What is your parish’s charism? We have a legacy of welcoming the stranger. Many people who move to the Mount Vernon section of Fairfax County are members of highly transient populations such as the military and government workers. When they move, they seek a place to pray, learn and serve. In the mid-1970s, the parish welcomed refugees from Vietnam and some of these families remain active parishioners. We continue to welcome newcomers, now from countries in Central and South America and sub-Saharan Africa. We provide outreach and support with our partners at Catholic Charities as well as Good Shepherd Housing and the Progreso Literacy and Citizenship Center, both of which were founded by the parish.
Parish liturgies are vibrant and encourage full, conscious and active participation in the Mass. Liturgical ministers serve as greeters, lectors, lay ministers of holy Communion, altar servers and ushers. Musicians and choirs are an integral part of the Mass, leading the assembly in song and prayer. Homilies provide historical context and everyday applications of the Scriptures.
Dynamic programming fosters lifelong faith formation. We support parents in living the promises they made at their children’s baptism to raise their children in our faith. Programs and activities are geared to families, with individual and age-appropriate faith-sharing groups. Diverse activities and programs invite parishioners to pray, learn and serve, sharing their God-given gifts. A highlight of our faith formation program is Vacation Bible School, where one child once told Father Thomas P. Ferguson, pastor, that VBS was more fun than Disney World. Family Faith and S’mores provides families an opportunity to reflect on the Sunday Scripture and to learn more about our faith. Our family-based program is rooted in the Sunday Readings and provides discussion questions, service activities and prayer. Activities centered around the liturgical year invite families to Eucharistic adoration, Mass, service projects, learning and fun. Youth ministry is a dynamic extension of our faith formation program involving both teens and young adults. Many teens participate in the diocesan WorkCamp every June. Many of the same teens join middle school and high school students to participate in a weeklong parish WorkCamp serving members of our community with home repairs that make their homes safer and more comfortable.
What should visitors do or see while there? Statues of the Good Shepherd and Mary, both donated by our local Knights of Columbus, promote prayer for a greater respect for the dignity of all human life. The Mary statue is the site for individuals and families to pray the rosary and for our May crowning.
Some outdoor prayer opportunities, started during the pandemic, proved so popular that we continued them. The Mysteries of the Rosary are placed on our front field in October and May, and the Stations of the Cross are on the field during Lent.
Each Sept. 11, the parish joins in a prayer for peace and the Knights of Columbus host a Patriotic Rosary at the memorial that honors parishioners who died on 9/11.
What’s new with your parish ministries? Our new Legion of Mary and That Man is You ministries are flourishing. We have expanded evangelization ministries with small groups for our confirmation preparation program. We have a Little Lambs ministry to families with children from birth to 5 years old, and a tutoring program for academically at-risk children. Family is at the center of our ministries, and we strive to have programs throughout the year celebrating the liturgical season, saints and holy days with special events.
Our parish consistently supports Christ House with meals and collections for the parish food pantry and the St. Lucy Project and United Community exceed 15 tons of food each year. The parish has disbursed more than $100,000 to families in need of rent, utilities and medical bills each of the last three fiscal years.
How are you supporting the faith journey of particular cultures represented in your parish? Parishioners represent a variety of cultures, and we highlight the multicultural nature of our parish by celebrating an International Festival every Labor Day. Net proceeds from this three-day event are returned to local nonprofit organizations supporting the right to life, education, women’s shelters and Catholic Charities programs. The parish supports and promotes Mass and prayer opportunities for the many different cultures represented in the parish. Simbang Gabi, Las Posadas, Our Lady of Guadalupe, are celebrated each Advent. Via Crucis (Live Stations of the Cross) are led by Spanish-speaking young adults on Good Friday. Catholic Traditions are vibrant, including processions for Corpus Christi, and the birthday of our Blessed Mother and St. Joseph.
What’s something we should know about your clergy and staff? Our priests and parish team are well formed in their faith and regularly celebrate daily Mass together. Father Ferguson and Father Lino Rico Rostro, parochial vicar, regularly visit patients at local assisted living and memory care facilities and Catholic patients at Mount Vernon Hospital.
Quick facts
Good Shepherd Church
8710 Mount Vernon Highway
Alexandria
703/780-4055
Website: gs-cc.org
Social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
Pastor name: Fr. Thomas P. Ferguson
Parochial vicar: Fr. Lino Rico Rostro
In residence: Fr. Cedric Wilson
Permanent deacons: Mike O’Neill, Patrick Ouellette and Tom White
Mass schedule:
Sunday: 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m. (Spanish), 6:30 p.m.
Monday-Friday: 9 a.m., 7 p.m. (Spanish)
Saturday: 9 a.m., 5 p.m. (vigil), 6:30 p.m. (Spanish vigil)
Confession:
Sunday: 1-1:50 p.m. (Spanish)
Wednesday: 6-7 p.m. (English and Spanish)
Saturday: 8–8:45 a.m., 4–4:45 p.m.
Saturday: 6-6:25 p.m. (Spanish)
Year established: 1965
Total parishioners: 11,272
