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St. Lucy Food Project – Return Your Bag By February 1
St. Lucy Project Food Drive – Extended to 1/31-2/1
Please return your bag of non-perishable (no glass) donations to the SKD church narthex on January 24th and 25th or the following weekend, January 31-February 1. Thank you for your support.
Sacrament of Confession
Thursday Mass & Holy Hour
Thursday Mass: 6:30 PM
Adoration & Penance: 7:00 – 8:00 PM
The Sacrament of Confession is offered Thursday 7:00-8:00 PM, Saturday 3:45-4:45 PM and First Saturdays 9:00-9:30 AM. Cards to assist you in preparing for Confession are on the hall tables. The Sacrament of Confession provides the opportunity for you to receive forgiveness and be reconciled to a state of grace with God after committing sin.
Haymarket Food Pantry – Donations Needed
SKD is collecting non-perishable food items for the Haymarket Regional Food Pantry. Please leave your donations in the SKD narthex, in the Haymarket Regional Food Pantry basket.
Visit haymarketfoodpantry.org/needs for more information.
St. Katharine Drexel Celebrates Groundbreaking
The Ceremonial Groundbreaking with Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, Diocese of Arlington, took place on the feast day of St. Katharine Drexel, Thursday, March 3, 2022. A video recording of the event appears below.
We look forward to sharing further developments as we begin the process of building our new church home on the corner of Waterfall Road and Route 15 in Haymarket, VA.
Latest Update on Building Project
Our efforts to construct a permanent home for St. Katharine Drexel are moving along quite well this fall. Our meeting with the Diocese of Arlington Building Commission is scheduled for October 28 to gain conceptual approval of our approach, financing, and other aspects.
On December 8, 2019, we plan to hold a get-together between the Masses to provide you with an overview of the latest plans. Refreshments will be available. Please mark it on your calendars.
Let’s Build Our Church: DBC Review
September 2019: An important update from the St. Katharine Drexel Building Committee.
The SKD Building Committee has been busy since June 2019 preparing the information needed by the Diocesan Building Commission to gain approval to proceed to the next steps of our project (e.g., design and construction). Since June, we’ve prepared a detailed financial analysis to demonstrate feasibility and our ability to pay for, own, maintain, and operate our new church building. We assembled all the necessary supporting studies and documentation as required by the Diocese.
What is the Diocesan Building Commission?
The Diocesan Building Commission is comprised of clergy, management, and external experts in real estate, architecture, construction and finance. The Commission was established to ensure projects are appropriately formulated and vetted prior to undertaking significant financial obligations and initiating costly design and construction.
The Diocese supports our need to have a permanent, spiritual home for St. Katharine Drexel to ensure that we provide for the spiritual needs of our current parishioners and minister to new Catholics, all by spreading the Word of Christ. Diocesan representatives lauded the significant support and efforts St. Katharine Drexel’s parishioners have undertaken – both financial and through community formation. This assessment is underscored by the investment the Diocese has already made in acquiring the land ($1.5M) and the support (financial and professional) the Diocese provided in securing the Special Use Permit from Prince William County.
Next Step: Diocesan Building Commission Review
We will be continuing our collaborative work with the Diocese in October to develop a path to build our church in a timely manner and within the appropriate financial parameters.
To that end, we are pleased to announce that the Diocesan Building Commission will formally evaluate our plan approach in their next meeting on October 21, 2019.
The purpose of this meeting is to come to an agreement on the basic financing approach and underlying assumptions and projections. Upon approval from the Diocesan Building Commission, we can then solicit proposals from and interview Design/Build firms, select a firm, refine our concept, start preliminary design, and other activities.
Your Support Makes This Possible
The most important factor that enabled us to get to this point is the incredible financial and spiritual support the dedicated parishioners of St. Katharine Drexel Mission have provided. We appreciate all you do and trust you will continue to support the building of our church through the fulfillment of your Capital Campaign pledge.
Are you new to St. Katharine Drexel Mission or haven’t yet made a financial commitment? Join our community in supporting the SKD Capital Campaign. We are currently at 94% of our campaign goal and we truly need your help to make it the rest of the way. Together, we can Build Our Church!
In Christ,
David O’Flynn
Building Committee Chairman
P.S. – The SKD Building Committee is planning an event this fall to share further details and visual designs. Details will be provided in the coming weeks.
Solemnity of Mary, Holy Mother of God
January 1 is a Holy Day of Obligation celebrating the Solemnity of Mary, Holy Mother of God. Join the St. Katharine Drexel community as we celebrate Mass on January 1st at 10:00 AM.
Eagle Scout Bridge at the Mission Office
A big note of thanks to Matthew Lorzing and Eagle Scout Troup #1882. For Matthew’s Eagle Scout project, he and members of his Troop built a bridge on the back property of the St. Katharine Drexel Mission Office to complete the Rosary Walk positioned around the pond. What a beautiful and tranquil spot for prayer. Thank you, Matthew!
Knights of Columbus Charter Ceremony
Each month during the upcoming year, St. Katharine Drexel will highlight a church ministry. We kick off the year with a look at the Father Jon O’Brien Council of the Knights of Columbus.
January 14 marked an important day for the Father Jon O’Brien Council of the Knights of Columbus. With the support of local Knights from other parishes, a special Charter Ceremony signaled the official launch of the Council. Father Murphy served as Ceremony Chaplain and shared his excitement about the establishment of the Father Jon O’Brien Council, named after St. Katharine Drexel’s long-time celebrant instrumental in the growth of the mission.
In a ceremony presided over by Knights of Columbus District Deputy Craig Radcliff, newly appointed Grand Knight Greg Murray was presented with the framed chapter declaration. Thirty-four charter members from the Father Jon O’Brien Council were in attendance for the event.
Through the work of Father Michael J. McGivney, the Knights of Columbus was officially chartered as a fraternal benefit society in 1882 under the founding principles of charity, unity and fraternity. The Knights of Columbus is one of the largest fraternal charitable service organization with more than 1.9 million members in over a dozen countries. Members are Catholic men who come together through faith to support their Church and local, national and worldwide causes through charitable action.
A driving force behind the creation of the Council, Craig Radcliff explained that, “efforts to form a Knights Council began when SKD parishioner Patty Kuntz notified him that Father Murphy expressed interest in the formation of a Council.” From that point on, you could find Craig in his red jacket talking to current and future Knights after Mass.
With strong support from the parish, things moved quickly. In January 2017, the SKD Round Table was formed. This past September, the Father Jon O’Brien Council #16793 was created. The Knights got to work immediately in October, sponsoring and running the first St. Katharine Drexel Fall Festival with over 300 parishioners in attendance. During Advent, 21 members from the Father Jon O’Brien Council assisted the Our Lady of the Rosary Council in selling Christmas trees at Holy Trinity Church which in turn donated $2,000 of the proceeds to the Council.
That leads us to January 14, when the Charter Ceremony took place with support from the Bishop Flaherty Assembly & George Brent Council. An active Knight and an officer with the Fourth Degree, Greg Murray’s responsibilities as Grand Knight include coordinating the installation of officers and members, appointing committees, monitoring programs and activities, and scheduling services for departed Knights.
“Our guiding principal is charity,” explained Greg Murray. “Activities focus on the Parish, Catholic Church and community.” Mutual aid is offered to members in need, and fellowship is promoted among members and their families through educational, charitable, religious, social welfare, and public relief works.
What’s up next for the Father Jon O’Brien Council?
Murray shared that future plans include efforts to support KOVAR, a Virginia Knights of Columbus Charity that provides support for individuals with intellectual disabilities. During Lent, a dozen Knights will be working at the All Saints’ George Brent Council Lenten Fish Fry to raise money for KOVAR. The Knights are also planning other events focused on parish youth, diocesan Seminarians, Culture of Life events, the House of Mercy, and the SKD community.
Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to men 18 years of age or older who accept the teaching authority of the Catholic Church, live according to its precepts, and are in good standing with the Church. There are four degrees within the Knights of Columbus. Each degree ceremony imparts a lesson on the Order’s core virtues of Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism. Fourth Degree Knights participate in funerals, baptisms, Confirmation, local parades and community events, and activities in support of the Bishop.
Those who are interested in learning more about the Father Jon O’Brien Council are encouraged to approach a fellow Knight after Mass or visit the Knights of Columbus website. “We are looking forward to growing our Council and we invite parishioners to get involved in this faith affirming organization,” added Murray.
The Saint Katharine Drexel Knights of Columbus Council meets on the third Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM at the Mission Office moving February 1st to 4100 Millcreek Road in Haymarket, VA.
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