to a Youth Group.

A predominantly rural, slow growing parish community with 756 registered members, its boundaries include all of Shenandoah County, one of the largest in the state. Catholics are a minority in this part of the state, more than 100 miles from the diocesan seat in Arlington. The parish has a mission, Our Lady of the Shenandoah in Basye, now administered by a full-time priest, Father Clarence Trinkle.

Originally founded as a mission of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Winchester, St. John was established as an independent parish in 1959. Capuchin Friars served there until 1992, when diocesan priests were assigned to staff it. In January 1970, Salesian sisters came to live in the convent there. They directed religious education for about 15 years, and then Missionary Servant Sisters served for the next several years up to the early 1990s.

The current parish is comprised of a number of senior citizens and retirees, as well as quite a few young families, evidenced by a home schooling co-op which meets at the parish hall on Fridays, said Father Aitcheson, who teaches there at times. Many of the home-schooling staff and children attend morning Mass that day, and later he prays the noon Angelus with them.

Residents of the eight nursing homes within the parish boundaries are tended to mostly by the "extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist," said Father Aitcheson. If an individual is in need of the sacrament of penance or anointing of the sick, he goes out. "I like to visit people," he said.

Missionaries of the Holy Apostles Father Joseph Salazar is living at the parish while writing a book. He assists with the parish Masses, and ministers to the local Hispanic community by celebrating the weekly Spanish Mass there and at Precious Blood Church in Culpeper.

In the last year-and-a-half he has been at the parish, Father Aitcheson has made several aesthetic liturgical changes so the community can worship more effectively, he said, such as installing a more noticeable crucifix over the tabernacle.

Some of the changes he has seen in the area is the disappearance of dairy farms along Route 3, because "agriculture is not profitable anymore," he said.

The area is steeped in Civil War history. Confederate General Stonewall Jackson once rode down the town’s Main Street, along which the parish property sits. On display at the rectory is a wealth of Father Aitcheson’s original Civil War memorabilia, which he has collected since his youth.

John and Eunice Taylor have been parishioners for several decades and have lived in the area all their lives while raising five children. Their family was one of the first four in the parish in the late 1950s, along with the Gearing, Mantz and Miller families.

The Taylors have witnessed interstate highways 81 and 66 come through their area. They helped construct the mission building in Basye, have seen their parish grow and are active members. "We’ve enjoyed all of our church activities," Eunice said.

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