It’s not a parish, or even a mission yet, but the new campus of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Stephens City is off to an impressive start. Catholics from Winchester, Front Royal and all points in between crowded into the former non-denominational “Love Church” to celebrate the first Mass, Aug. 15, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Father Phillip M. Cozzi, parochial vicar of Sacred Heart with administrative and pastoral responsibility for the Stephens City campus, is returning to the Shenandoah Valley after serving at St. John the Baptist Church in Front Royal as parochial vicar and administrator 2018-21.
“Right now, this is a Mass of convenience, but our hope and our intention is that it will quickly become a mission,” said Father Cozzi. “And based on what I’ve seen, with all the sprawling development in this area, I would say there’s a very good probability that’s going to happen sooner rather than later. I’m excited, but not as excited as the people.”
It was a moment that Catholics in the Shenandoah Valley had been anticipating for many years.
“It’s amazing,” said Jack Hsu, who made the short drive from Front Royal with his wife and seven children. “We’re bulging at the seams with Catholics around here and it’s a great witness for our family and a testament to the diocese. It’s beautiful to see.”
Situated on 29.5 rolling acres off I-81, the church building and grounds were purchased by the diocese for $6 million in 2024. The building has a capacity of 460, but the excitement of the inaugural Mass attracted many more, with Massgoers standing in the aisles and overflowing into the vestibule. Gloria Armel said the Hispanic community of Sacred Heart is thrilled to have a new location. “We are so happy to have a new church,” she said. “Our Spanish Mass at Sacred Heart is too crowded. This is very exciting.”
The current weekend schedule includes English Masses on Saturday at 4:30 p.m., Sunday at 9 a.m., and a Spanish Mass on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. Beginning Sept. 2, Father Cozzi will add Masses on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 9 a.m. in English, and celebrate Spanish language Masses on Monday and Thursday at 6 p.m.
“One of the things I want to do is really try to form this community,” he said. “And I just feel like if it’s only going to be having Mass on the weekend, it’s only just an overflow Mass and that process is going to be a little bit slower, but if we’re doing daily Mass and we’re offering the sacraments on a daily basis, that community will begin to form and grow here in Stephens City.”
Marylin Gundy arrived an hour-and-a-half before Mass to help prepare for the big crowd. “People have been waiting for this to happen for years, and we’re glad it came south from Winchester rather than going north,” she said. “I would say that 40% percent of our senior group comes from the Stephens City and Middletown area.”
As an usher at the main church for 25 years, John Stahl has witnessed the population boom in the northern Shenandoah Valley, along with a growing enthusiasm for the faith.
“It seems to have been reawakened and people are coming,” he said. “There’s more people every year and that’s the reason for this church.”
“We need more churches around,” said Shoana Riccio, a parishioner of St. John the Baptist. “People are recognizing the richness that the Catholic Church has to offer. This is how we feed our souls and grow in the faith.”
Father Cozzi said he jumped at the opportunity to be a part of something new.
“I always recall the words of Pope Benedict when he said the church is young and you definitely get that sense around here,” he said. “There’s an energy, a youthfulness and it’s something incredible to behold.”
