On a wooded stretch of Mount Vernon Highway in southern Alexandria, Virginia, Good Shepherd Catholic Church has welcomed more than 3,500 households for six decades. The parish is one of the largest and most diverse in the Diocese of Arlington, recognized for its bilingual life in English and Spanish, its daily and Sunday Mass schedule, and a social ministry that has long reached out to neighbors in need.
Strengthened and Sustained by the Bread of Life
Bishop John J. Russell of the Diocese of Richmond established Good Shepherd in May 1965, just as Fairfax County was growing in the early 1960s. The first Mass was celebrated on Sunday, May 30, 1965, in what is now Mount Vernon High School, and Father Joseph F. Schwartz welcomed an initial membership of more than 900 families. A multi-purpose structure, complete with an altar setting and 980 green folding chairs, was dedicated by Bishop Russell on June 17, 1967.
Through the decades the parish has been shaped by a long line of pastors. Father William P. Connelly (1970 - 1971) was succeeded by Father Thomas J. Quinlan, who launched what is still called the International Festival and began raising funds for expanded facilities. Father John P. Hannan, Father Thomas F. Egan, and Father Frank E. Mahler each served brief terms before Father Gerard Creedon was appointed pastor in June 1979. Under the theme "Building Community in the Light of Christ," Father Creedon shepherded the construction of a new church, which Bishop John R. Keating dedicated on October 21, 1984, and later the Community Center, dedicated in January 1991, that still serves as the hub of parish life. Father George Griffin followed from 1991 to 2003, adding stained glass windows to the worship space, a memorial to the victims of September 11, and a priests' residence on the grounds. Father Chuck McCoart served from 2003 to 2011 and guided the adoption of a Parish Pastoral Plan.
Father Tom Ferguson was appointed administrator and then pastor in May 2011. A parishioner of Good Shepherd since 1978, he was confirmed at the parish, served as an altar server at the 1984 dedication, and celebrated his first Mass as a priest at the altar in 1994. Under his leadership the Mass schedule has grown to include daily Mass in Spanish, expanded opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and daily Eucharistic Adoration. In 2025 Good Shepherd celebrated its 60th anniversary with a new logo, drawn from the Good Shepherd stained glass window in the new chapel, and a new motto: Strengthened and Sustained by the Bread of Life.
Mass in English and Spanish, Every Day of the Week
Mass is the heart of parish life at Good Shepherd, and the schedule is unusually full. The Saturday Vigil is offered at 5:00 p.m. in English and 6:30 p.m. in Spanish. Six Sunday Masses fill the day in English - 7:30, 9:00, 10:30, 12:00, and 6:30 p.m. - and a seventh at 2:00 p.m. in Spanish. Daily Mass is celebrated Monday through Saturday at 9:00 a.m. in English, with an additional evening Mass in Spanish Monday through Friday at 7:00 p.m.
All of these Masses are livestreamed, and a complete archive of recorded Sunday and daily Masses is available on the parish's YouTube playlists. A bilingual parish app, with separate English and Spanish "campuses," provides daily Mass readings, the Saint of the Day, a calendar of events, a giving button, and a link to the livestreams.
Reconciliation and Hours of Adoration
Devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist is woven into the rhythm of the week. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered on Wednesday from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 8:00 to 8:45 a.m. and again from 4:00 to 4:45 p.m. The church participates in the diocesan "The Light is ON for You" initiative during Advent and Lent, with extended confession times.
Eucharistic Adoration fills the morning hour Monday through Saturday from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. and the evening hour Monday through Friday from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. On the first Friday of each month, an additional holy hour runs from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in English and again at 6:00 p.m. in Spanish. A Praise and Worship Adoration hour is held on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. The church itself stays open every day from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. for private prayer.
Becoming Catholic: The OCIA Journey
Adults who want to explore the Catholic faith, whether unbaptized or already baptized, enter the parish through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). The journey moves in three steps: an initial period of inquiry, a longer Catechumenate of weekly formation, and reception of the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil. Catechumenate gatherings take place on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., and the group attends the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass together, being sent out after the homily to "Break Open" the Word of God.
Baptized Catholics who have not yet received First Communion or Confirmation take part in a separate 10-week small-group session each fall. Children over the age of 7 who have not been baptized follow the OCIC/T track, a two-year process that meets on Sundays from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. and culminates in the reception of the sacraments at the Easter Vigil during the second year.
Faith Formation from Little Lambs to Senior Fellowship
Faith Formation is a lifelong journey at Good Shepherd. The parish offers sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation, along with a Little Lambs program for the youngest children. Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) gathers children ages 4 to 6 during the 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday Masses, dismissing them after the Opening Prayer and returning them to their families at the Offertory. Each summer, a week-long Vacation Bible School welcomes children from rising kindergarten through sixth grade for a half-day program of crafts, games, and stories rooted in the Bible.
Adult faith formation thrives on Tuesday mornings from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. and Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Recent and current studies include Follow Me: Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John, Matthew: The King and His Kingdom, A Biblical Walk through the Mass, and Jeff Cavins' The Bible Timeline. The Good Shepherd Adult Fellowship (55+) gathers parishioners for book discussions, walks in area parks, restaurant outings, and occasional seminars. Cursillo small groups meet in clusters across the week: women's groups on Friday mornings at 10:00 a.m. and Saturday mornings at 8:00 a.m., with men's groups available by contacting the parish office.
Music for Every Liturgy, in Both Languages
Music is one of the most distinctive features of parish life. Rosemarie Spollen leads the English-language music ministry and Nelson Caballero the Hispanic music ministry. The Liturgical Choir sings at the 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass, offering an eclectic blend of contemporary, traditional, and multicultural pieces; singers and instrumentalists rehearse together on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. A Women's Ensemble draws members of the Liturgical Choir to lead the 10:30 a.m. Mass.
Cornerstone, a contemporary and upbeat praise-and-worship ensemble under the direction of Elmer Bigley, leads the 6:30 p.m. Sunday Mass, with rehearsals at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday and once a month on a Monday evening. A Funeral Choir welcomes anyone available to sing, with a brief rehearsal held 30 minutes before each funeral liturgy. Each Christmas Eve, a Children's Christmas Choir made up of students in grades 1 through 8 lifts its voice at the 4:00 p.m. Mass.
The Many Hands Behind Each Mass
Father Tom Ferguson serves as pastor, joined by Father Lino Rico Rostro as parochial vicar and Father Cedric Wison in residence, with Deacons Mike O'Neil and Tom White assisting. Brenda Caballero coordinates the liturgy and works with a wide circle of lay ministers who make each Mass possible.
Altar Servers, both boys and girls in fourth grade and older, assist the presider at the altar. Lectors, both teens and adults, prepare and proclaim the scriptures after a six-hour initial workshop and annual refresher training. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Catholics in good standing who are at least 21, distribute the Eucharist at Mass and bring it to the sick and homebound. Ushers set a tone of hospitality from the moment parishioners step through the doors. Behind the scenes, the Liturgical Art and Environment Ministry decorates the worship space for each liturgical season, with extensive displays at Christmas and Easter, while a corps of Wedding Assistants and Funeral Liturgy Planners helps families through the practical details of their ceremonies.
Small Groups for Men, Women, and Seniors
The parish supports a constellation of small groups rooted in friendship and faith. Walking with Purpose, the women's Bible study, offers two tracks: Touching the Divine for returning members meets on Wednesday or Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m., and Opening Your Heart, the foundational study for newcomers, meets Thursday mornings at 9:30 a.m. or Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m. That Man Is You gathers men on Wednesday mornings from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. in Creedon Hall for an interactive program of male leadership grounded in Catholic teaching and the wisdom of the saints.
The Legion of Mary meets on Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in the Parlor Lounge, and its members take on works across the parish, from hospitality at Mass to a parish evangelization project, the Miraculous Medal celebration, the First Saturday Devotion, and a Prayer for Life apostolate. Cursillo small groups meet in clusters across the week: women's groups on Friday mornings at 10:00 a.m. and Saturday mornings at 8:00 a.m., with men's groups available by contacting the parish office. A Card Writing Ministry pairs volunteers with homebound and seriously ill parishioners for a steady exchange of notes, and the Prayers and Squares group meets on the second Monday of each month from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. to tie prayer quilts for those facing illness or celebrating a milestone.
Friday Night Lights, Lock-Ins, and the Annual Rally
Under the direction of Miguel De Ángel, the youth ministry reaches middle and high schoolers through a packed calendar. Friday Night Lights gathers teens in the Good Shepherd Youth Center every Friday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for games, fellowship, and food. The Young Shepherd group serves fourth through sixth graders with activities led by parish teens. Gospel Girls, open to high school girls, meets on Tuesday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. for Bible study, crafts, and prayer.
Each summer, Good Shepherd takes part in the diocesan WorkCamp, a week of service, faith, and fellowship for high schoolers, and also runs a parish WorkCamp for both middle and high school students. A high school lock-in, a fall dodgeball tournament hosted jointly with Saint Louis, and a diocesan rally with Bishop Burbidge round out the year. The Good Shepherd contingent also travels to a high school rally each fall that includes Mass, confession, adoration, and games.
For young adults, a bilingual Bible study meets on Tuesday evenings from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Classroom 12, with English as the working language and Spanish translations available.
Beyond the Nest, Crochet, and Sunday Coffee
Parish life is filled with smaller gatherings that hold the community together. Stacy Austin directs Family Events, organizing evenings like Family Fun Night, a Saturday gathering of pizza, salad, and games for school-age children and their parents. Family-Friendly Adoration is offered on the first Wednesday of each month from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner in Creedon Hall, with Father Tom introducing the basics of the hour and praying with the families.
Beyond the Nest welcomes couples and singles, primarily in their 40s through 60s, for potlucks, outings, hikes, and evenings of conversation as children launch into adulthood. Crochet for a Cause gathers needleworkers of every skill level on Wednesday mornings from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. to make items for those in need, with donations of yarn always welcome. After every Sunday Mass, the Hospitality Team sets out coffee and donuts in the hall, and once a year on Labor Day weekend the parish grounds fill with music, food, and the colors of many nations for the International Festival, the parish's signature fundraiser and celebration.
Tutoring, Christ House, and the Winter Shelter
Outreach has been part of Good Shepherd's identity since the Creedon years, and the parish still works on many fronts. The Good Shepherd Tutoring program meets on Monday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in Creedon Hall and welcomes students of all ages, including middle and high schoolers, for help in reading, math, and science. A second tutoring site operates out of the Hybla Valley Community Center. Teams of parishioners also cook and serve dinner at Christ House in Old Town Alexandria on the first Thursday and first Saturday of odd-numbered months and on the first Friday of all odd months.
From December through March, the Ventures in Community Hypothermia Outreach Program (VIC-HOP) operates an overnight shelter at Rising Hope Mission Church, and Good Shepherd takes responsibility for every Saturday evening. Volunteers cook a main course for 25 people at home, deliver it by 6:30 p.m., serve the meal, and clean up. The Mondloch House Milk Program, meanwhile, has families in New Hope Housing's transitional program by providing 20 gallons of milk each week, with each volunteer serving about once a year. An Emergency Assistance program works alongside Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning to help parishioners and community members facing temporary crises with rent and utility bills, and the Sharing Sunday food collection supports the St. Lucy Project and the United Community Food Pantry, with youth loading the St. Lucy Food Truck on the third Sunday of each month.
Care for Creation, inspired by Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si', meets every two weeks on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. to educate, act, and advocate on behalf of the environment, partnering with the Saint Kateri Conservation Center and the Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions. The Respect Life ministry and the parish's Natural Family Planning program connect marriage preparation to the Church's teaching on the dignity of human life, listing Marquette, FEMM, Sympto-Thermal, Billings, and Creighton instructors. Under the direction of Leah Tenorio, all of these outreach programs are coordinated as part of Hispanic Ministry and Community Outreach.
The New Chapel and a 60th Anniversary
To better serve its growing congregation, Good Shepherd recently completed a 2023 Building Project that added a 150-seat chapel, additional meeting spaces, and a renovation of the church. The new chapel features the Good Shepherd stained glass window that inspired the parish's 60th-anniversary logo. The renovations, together with the parish's two Masses in English and Spanish and its daily Adoration, reflect Father Tom's emphasis on the Eucharist as the heart of parish life and the source of the parish's motto, Strengthened and Sustained by the Bread of Life.
Visiting the Mount Vernon Highway Campus
Good Shepherd Catholic Church sits at 8710 Mount Vernon Highway in Alexandria, Virginia, 22309. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on the first and third Sundays of the month from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The church itself stays open for private prayer every day from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Fairfax Connector Route 152 serves the campus. Mass intentions and prayer requests can be submitted online, and a 24-hour answering service is available for sacramental emergencies by calling the office number.
Baptism for infants and young children is scheduled after parents complete a baptism inquiry form, provide a copy of the child's birth certificate and an eligibility letter from each godparent's parish, and attend a baptism preparation class. Baptisms are celebrated on Saturdays and at specific Sunday Masses. The parish also celebrates First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, the Anointing of the Sick, Quinceañera, and Funeral liturgies. Parishioners can register online, watch Mass on the parish livestream page, and support the parish through online giving.