Holy Trinity Church in Gainesville began in 2001 with a few hundred parishioners acting as nomads, participating in Mass and celebrating the sacraments at various locations; a monastery, different schools, or nearby churches.
“The first seven years we were squatters, always going somewhere other than here,” said Rich Erikson, one of the founding parishioners. He attended the first Sunday Mass, celebrated at a high school in nearby Nokesville, with 200 parishioners.
Seven years later, when Holy Trinity Church opened its doors in 2008, it had a seating capacity of 1,200. It filled quickly.
“The first weekend we opened, we were shocked. So many people came,” said Margi Loesel, another original parishioner and the parish director of faith formation. “We ran out of bulletins at the 5 p.m. Saturday Mass. We didn’t have any for Sunday.”
The bulletin issue has been solved and today, that bulletin is full of news of the countless programs and ministries offered at this bustling parish.
Parishioners celebrated their beginnings and their growth, with a 25th anniversary Mass June 14, celebrated by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, followed by a parish festival.
“It is an opportunity, to remember, to rejoice, and to renew,” Bishop Burbidge said in his homily. He spoke of remembering those who have “served from the beginning and have been called home to God.”
Bishop Burbidge said, “we rejoice in the Lord’s blessing on this parish community for the past 25 years; from its very small beginnings … and now today in this beautiful church … The whole diocese rejoices with you today, knowing what a vibrant parish community you are, so fully alive; blessing the church with holy marriages, holy families, holy people.”
Founding pastor, Father Francis Peffley, now parochial vicar at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Arlington, concelebrated.
“It’s a great honor and privilege to come back,” Father Peffley said. “It brings back a lot of memories of starting from scratch.”
Loesel said that Father Peffley’s faith and charism attracted people. “He brought people together. He knew everyone’s name,” she said.
“We had meetings with sign-up sheets for signing up for organizations and ministries. We signed up to go door-to-door to invite people to the parish. Those were exciting times. Father said, ‘just get them in the door.’ ”
Father Peffley, who is personable and talented (quite the juggler) used one creative gesture to get to know his flock. He announced that he was donating his meal stipend to the building fund — and found himself being invited to dinner by a different family every night.
“I would go to their homes for dinners,” Father Peffley said. “I would bless their houses, and get to know them, and see how they could get involved in the parish, by being a lector or an usher, or joining one of our organizations.”
From 200 people at that first Sunday Mass, the parish grew to 500 families in five years.
“We had a wonderful group of dedicated parishioners that came together to make it happen,” Father Peffley said. “Bishop (Emeritus Paul S.) Loverde always used the example that the pastor is really just the orchestra conductor, and everyone plays their part.
“It was the hard work of hundreds of people that we were able to pull things together … with the building committee and the fundraising committee, and the architect committee.”
Holy Trinity enlisted the services of the architecture firm O’Brien and Keane which, more recently, designed the renovation of the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington. The Holy Trinity groundbreaking took place in 2004, and the church opened four years later.
Father Peffley moved on in 2011, and was replaced by Father Thomas Vander Woude, who was pastor until 2024, when Father James Barkett was named pastor. Father Barkett’s first impression of Holy Trinity?
“Big,” he answered, of the parish that now numbers more than 4,800 families. “A lot of kids, a lot of different groups that do a lot of good things.
“It is also a very devotional parish. We have perpetual adorations. The people love the faith. They want to grow closer to Christ. We’re busy here, but we’re also very spiritual.”
Holy Trinity does not have a parish school but includes a number of homeschoolers. Others attend Seton School or All Saints Catholic School in Manassas, Chelsea Academy in Front Royal, or the Renaissance Montessori School in Nokesville.
“We rejoice with your commitment to Catholic education and faith formation,” Biship Burbidge said in his homily, “and your service to the poor and most needy, especially through your countless ministries here, dedicated to serving others.”
Bishop Burbidge concluded his remarks, urging “a renewed commitment to be faithful disciples.
“To make this anniversary truly special, renew again your promise to draw ever closer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the one who has chosen you, calls you by name, sends you forth as his disciples, and promises to embrace you in his love and mercy all the days of your life.”
Thomas is a freelance writer in Front Royal.
