St. Veronica
Parish in Chantilly may be a “young kid on the block” in
the Arlington Diocese, as Father Edward C. Hathaway, pastor,
called it, but the parish has grown into a mature faith
community. Father Hathaway is clear on what’s important at
St. Veronica – worship, education, outreach and fellowship,
in that order – and his vision has helped create “a seedbed
for the spiritual life,” said parishioner Francis Seng.
(See a video profile of the parish here.)
With Marcus A. Pollard as founding pastor, the parish was
established June 28, 1999, by Arlington Bishop Paul S.
Loverde, carved off from the overcrowded churches of St.
Timothy in Chantilly, St. Joseph in Herndon and St. John
Neumann in Reston. St. Veronica’s boundaries extend north to
the Dulles Toll Road, west to Route 28 and south to Route 50.
Before the church was completed in 2004, Mass was celebrated
in the Oak Hill Elementary School cafeteria and at Floris
United Methodist Church, both in Herndon. “They were the most
faithful cafeteria Catholics,” said Father Hathaway.
After serving as pastor of St. John the Beloved Parish in
McLean and St. John the Baptist in Front Royal, Father
Hathaway arrived at St. Veronica the first Sunday in Advent
2007.
“Being pastor of a new parish brings a little more work with
it because not everything is established, but it creates a
certain vibrancy,” said Father Hathaway. Since traditions are
still being formed, it inspires people to get involved and
help shape parish culture, he said.
The parish is not only relatively young, it is composed of
young families, often large ones, that reflect the
surrounding multiethnic neighborhoods.
“It’s a young, vibrant, diverse parish where catechesis is
emphasized,” said parishioner Elliot Dorham, a father of nine
home-schooled children.
Worship
The faith life of the 5,052 registered parishioners is
supported foremost by worship. “The sacraments are celebrated
with excellence,” said Father Hathaway.
Parishioners appreciate the focus on sacraments.
“There is reverence for the Mass,” said Dorham. “The pastor
and parochial vicar (Father Charles C. Smith) both give
homilies that offer practical guidance. There’s always
something practical to take away,” he said.
Part of celebrating the sacraments well is doing so in a
reverent, beautiful environment. “There’s an understanding
that physical space is important, that beauty draws people to
faith,” said Dorham’s wife, Sylvia.
“If God is the true, good and beautiful, beauty is a way of
evangelizing,” said Father Hathaway. “Even if you don’t
always agree on what is true, people are attracted by what is
beautiful; it moves the soul,” he said. “Art can teach and
inspire.”
Education
Instruction in the Faith is also a main focus at St.
Veronica, a place where “formation is more than skin deep,”
said Sylvia. There’s an awareness of “a depth and a richness
that is the Catholic Church,” she said.
Education takes place in many forms – through St. Veronica
School, religious education and Rite of Christian Initiation
of Adults classes, and through ongoing adult faith formation.
(Read
how food, faith and education are mixed at St.
Veronica.)
The school, which opened in 2004 with 55 students, has grown
exponentially and like the parish is racially diverse,
according to Kendra Turchiarolo, a parishioner, parent of two
students and the school’s part-time development director. The
student body of 359 is more than 34 percent minority,
according to the school registrar.
Just as the youthfulness of the parish affords new
traditions, the young school similarly gives parents the
opportunity to have a voice in its development.
“Because it has grown quickly, the school wants to respond to
the needs of the community,” said Turchiarolo. “So the school
is able to be more flexible, more open.”
And the atmosphere in the classrooms, halls and offices is
“welcoming and warm,” she said. “You can feel it as soon as
you walk in – a sense of safety and security, knowing
teachers have concern for students individually.”
The “strong sense of commitment” from teachers,
administrators and parents creates a fruitful educational
environment, “where there’s an open door to be able to
learn,” said Turchiarolo.
(See
a story on how Father Hathaway brought history to life for
students.)
Outreach
“Both (Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI) spoke of
alienation in the modern world,” said Father Hathaway.
“Christians should counter it with love put in action.”
In addition to the service work of the Knights of Columbus,
the parish puts love in action through the works of the
Blessed Mother Teresa Social Outreach Apostolate. The mission
of the parish-based organization, according to the parish
website, “is to relieve suffering by helping those in need
meet their short-term basic needs such as food, shelter and
utilities.”
“The apostolate serves the parish, the community and the
diocese,” said Father Hathaway, and it does so through
one-on-one interactions. “The members meet people, go to
their homes; it’s soul to soul,” he said.
Fellowship
The problem of alienation is also combated through
opportunities for fellowship within the parish. The Scouts,
Legion of Mary, Catholic Youth Organization, Youth Apostles
and Knights of Columbus nurture relationships among their
members and within the parish through service and social
events, such as games, meals and fundraisers.
Three years ago, Sylvia started Fiat, a group for fifth-
through eighth-grade girls that helps them “see that they
have particular, special roles in the Church,” Sylvia said.
It also sets aside time for them to pray and play together,
laying the foundation for meaningful friendships.
According to Turchiarolo, with the emphasis on fellowship,
people don’t just come together for Mass, but for socializing
outside Mass. “There’s a real feeling of familiarity,” she
said.
The seeds of faith, including education, outreach and
fellowship, help this youthful, reverent community flourish.
Most importantly, however, is what’s at the “heart of the
parish,” said Father Hathaway: the sacraments.
Quick facts
St. Veronica Church
3460 Centreville Rd.
Chantilly, Va. 20151
703/773-2000
Pastor: Fr. Edward C. Hathaway
Parochial vicar: Fr. Charles C. Smith
Religious education coordinator: Mary Lynne
Ochenkowski
Mass Schedule:
Sat.: 8:30 a.m., 5 p.m. vigil
Sun.: 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 5 p.m.
Mon., Fri.: 8:30 a.m.
First Fri.: 7:30 p.m.
Parishioners: 5,052
School:
St. Veronica School
3460B Centreville Rd.
Chantilly, Va. 20151
703/773-2020
Principal: Mary Baldwin
Students: 359
