After years of ministerial work as founding pastor of Holy
Trinity Parish in Gainesville, Father Francis Peffley has
reached the decision that it is beneficial to step down from
his current responsibilities and obligations. Accordingly,
Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde has accepted Father
Peffley’s resignation as pastor and has given him an
assignment as parochial vicar of St. John the Apostle Parish
in Leesburg.
The resignation as pastor and appointment as parochial vicar
will be effective Oct. 12.
Father Peffley was appointed the founding pastor of Holy
Trinity Parish in 2001. During his tenure there he oversaw
the construction of the church, which was dedicated in
February 2008.
Also effective Oct. 12 is the appointment of Father Thomas P.
Vander Woude as pastor of Holy Trinity and Father Marcus A.
Pollard as parochial administrator of Queen of Apostles
Parish in Alexandria.
Father Pollard was born in Frankfurt, West Germany, Dec. 22,
1962, to David and Ilse Pollard. He has three brothers,
including Father Christopher Pollard, now serving with the
Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United
Nations in New York.
He attended public school in Fairfax County, graduating from
Oakton High School in Vienna in 1981. Father Pollard received
a bachelor’s from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood,
Pa., and continued his theological studies at Mount St.
Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md. His diaconate assignment
was at St. Luke Parish in McLean.
He was ordained by the late Arlington Bishop John R. Keating
May 19, 1990, and was appointed parochial vicar of Holy
Family Parish in Dale City. Father Pollard served as
parochial vicar of St. John the Evangelist Parish in
Warrenton and St. Louis Parish in Alexandria. He was named
administrator of the newly formed St. Veronica Parish in
Herndon in 1999. He also served as parochial vicar of St.
Bernadette Parish in Springfield.
Father Pollard has been a spiritual director in the Legion of
Mary. He spearheaded evangelization efforts for the diocese
as chairman of the Evangelization Committee of the Priests’
Council.
Father Vander Woude was born March 26, 1966, in Meridian,
Miss. He attended school in Marietta, Ga., until his parents
moved their family to Nokesville, Va., so that their seven
sons could attend Seton School in Manassas.
After graduating from Seton in 1984 and Christendom College
in Front Royal in 1988, Father Vander Woude began his
priestly formation at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary. He spent his
diaconate year of St. Joseph Parish in Herndon and was
ordained by Bishop Keating on May 16, 1992.
His priestly assignments have been of St. Mary Parish in
Alexandria, St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Great Falls, St.
Agnes Parish in Arlington and Queen of Apostles.
An avid sportsman, Father Vander Woude is a member of the
Earthen Vessels, a priests’ basketball team that helps raise
funds for schools and organizations through charity
basketball games.
