Father Richard M. Guest, pastor of St. Theresa Church in
Ashburn, remembers driving on a dirt road to the parish
to help out with confessions early in his priesthood. When he
became parochial administrator of the parish in 2003 many
years later, there was just a sliver of the old road left.
Most roads had been paved. The town of Ashburn had changed
dramatically, and more change would come for St. Theresa with
Father Guest’s arrival.
The parish was founded in 1991 by the late Arlington Bishop
John R. Keating, who appointed the late Msgr. James W.
McMurtrie as founding pastor.
The bishop wanted to name the new parish after a female
saint. Msgr. McMurtrie asked if he could name the church for
his mother, whose middle name was Theresa, in honor of the
Little Flower. Bishop Keating agreed.
There was enough land available for a church, but Msgr.
McMurtrie, a staunch supporter of Catholic education, saw the
need for a Catholic school in Loudoun County. The church
building was postponed in favor of St. Theresa School.
For the first few years parishioners celebrated Mass at Broad
Run High School, Ashburn Presbyterian Church and St. David
Episcopal Church in Ashburn. When the school building was
completed in 1994, Mass was celebrated in the school’s
multipurpose room.
When Msgr. McMurtrie left in 2003, Father Guest was appointed
parochial administrator. He became pastor in 2004, and his
charge was to build a church.
Father Guest led two capital campaigns to complete
construction in 2009. The church was dedicated by Arlington
Bishop Paul S. Loverde in November 2009.
When you drive onto the parking lot of St. Theresa, the first
thing that strikes you about the new church is what appears
to be a spectacular copper-clad steeple.
But Father Guest is quick to point out that it’s not copper,
but a less-expensive faux-copper material that’s just as
attractive. Resources are best spent on other important
things and parishioners are there when circumstances warrant,
according to Father Guest.
“People step up when there’s a need,” he said.
In 2005, three members of the Divine Mercy Prayer Group went
to Father Guest and said they wanted to help the less
fortunate.
“God has called us to help,” said Marianne Guidos, a founding
member of the group.
With Father Guest’s support, the efforts of Guidos, Christina
Harrington and Christine Wilson started Divine Mercy
Outreach, with a mission is “to let those in our parish and
community know that they are our brothers and sisters in
Christ and that we will reach out to assist them in their
time of need,” according to their website.
The group provides beds, mattresses, clothing, furniture and
other basic living essentials.
Guidos said their work provides people with necessities to
live with respect.
Just a few weeks after its founding, Hurricane Katrina
devastated New Orleans and the group mobilized to send aid to
the victims. The group has grown dramatically over the past
five years.
“We now have 300 volunteers,” Guidos said.
Assisting Father Guest in caring for the parish is Father
Daniel S. Spychala, parochial administrator and director of
religious education. He’s been at St. Theresa since 2006.
Father Spychala was the assistant chaplain at Inova Fairfax
Hospital in Falls Church, a job he loved. But he said coming
to St. Theresa was a blessing.
“It’s a wonderful place to be,” he said. “The parish is
outstanding. If you need something (the parishioners) will do
it.”
He said there’s a sense of mutual respect between clergy and
laypeople.
“The people respect us as priests,” he said.
Msgr. McMurtrie’s vision for St. Theresa School has been
achieved and exceeded since the school was built in 1994.
It became a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 2010, which
is considered the highest honor an American school can
achieve.
“We’re very happy getting the Blue Ribbon designation,” said
Principal Carol Krichbaum.
Krichbaum said that service is what the school is known for.
As an example, after Hurricane Katrina, a third grader came
to Krichbaum and asked if she could do a penny drive to help
the victims. The idea was to collect loose coins and send a
check to a charity in New Orleans. The effort raised
thousands of dollars. In a similar effort, $6,000 dollars was
raised after the earthquake in Haiti.
“Service is part of who we are,” Krichbaum said.
A story Father Guest told about a parishioner may sum up the
spirit of St. Theresa parishioners and clergy.
On Christmas Eve several years ago, Father Guest got a phone
call from a woman who asked him, “Do you know of anyone who
needs something?'”
As a matter of fact he did know of someone – a single mother
and child who desperately needed clothes. The woman then
delivered clothes and Christmas gifts to the family.
Next week’s profile
Our Lady of Good Counsel in Vienna
Quick facts
St. Theresa Church
21371 St. Theresa Ln.,
Ashburn, Va. 20147
703/729-2287
Pastor: Fr. Richard M. Guest
Parochial vicar: Fr. Daniel S. Spychala
DRE: Fr. Spychala
Mass Schedule:
Sat.: 8 a.m., 5:30 p.m. vigil
Sun.: 7:30 a.m., 8:45 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m.
Weekdays: 8:30 a.m.
School:
21370 St. Theresa Ln.,
Ashburn, Va. 20147
703/729-3577
Principal: Carol Krichbaum
Students: 465
Parishioners: 13,183
