In the mid-1920s, the rural railroad hub and dairy town of Herndon was home to less than 100 Catholics. They wanted their own church, and Richmond Bishop Andrew J. Brennan authorized the establishment of a mission that he dedicated in 1926. The “old stone church” was a fixture on Pine Street until 1965.
Now 9,000 parishioners strong, the congregation in suburban Herndon marked its 100th anniversary March 19 as 850 worshippers attended Mass followed by a festive reception, which also recognized with St. Joseph the Worker’s feast day.
“We celebrate the family of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and the people that built this church in evangelization, starting as a small mission church out of St. James (Church in Falls Church), continued to grow and kept on going,” said Franciscan Father Tom Bourque, pastor. “It’s really the people that we celebrate and then the priests were the ones that were challenged by the people of God to continue to go on.”
Since 1950, the parish has been led by two religious orders. First by the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost Fathers) and the Franciscan Friars Third Order Regular (TOR) who began their ministry in 1981.
Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, who concelebrated Mass with Bishop Emeritus Paul S. Loverde, remembered in his homily “with deep gratitude, the priests, religious and laity, many of your family members and friends who have served faithfully and generously in this parish and have gone home to God,” he said. “We rejoice in the abundant blessings God has bestowed on this parish over the past hundred years.”
“Think of the ancestors who with their faith began this church way back,” said Bishop Loverde. “The friars are such wonderful caretakers of God’s people here. So I’m just happy to rejoice with them.”
Parishioner Mary Sweeney is one of many longtime parishioners who remembered the early days of the Holy Ghost Fathers. “I was baptized here in 1966,” said Sweeney. “I don’t recall the little church on Pine Street, but my dad did and that will always be part of our history. The Holy Ghost Fathers were my formation and after going to college and getting married I came back with the Franciscans as our spiritual pillar.”
Despite its large size, parishioners agreed that St. Joseph is known for being a spiritually intimate parish. “I think having the Franciscan friars really brings the spirit and the charisms of St. Francis of Assisi,” said Mary Diana Szulc. “It just brings an additional layer of spirituality to the parish.”
“We have a family of nations here,” said Reyes Ruiz, director of faith formation. “Our people are from Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, South America — even Australia — everyone comes here for Jesus Christ and for the wonderful community we have.”
After Mass, Bishop Burbidge mingled with parishioners at the reception, centered around the St. Joseph Altar, elaborately adorned with wreaths, statues of St. Joseph with the infant Jesus, baked breads, cookies, biscottis and wine, all according to Sicilian tradition.
“Thank you for the gift you are to the Diocese of Arlington,” said the bishop in his homily. “May our Lord Jesus shower his abundant blessings upon you and this holy, faithful, and vibrant community at this exciting time in the life of your parish and in all things.”
