Not even a mile from the banks of the Potomac River, Our Lady of Hope Church lies on the peripheries of the Arlington diocese. But it plays an essential role in the diocese’s Holy Year 2025 pilgrimage.
The church, one of eight Holy Year pilgrimage sites, is home to a painting of Our Lady of Hope whose face has graced diocesan signage for the Jubilee. “The one picture has become sort of the image for our diocese in this Holy Year, even as we ourselves are celebrating 25 years of parish life,” said Father Anthony J. Killian, pastor, noting that the parish’s silver anniversary coincides with the universal church’s Holy Year. “We’re ‘ground zero’ for the Jubilee.”
The church is also one of the first diocesan parishes named by Bishop Emeritus Paul S. Loverde, who has a personal devotion to Our Lady of Hope.
Images of Our Lady of Hope, who appeared to several children in Pointmain, France, Jan. 17, 1871, appear across the church and parish grounds. A bronze statue of Our Lady of Hope — designed by Martha Cammack — raises a crucifix in welcome to the pilgrim approaching the church across the plaza. Just inside the doors to the left, a smaller statue of Our Lady of Hope overlooks the narthex. At the front of the sanctuary, pilgrims may spot the paintings of the apparition by Cammack. Back in the narthex, a marble inlay depicts Marian symbols of a morning star with the letter “M.” Interlaced is a large anchor, the symbol of hope, reminding pilgrims of their spiritual journey as “pilgrims of hope.”
The Marian images are not the only examples of stunning artwork in the church. “The thing that dominates the church is the beautiful and impressive crucifix that hangs above the sanctuary, which was carved by Edmund Rabanser,” said Father Killian. Rabanser carved the statues in his workshop located in the Italian Alps. “Edmund not only did the crucifix — the corpus on the crucifix — but he also carved the beautiful statues that we have around the church,” Father Killian added.
The statues of St. Michael the Archangel, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, St. Jude and St. Anthony of Padua grace several corners of the cruciform church. Intricate stained-glass windows depicting saints and events from the lives of Mary and Jesus line the walls, and a massive window portraying Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan graces the choir loft.
Golden constellations set against a dark blue background line the vaulted ceiling, forming a cross down the nave and across the side transepts. Each constellation serves as a Biblical reference to the Old Testament, a parable, or events from the lives of Jesus and Mary. From the narthex to the altar, the constellations are Virgo, Coma, Bootes, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Ara, Tarsus and Cancer. From the left side transept to the right, the constellations are Pisces, Aries, Corona, Leo, Gemini, Crus, Aquarius and Capricorn.
After touring the church, families with children may take advantage of the large Algonkian Playground, located by the parking lot of the Potomack Lakes Sportsplex just down the street from the church. The Potomac Heritage Trail, bordering the playground, meanders from a boat launching site at the edge of the Potomac River to the border of the Trump National Golf Course.
If you’re looking to escape the heat, nearby Claude Moore Regional Park has families covered with its Heritage Farm Museum, which is open Tuesday-Saturday 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and Sunday 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The museum features a variety of hands-on, interactive exhibits for kids, most notably its “Waxpool Store,” where kids “shop” for food lining the shelves or mail “letters.” Tickets may be purchased for $5 per adult and $3 per child (ages 2-12).
For a bite to eat, the Ladies of Hope — the parish women’s group — often take their meetings to the Lakehouse Bungalow, located just off of Route 7. Tucked away by a man-made lake, the bungalow has a cozy, old-fashioned feel, giving any meal an air of elegance.
Coffee drinkers will enjoy a latte at Ridgetop Coffee and Tea, a Christian coffee shop located about a five-minute drive from Our Lady of Hope. The coffee shop partners with local businesses, including Caffe Amouri Coffee Roaster in Vienna and Dominion Tea in Purcellville. Parents of toddlers will appreciate the playroom in the back of the shop, while kids and teens will enjoy the shop’s variety of board and card games.
Amid ever-growing suburbia, Our Lady of Hope provides a spiritual oasis for contemplation and prayer, and is indeed a hidden gem in the Arlington diocese.
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For a sneak peek of Our Lady of Hope, go to bit.ly/4fvAwWN.
