The growing parish of Good Shepherd Church in Alexandria can look forward to new places to worship and pass along the Catholic faith in about a year, after breaking ground April 23 on a significant construction project.
On a sun-splashed third Sunday of Easter, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge blessed the building site after celebrating Mass. He broke ground with parish clergy, staff, volunteers and donors. He asked for God’s blessing on the project, invoking Psalm 127, which begins, “Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build.”
“Whenever we look to the interests of our neighbor or the community and serve them, we are in a sense God’s own co-workers,” Bishop Burbidge said. “Let us pray for his help through this celebration that God will bring the construction of a new chapel and meeting space to a successful completion and that his protection will keep those who work on it safe from injury.”
Father Thomas P. Ferguson, pastor, called the moment “a major milestone in our parish’s history.”
“To our parishioners, I say, ‘Thank you!’ Your generosity makes this project possible and your faithful, joyful and ever-increasing dedication to the life and ministry of our church makes new and expanded spaces necessary,” he said.
The new, 150-seat chapel will expand the parish’s ability to offer opportunities for Eucharistic adoration and provide a more intimate setting than the large main church for daily Mass, weddings and funerals. In the meeting spaces, tables and seating can be reconfigured to serve a variety of groups and needs, from religious education to Bible study to tutoring programs. The lower roof of the new construction is both energy efficient and will accentuate a bell tower.
John Skudlarek was among those shoveling dirt. The longtime parishioner and retired military veteran helped kickstart the capital campaign as a way to honor the legacy of his late wife, Andrea, a former Catholic school and religious education teacher who died in 2019. She had a special devotion to Mother Teresa, and part of the new construction will be called the St. Teresa Faith Formation Center.
“Her memory will live on in the community,” he said. “I’m thrilled. I told the bishop I can’t wait till he comes back for the dedication. And he told me he can’t, either.”
Located in the portion of Alexandria near George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the parish attracts a diverse congregation. Scripture readings, petitions and songs were in English and Spanish during the blessing ceremony. The new spaces will provide opportunities for parishioners to host events such as quinceñeras, a rite of passage in many Hispanic communities.
Parish operations are expected to continue as normal during construction, scheduled to start in early May, and be completed in spring 2024.
Schweers can be reached at [email protected].
