Even before Holy Family Church in Dale City had a name or a
building of its own, the parish’s focus was on “serving people and helping
people,” said Larry Pemberton, a longtime church volunteer and member of the
pastoral council.
Initially known as just the “Dale City Parish of the Roman
Catholic Diocese of Richmond,” Holy Family was established by Richmond Bishop
John J. Russell, who heard there was a diverse and growing community of Catholics in Prince William County and appointed
Father R. Roy Cosby to build a new church.
After almost four years of fundraising, planning and
construction, the Holy Family Church was dedicated June 2, 1974. Two months
later, in August, it became one of the first of 49 parishes in the newly
created Arlington diocese. (There are 70 parishes in the diocese today.)
The focus on service was evident from the first public meetings
of the new community. In early September, 1970, the newly appointed pastor said
he saw the nascent parish not as a church, but as people — “Christ’s hands to help those in need, his lips to
spread the Word of God,” according to an article in the “Potomac News”
reporting on a community meeting at Bel Air Elementary School. The first Masses
Father Cosby celebrated at the school Sept. 6 drew 1,200 people, the article
said.
“The desire to help people is a part of Holy Family,” said
Pemberton, who’s been active in the parish since 1985. “It’s carried through
with all of the pastors we’ve had,” and instilled a strong spirit of
volunteerism, from the church’s volunteer-run food pantry to youth mentorship
programs, to a Circle of Caring ministry, which supports the seriously ill and
their caregivers.
As the parish marks its 50th anniversary this month with muted
celebrations due to the continuing coronavirus pandemic, parishioners have been
reminiscing and sorting photos for a video to be shown after a livestreamed Mass Bishop Michael F. Burbidge
will celebrate at Holy Family Sept. 20 at 12:30 p.m. Father Donald Planty,
pastor from 2005 to 2010, will be guest homilist, and many priests who have
served the parish over the years plan to attend.
“It is a time of jubilee and rejoicing! Although the pandemic has
curtailed many events, we are not discouraged!” wrote Father Ramon Baez, named
pastor this summer, in a letter last week on the parish website. He said the
anniversary celebration will begin with a fireworks display Sept. 19 at 8:15
p.m. in the church parking lot.
Over the years, the parish thrived and grew; an activity center
was added in 1990 and now houses the preschool, which opened in 1992, and Holy
Family School, established in 1995.
Father John T. O’Hara, who served as parochial vicar for 10
years, noted that the church’s modern brick building is not ornate, but is
beloved by many. “It’s a very humble place, but it’s a joyful place. It is the
spiritual home of the people who belong there and worship there,” he said.
The church community of about 3,300 families — 15,000
parishioners — has grown increasingly diverse in the past 20 or 30 years, said Pemberton. The area has
seen a large influx of Spanish-speaking immigrants, but there are also many
“African Americans, Anglo Americans, Africans, Asians, Koreans, Filipinos and
every country,” he said. “We all get along with each other in the sandbox.”
One of the parish’s biggest annual events celebrates that
diversity, with a multicultural festival every September, now simply called the
Festival or Fun Festival. On hold this year because of the coronavirus
pandemic, the event typically features ethnic foods, singing and dancing from
many cultures, as well as games for the children of the parish. It’s such a big
and joyful event that many former parishioners make the pilgrimage back to Holy
Family to participate, said Jamie Chichester, a 27-year member who grew up in
the parish and attended Holy Family School. “It’s a special occasion that I
always came home to attend,” during her college years, she said.
Father O’Hara said he and Father Gerry Creedon, who both arrived
at Holy Family in 2010, “delighted in the diversity” of the parish, because
their priestly lives “were a lot about peace and justice, so that was a great
joy.”
Father Creedon was pastor from 2010 until his death in November
2017 from complications following heart surgery. An Irish priest known as a
voice for social justice, Father Creedon was an inspiration and mentor to many, and also was an accomplished poet and
musician. Father Bill Korpi became pastor to the grieving parish in 2017, “as
all of us absorbed the shock of (Father Creedon’s) death,” Father O’Hara said.
Both he and Father Korpi retired this summer.
Those associated with Holy Family over the years look back with
satisfaction in being part of the parish’s good works.
“It was a great place to be,” said Father O’Hara. “It is a place
of hope, joy, service and acceptance — a beautiful, holy family.”
Find out more
Bishop Michael F. Burbidge will celebrate a Mass
honoring the parish’s 50th anniversary livestreamed from Holy Family Church in
Dale City, Sept. 20, at 12:30 p.m. To watch via livestream, go to
youtube.com/holyfamilymass.
