What’s distinctive about your parish? What is your parish’s charism? We’re a small parish surrounded by bigger parishes. Our distinctive charisms are our school, our spirituality based on the Eucharist and our active parish community, which is blooming as we come out of the pandemic. In addition to our wonderful Knights of Columbus council and women’s group, we have reinvigorated our young adults group.
Our parish school is in some respects a regional school, as it attracts children from St. John the Apostle Church in Leesburg and Christ the Redeemer Church in Sterling. We have a really good principal. Enrollment is at a record high.
What’s the one unique thing visitors to your parish should do or see while there? Our prayer garden features several statues that have been installed over the years. Last November, with the help of Bishop Emeritus Paul S. Loverde, we dedicated a statue of Blessed Michael McGivney, shown with two children. Our church was dedicated in 2006 after a construction process led by founding pastor Father William P. Saunders. It features a beautiful sanctuary and stations of the cross.
What is a new ministry that you’ve started? The pastor, Father Anthony J. Killian, has instituted a public holy hour on Thursdays at 7 p.m. It is a time for community prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, featuring prayers, hymns and a sermon, while confessions are available. The holy hour aligns with the Eucharistic theme of this preparatory year for the upcoming Diocesan Golden Jubilee. Father Killian has also introduced devotions to Our Mother of Perpetual Help on Mondays at 7 p.m. The congregation gathers before the well-known icon which is displayed in the sanctuary. Both community prayer times were launched as post-COVID initiatives. Confessions on Saturday afternoons were added to the confession schedule (see below).
In 2021, when pandemic restrictions were more commonplace, we launched a Lenten phone call outreach ministry. Volunteers made calls to every person in the parish database to check in on them. It generated a lot of good will and we continued it this year.
Is there a special way your parish encourages and supports faith formation? We have a very good RCIA program. This year in our religious education program we started a new initiative called the parents partnership for education. Twice each month, we host discussions with parents of various hot-button topics which will include moral issues (such as same-sex attraction or gender ideology). The program seeks to inform parents — who are the first teachers of Catholic education for their children — while their children are in religious education classes.
What’s something we should know about your clergy? Father Jordan M. Willard, parochial vicar, is a history buff who has participated in Civil War reenactments. Father Killian enjoys travel, especially to religious sites such as Rome, the Holy Land and Lourdes.
Would you like to share anything else about your parish? Soon after the diocese celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2024, Our Lady of Hope will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2025, coinciding with the jubilee year Pope Francis has declared and themed “Pilgrims of Hope.”
Quick facts
Our Lady of Hope Church
46639 Algonkian Pkwy.
Potomac Falls, VA 20165
703/433-6770
Website: ourladyofhope.net
Social media: facebook.com/OLOHChurch/
Pastor: Fr. Anthony J. Killian
Parochial vicar: Fr. Jordan M. Willard
Permanent deacons: Marco Rajkovich, Thomas Wadolowski
Mass schedule:
Saturday Vigil: 5 p.m.
Sunday: 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m.
Monday–Saturday: 8:30 a.m.
Confession:
Saturday: 9 a.m., 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Thursday: 7 p.m.
Year established: 2000
Total parishioners: 3,424
Our Lady of Hope School
46639 Algonkian Pkwy.
Potomac Falls, VA 20165
703/433-6760
Ourladyofhopeschool.net
K-8
Principal: Jeanne Canavan
