St. John the Apostle Church in Leesburg commemorates its 100th anniversary this month as the mother parish of many diocesan churches in Loudoun County and beyond.
At its founding in July 1926, the parish included all of Loudoun County and a third of Fairfax County, as well as its three mission churches in Herndon, Purcellville and Middleburg.
The same area now has 18 parishes, including at its outer boundaries St. Timothy in Chantilly, St. Stephen the Martyr in Middleburg, St. Francis de Sales in Purcellville and St. John Neumann in Reston.
Bishop Michael F. Burbidge referred to those roots at a Saturday Vigil Mass July 11 commemorating the anniversary.
“We rejoice in knowing the blessing that God has showered upon this community from its very small beginnings as a mission to what is now a vibrant and thriving parish,” Bishop Burbidge said in his homily. “We rejoice in just thinking about the countless number of people throughout these years who came to know and love the Lord in this community through the celebration of the sacraments, the proclamation of the Word of God and the charity of these evangelization efforts.”
“I always think a parish anniversary is a great opportunity to remember, to rejoice and to renew,” Bishop Burbidge said. “With deep attention and gratitude, we remember all those who have gone before us — the priests, the lay faithful, some of your own family members and friends who served faithfully and generously within this parish community, and since gone home to God.”
In its first year, the parish was called Immaculate Conception, and for 64 years prior to its July 18, 1926, founding as a standalone parish, it was a mission overseen by St. Peter’s Church in Harpers Ferry, W.Va.
“Good things take time to grow, right?” said Father Kevin Larsen, pastor since 2016. “So, it was a mission for 64 years, and then, of course, it became finally (a) strong enough population to be able to have a resident pastor.”
The first known Catholic Mass celebrated in the town of Leesburg was offered by the pastor of St. Peter’s Church in 1862 at the Loudoun Hotel. A mission church was dedicated in 1878 and still stands across the street from the current church, which was dedicated in August 2012.
Masses were celebrated from 1992 until 2012 in the building that now serves as the parish center.
Oversight of the mission church was transferred to the Diocese of Richmond in 1892, when it became part of St. James Church in Falls Church. The pastor and two parochial vicars live in a rectory built in 1850 as a plantation house and later refurbished.
Father Larsen said he hasn’t been able to identify a reason for the parish name change from Immaculate Conception to St. John the Apostle July 4, 1927.
“Fifty years ago, the growth really started,’’ he said. “This was the mother parish of this part of the diocese.’’
Longtime parishioner Kate Trask told the bishop before Mass that she attended the parish’s 50th anniversary Mass as a little girl.
Tom and Katie Hudes, who have been members of the parish since 2002, described it as “a wonderful parish and great community.’’
“The community is very active,” said Tony Sangiuliano. “There’s a ton of people involved in many different aspects of it. It’s been a really nice environment.” He added that the parish “always had a lot of activities for the kids as they were growing up.” His college-aged daughter, Natalia, and his wife, Lisa, accompanied him to the Vigil Mass.
Natalia said she had gotten engaged only two days earlier, noting, “My fiancé and I have been going to the college student Bible study that they run.”
Tumulty is a freelancer in Centreville.
