Seated next to her husband in Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel just moments before the official blessing ceremony, Carol Monahan remembered what it was like attending Mass at Good Shepherd Church more than four decades ago.
“When we first moved here, we had Mass in a fellowship hall,” she said. “It’s amazing, absolutely amazing. I’m feeling overwhelmed.”
Founded in 1965 in response to the growing population of the Mount Vernon district of Fairfax County, Good Shepherd Church celebrated the completion of its fourth major building project in 59 years April 16. Bishop Michael F. Burbidge presided over the blessing of the chapel and the St. Teresa of Calcutta Faith Formation Center.
“Today’s a great day. It’s the realization of a long process of looking at how we can expand our spaces,” said Father Thomas P. Ferguson, pastor. “We’re celebrating God’s goodness to this parish that continues to grow week after week and month after month with new parishioners joining us.”
The 150-seat chapel will be used for daily Mass and eucharistic adoration and will provide a much-needed smaller space. “Many times, a wedding or a funeral is a small group of people,” said Father Ferguson. “Rather than having fewer than a hundred people in a church that seats over 800 for a funeral Mass, now we have a smaller, more intimate space at those important moments of life.”
Down a long hallway across from the chapel, the faith formation center features three large meeting rooms that can be divided into nine smaller spaces to accommodate all of the growing ministries at Good Shepherd and is large enough to host diocesan groups.
“This is a joyful day for the parish but also the diocese,” said Bishop Burbidge. “It’s a reflection of a community coming together in faith so that we can continue our service to one another, and we’re united in our thanks to God for all good gifts.”
Parishioners will recognize much of the liturgical furnishings in the new chapel. The altar, ambo, tabernacle and crucifix that have been in use in the church sanctuary since 1984 have been moved to the chapel.
Renovations of the main church sanctuary should be completed this summer. As explained in “Renovating Our Sacred Space — A Catechesis on Liturgical Art and Architecture” on the Good Shepherd Church website, “The movement of key elements of the sanctuary furnishings will establish lines of sight that will clearly connect the altar of sacrifice, the image of Jesus Christ crucified, and the tabernacle where we find the real presence of the crucified and risen Lord.”
Monahan had tears in her eyes as she described the significance of the day, paying special tribute to Father Ferguson. “This is an extremely special day,” she said. “Father Tom is extraordinary. I can’t say enough about him.”
“Everyone is proud as they should be,” said Bishop Burbidge. “You go back to the feasibility study, the plans, the fundraising, and a lot of steps to get here. And now we see the fruits of the labor. The entire diocese rejoices with Good Shepherd Parish today.”
