High above us stands Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church. It is more than just a building. It is a vibrant community with a fascinating history. Let’s step back in time to see how this parish came to be.
In 1972 a small group of Catholics in Sterling wanted their own parish. They reached out to the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement from Graymoor in New York. Initially they gathered in the basement of the Sterling Baptist Church. This dedicated group laid the foundation for Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church.
The first mass was celebrated on March 5 1972. Fr. Ken Dougherty S.A. led the service in the Sterling Middle School cafeteria. About 500 people attended. The need for a Catholic community was clear.
Three months later on June 1 1972 the parish was officially established. Fr. Norman Boyd S.A. became the first pastor. In 1974 Northern Virginia became the new Diocese of Arlington. Bishop Welsh supported building a church on Route 7. The first church was dedicated on June 22 1980.
The parish grew rapidly. People attended daily and Sunday masses with great enthusiasm. The friars and parishioners offered many ministries. Christ the Redeemer partnered with local churches. They created LINK to fight hunger and need. The food pantry distributed food to needy families.
By 2000 the parish had grown from a few dozen families to over 2300 households. Under Fr. Donald Howard S.A. and Fr. Bill Schmidt S.A. a new church was built. It could seat 1200 people. It also accommodated a complete religious education program. The new church was dedicated on February 27 2000.
By 2018 the parish had almost doubled again to 4500 households. Over 50% were Hispanic. After 45 years the Atonement Friars returned to Graymoor. Bishop Burbidge thanked them for their years of service. Fr. JD Jaffe and Fr. Mark Moretti became the first diocesan priests to lead the parish. They focused on outreach and availability to parishioners. Opportunities for confession expanded. Weekly Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament began. A third Sunday mass in Spanish was added.
In March 2020 the country closed due to COVID-19. Despite the suspension of public worship the church remained open. It offered private worship. Exposition and confessions were available for 4 hours daily and 8 hours on Sundays. Confessionals were set up to comply with social distancing.
Parishioners generously responded to those in need. Donations to the food pantry and poor box ministry increased. With help from Catholic Charities Christ the Redeemer helped people stay in their homes. From April 2020 to October 2021 the poor box ministry gave over $800000 in assistance.
In 2022 Christ the Redeemer parish consisted of 4600 households. Over 60% were Hispanic. There are 7 masses on weekends. Four are in English and three are in Spanish. Daily masses are offered in both English and Spanish. Confessions are available 7 days a week in both languages. The daily rosary is prayed in 5 languages. These languages are English Spanish Vietnamese Filipino and French. This reflects the diversity of the parishioners.
Each year there are about 350 baptisms and 30 weddings. The community started with a small group in 1972. Now it has grown and been blessed.
Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church stands as a testament to faith community and service. It welcomes all to know love serve and be with Christ. It strengthens the faith of many. It demonstrates love for neighbors. This vibrant parish continues to grow and serve. It is a beacon of hope in Sterling.