About Good Shepherd · Alexandria, Virginia
Good Shepherd Catholic Church is a large, multicultural parish of the Diocese of Arlington located at 8710 Mount Vernon Highway in Alexandria, Virginia, serving the Mount Vernon/Fort Belvoir area of Fairfax County. Established in May 1965 by Bishop John J. Russell in response to explosive suburban growth, it has grown from 900 founding families to a community of more than 3,500 registered families and approximately 11,272 parishioners. The parish is celebrated for its strong Eucharistic devotion (with daily Adoration and bilingual Mass in English and Spanish), vibrant faith formation for all ages, robust social-justice outreach, and its signature Labor Day International Festival. In 2025 it marked its 60th anniversary with a new logo and the motto 'Strengthened and Sustained by the Bread of Life.'
- Established
- 1965
- Patron
- The Good Shepherd (Jesus Christ)
- Rector
- Father Thomas P. (Tom) Ferguson
- Diocese
- Diocese of Arlington
Why belong here
Good Shepherd offers a rare combination of large-parish resources and small-parish warmth: more than 3,500 registered families worship across nine Sunday and weekday Masses in both English and Spanish, supported by daily Eucharistic Adoration and a robust reconciliation schedule. Lifelong faith formation runs from Little Lambs (birth–5) through youth ministry, confirmation, adult programs like That Man Is You and Walking with Purpose, and Young Adult Bible Study. The parish is equally known for its social-justice outreach—Christ House meals, the St. Lucy Project (more than 15 tons of food annually), and over $100,000 a year in direct aid to families in need—and for the festive International Festival each Labor Day weekend that gives its multicultural community a visible, joyful face.
Mass times at Good Shepherd
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 6:00 – 7:00 PM
- Saturday: 8:00 – 8:45 AM
- Saturday: 4:00 – 4:45 PM
Adoration times
- Monday – Saturday: 8:00 – 9:00 AM
- Monday – Friday: 6:00 – 7:00 PM
- First Friday: 9:30 – 10:30 AM
- First Friday: 6:00 PM (en español)
- Praise and Worship Adoration – 3rd Wednesday of the month, 6:00 PM
History of Good Shepherd Catholic Church
Founded in May 1965 by Bishop John J. Russell of the Diocese of Richmond as a response to surging Fairfax County population, Good Shepherd has grown from 900 founding families to more than 3,500 registered families today. The parish's first Mass was celebrated May 30, 1965 in what is now Mount Vernon High School; a multi-purpose worship building with an altar and 980 green folding chairs was dedicated June 17, 1967. The community built its permanent church (dedicated October 21, 1984 by Bishop John R. Keating), its Community Center (dedicated January 1991), and most recently a 150-seat chapel and the St. Teresa of Calcutta Faith Formation Center (blessed April 2024 by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge).
- Established May 1965 by Bishop John J. Russell
- First Mass: Sunday, May 30, 1965 (in present-day Mount Vernon High School)
- Multi-purpose worship building dedicated June 17, 1967
- Church dedicated October 21, 1984 by Bishop John R. Keating
- Community Center dedicated January 1991
- Chapel and St. Teresa of Calcutta Faith Formation Center blessed April 16, 2024 by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge
- 60th anniversary celebrated in 2025 with new logo and motto: 'Strengthened and Sustained by the Bread of Life'
Clergy and Parish Staff
Good Shepherd is led by Father Thomas P. (Tom) Ferguson, pastor since 2011, assisted by Parochial Vicar Father Lino Rico Rostro and Father Cedric Wilson in residence, with four permanent deacons: James Harbour, Mike O'Neill, Patrick Ouellette, and Tom White. The full parish team includes directors of Faith Formation, Youth Ministry, Family Events, Hispanic Ministry and Community Outreach, Music (English and Hispanic), Liturgy, Stewardship/Communications, and Pastoral Associates.
- Father Tom Ferguson – Pastor
- Father Lino Rico Rostro – Parochial Vicar
- Father Cedric Wilson – In Residence
- Deacons James Harbour, Mike O'Neill, Patrick Ouellette, Tom White
- Miguel De Ángel – Director of Youth Ministry
- Marie Gemperline – Faith Formation Team
- Stacy Austin – Director of Family Events, Faith Formation
- Leah Tenorio – Director of Hispanic Ministry and Community Outreach
- Rosemarie Spollen – Coordinator of Music
- Nelson Caballero – Coordinator of Hispanic Music Ministry
- Brenda Caballero – Liturgy Coordinator
- Janice Spollen – Business Manager
- Claudia Fiebig – Pastoral Associate
- Sue De Ángel – Registrar
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith Formation at Good Shepherd is a lifelong journey from birth through adulthood, encompassing the parish's Little Lambs ministry for families with young children, ongoing religious education, a two-year Confirmation preparation program typically begun in 7th grade, and adult programs including That Man Is You, Walking with Purpose, Legion of Mary, Young Adult Bible Study, and RCIA.
- Little Lambs – children birth to age 5
- Family Faith Formation
- Two-year Confirmation prep (7th–9th grades)
- Sacraments for Baptized Catholics – 10-week small-group process
- Adult Faith Formation Programs
- That Man Is You (TMIY) – men's group
- Walking with Purpose – women's group
- Legion of Mary / Legión de María
- Young Adult Bible Study – Tuesdays 7:30–8:30 PM in Classroom 12
- RCIA and adult sacraments ([email protected])
Youth Ministry
Open to middle- and high-school teens, Good Shepherd's Youth Ministry offers Friday Night Lights fellowship, an annual Kings Dominion trip with diocesan teens, gender-specific small groups led by adult parishioners, and the Ad Altare Dei program for Catholic Scouts and Venturers. The team is led by Director of Youth Ministry Miguel De Ángel.
- Friday Night Lights – Fridays 6:30–8:30 PM in the Youth Center
- Kings Dominion trip (Mass at Good Shepherd then to the park)
- High School Boys and Girls Small Groups
- High School Leaders Small Group
- Ad Altare Dei – Catholic Scouting program
- WorkCamp mission trips
Liturgy and Music
Liturgical life is supported by a Coordinator of Music (Rosemarie Spollen), a Hispanic Music Ministry Coordinator (Nelson Caballero), a Liturgy Coordinator (Brenda Caballero), a Liturgical Art & Environment Ministry, ushers, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. Daily and Sunday liturgies are celebrated bilingually.
- English Music Ministry (choirs, cantors)
- Hispanic Music Ministry (Spanish-language liturgies)
- Liturgy Coordinator and Liturgical Art & Environment Ministry
- Ushers
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC)
- Seasonal devotions: Simbang Gabi, Las Posadas, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Corpus Christi procession, Patronal processions
Social Justice and Community Outreach
Good Shepherd's outreach reflects its commitment to the poor locally, nationally, and internationally. The parish serves Christ House meals, delivers Meals on Wheels, supports the Ventures in Community Hypothermia Outreach Program (VIC-HOP), runs Sharing Sunday food collections, and partners with the St. Lucy Project (more than 15 tons of food donated each year). Each of the last three fiscal years the parish has disbursed more than $100,000 to families in need of rent, utilities, and medical assistance. Three annual drives—Mother's Day Cradle Project, School Supply Drive, and the December Giving Tree—benefit local nonprofits.
- Christ House meal service (1st Thursday for teens, 1st Saturday, 1st Friday of even months)
- Meals on Wheels
- VIC-HOP winter homeless shelter support (Dec–Jan at Rising Hope Mission Church)
- Sharing Sunday
- St. Lucy Project food collection with Youth Ministry
- Mother's Day Cradle Project (May)
- School Supply Drive (August)
- Giving Tree (December)
- $100,000+ in direct family aid (rent/utilities/medical) each of the last three fiscal years
- Tutoring program for academically at-risk children
Hispanic Ministry and Multicultural Life
Good Shepherd is a bilingual and multicultural parish. Director of Hispanic Ministry and Community Outreach Leah Tenorio leads Spanish-language pastoral life, including daily 7:00 PM Spanish Mass Monday through Friday, a 6:30 PM Saturday Vigil in Spanish, and a 2:00 PM Sunday Spanish Mass. Hispanic faith traditions are woven into the parish calendar with Simbang Gabi, Las Posadas, Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrations, and Via Crucis led by Spanish-speaking young adults on Good Friday.
- Daily Spanish Mass Mon–Fri 7:00 PM
- Spanish Saturday Vigil 6:30 PM and Sunday Mass 2:00 PM
- Hispanic Music Ministry under Nelson Caballero
- Legión de María
- Via Crucis (Live Stations of the Cross) on Good Friday
- Simbang Gabi, Las Posadas, Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrations
- First Friday Spanish Eucharistic Adoration 6:00 PM
Parish Fellowship and International Festival
Good Shepherd fosters community through ongoing fellowship events—coffee and donuts, pancake breakfasts, and family gatherings—culminating each year in the three-day Labor Day International Festival. Founded under Father Quinlan to celebrate the parish's cultural diversity, the festival's net proceeds are returned to local nonprofits supporting the right to life, education, women's shelters, and Catholic Charities programs.
- Coffee and donuts fellowship
- Pancake breakfasts and seasonal family events
- Annual International Festival on Labor Day weekend
- Net proceeds donated to right-to-life, education, women's-shelter, and Catholic Charities partners
- Parish calendar of liturgical-season celebrations
Visiting, Directions, and Parish Facilities
The parish campus is at 8710 Mount Vernon Highway, Alexandria, VA 22309. The church is open for private prayer daily from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Parish offices are open Monday through Friday 9:30 AM–5:00 PM and on the 1st and 3rd Sundays 10:00 AM–2:00 PM. Campus facilities include the main church (seats 800+), the 2024 chapel (150 seats) used for daily Mass and Eucharistic Adoration, the Community Center (offices, professional kitchen, nursery, youth center, six classrooms), and the St. Teresa of Calcutta Faith Formation Center (three large meeting rooms divisible into nine smaller spaces).
- Address: 8710 Mount Vernon Highway, Alexandria, VA 22309
- Phone: (703) 780-4055; Fax: (703) 842-8232
- Email: [email protected]
- Church open for private prayer 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM daily
- Office hours Mon–Fri 9:30 AM–5:00 PM; 1st & 3rd Sundays 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
- Main church seats 800+; new chapel seats 150
- Community Center, Faith Formation Center, priests' residence, September 11 memorial
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Joseph F. Schwartz1965–1970
Founding pastor; gathered initial membership of more than 900 families; celebrated first Mass May 30, 1965 in Mount Vernon High School.
- Father William P. Connelly1970–1971
Succeeded Father Schwartz; continued building parish programs.
- Father Thomas J. Quinlan1971–1974
Initiated planning for additional parish facilities and a fundraising campaign; launched the first International Festival celebrating the parish's multicultural community.
- Father John Hannan1974–1975
Short-tenured pastor in the mid-1970s succession.
- Father Thomas F. Egan1975
Brief pastorate in 1975.
- Father Frank E. Mahler1975–1979
Pastored until Father Creedon's appointment in 1979.
- Father Gerard Creedon1979–1991
Theme: 'Building Community in the Light of Christ'; oversaw construction and 1984 dedication of the church, 1991 dedication of the Community Center; expanded outreach to the poor locally, nationally and internationally.
- Father George Griffin1991–2003
Updated parish facilities; added stained-glass windows to the worship space; constructed 9/11 memorial; built priests' residence; expanded social-justice outreach.
- Father Chuck McCoart2003–2011
Implemented the Parish Pastoral Plan with vision 'loving as Christ loves, serving as Christ serves,' guiding parishioners in their baptismal call.
- Father Thomas P. (Tom) Ferguson2011–present
Parishioner since 1978, confirmed at Good Shepherd, altar server at the 1984 dedication, celebrated first Mass at the parish in 1994; expanded Mass times (including daily Spanish Mass), Reconciliation and Adoration opportunities; led 2024 chapel and faith-formation-center building project; oversaw 60th anniversary in 2025.
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