First, as a protestant I humbly ask the Catholics for forgiveness at our unkindness to you in the past.  Please forgive us.  If we believe the truth of Jesus Christ, Him crucified and raised from the dead then we are part of one body, His body, His Church according to His purpose and we are not our own. 
The Apostle Paul says it so eloquently in Romans 12, “Let love be without dissimulation.  Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.  Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;  Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;  Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.  Bless them which persecute you; bless, and curse not.  Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.  Be of the same mind one toward another.  Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.  Recompense to no man evil for evil. ..Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” 
I praise God that you are privileged to raise a house of worship for His Glory.  I proclaim “Success, Success” and
I pray that the Lord bless you and keep you.  May His face shine upon you.  That you may know the wonders of His Pure and Holy Love in all things. May your light so shine before men that all may know Him. That you may be a beacon of hope to all being all that God has called you to be. Blessings in Jesus Name.

Is building a massive structure that towers over all others as an appeasement to a God a “Loudoun attitude” as well?

What other civilizations build humongous structures to glorify their gods? Mayans, Incas, Egyptians.  What did they do on top of those monuments to appease their Gods?

there is no god. stop forcing it upon me.

To Traffic Galore who wrote: There goes my daughter’s Sunday morning swim class at Ida Lee.

—Oh my! Wish this was every family’s biggest problem.  Sort of frames a “Loudoun Attitude” and it’s not very attractive.

There goes my daughter’s Sunday morning swim class at Ida Lee. I will not be signing up for that time slot. Even if it is only a 30 minute traffic problem (which I doubt…at a minimum it will be 30 min on the front end and 30 min on the back end), it does not help someone who has to be in that area at exactly that time every Sunday. I feel sorry for the residents who may need to go somewhere at that time (hopefully no one has to go to work!) and also anyone needing to use Ida Lee at that time. It will be impossible to get in.

spending $15M to help themselves, rather than $15M to help thousands and thousands in greater need than themselves, “reflects their commitment to God”

??? If you folks would clear your head from the brainwashing and really think about what you are saying…I mean, I nkow the Catholic conscience is a forever guilty one, but puhleez.  There are not enough Hail Mary’s and Our Father’s to make right this hypocrisy.

OK.  Now that I THINK this has settled down a bit.  The below the belt, anti-Catholicism was a bit much for my Orthodox Christian disposition.

I am really grateful that the parishioners at St. John’s will have a place to worship that reflects their commitment to God, within the Universal Church that Jesus founded.  This church will become a great, new addition to Leesburg’s “historic, downtown.”  Another reason for people to visit here and live here.

The Church has characteristics similar to an ant colony. Members of the Church possess a diversity of gifts suited to support various functions.

“The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12).

In Roman’s 12:6-8, the diversity of gifts are identified as prophesy, ministry (serving), teaching, exhortation, giving, ruling and showing mercy.

I have often envisioned all 150 plus churches in Loudoun County working in unison for the greater glory of God and operating through His will. Everyone would have a powerful desire to serve God, model Jesus’ teaching and provide an example to others so that they can serve God too!

Through hard work and commitment each individual would supply an added measure of determination, skill and teamwork for glorifying God.

Christ’s desire is to have us in His Family. He wants us to develop initiative, passion, vigor and leadership. Christ desires to see us experience success on a physical level, in our employment, marriages and personal relationships.

He also wants us to understand that one is richest when we use our talents out of love to benefit others.

“But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it” (1 Corinthians 12:24-26).

God has a place of service for you in His Church. Simply seek an opportunity where you can contribute and the rewards shall be reaped by all.

Mark Gunderman
Board Chair
Good Shepherd Alliance

just to let you know,
jesus was a jewish man. does the preacher teach this?
how ironic is that, forward on christian soldier.

Sad that an article sharing some good news for a change, something enlightening, only digs up the lower levels of the community who grouse about anything. What town Leesburg has become…it was a nice town years ago…then, a story like this would have only brought out well wishes from people of all faiths.

Religion takes in billions of dollars, yet they pay no taxes, and they always need a little more. Now, let’s talk about that.

You can capitalize the first word in a sentence any time now, Judas.

you can turn off your caps button anytime now, hayseed.

As former members of St JOHNS CONGRATULATIONS ON GETTING YOUR CHURCH BUILT.WE MOVED TO HENRICO VA 9 YEARS AGO.WE WERE MARRIED “THE LITTLE CHURCH"IN OCT 1957 AND BOTH OF OUR SONS WERE BAPTIZED THERE.FOR OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY OUR DAUGHTER-IN-LAW MADE A TRIP TO LEESBURG AND TOOK A PHOTO OF THE FRONT OF “THE LITTLE CHURCH” AND HAD IT ENLARGED. SOMEONE MADE A COMMENT AS TO WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR THE POLICE TO DIRECT TRAFFIC.WE ATTEND ST MICHAELS CHURCH IN GLEN ALLEN AND THE HENRICO POLICE DIRECT TRAFFIC AFTER THE MASSES AND THEY ARE COMPENSATED BY THE CHURCH.WE HAVE OVER 2500 FAMILIES IN OUR MEMBERSHIP AND WE NEED TO ENLARGE OUR FACILITY.WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO ATTENDING MASS AT ST JOHNS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

Leesburg Resident: That traffic is only a problem for maybe 30 minutes total on a Sunday morning, if they stick to one service. I don’t know about Leesburg but a large church in the Dulles area hires two auxiliary Loudoun County sheriffs to direct traffic for their three services.

Having watched the construction of this church I see good and less-good.  The architectural style is beautiful. That said, by sitting at a higher elevation it does seriously appear to overpower its environs.  Having a congregation of 1100+ leaving there is going to create havoc with traffic on that section of Route 15 and throughout that poor neighborhood.  Who is going to pay for Leesburg Police direct traffic to get all of those cars out of there?

Focusing on some of the positives, lets look at how many people were employed by the construction of this church and how it has benefitted the Leesburg/Northern VA economy…Over 500 people are employed in one way or another due to the construction of this church.

Ask the poor folks at Interfaith, what would they want more, more food, clothing, education provided by the church, or for the rich suburbanite parishioners a Taj Mahal to sing hymns in one hour a week?

Yeah, you guys are REALLY doing everything you can to fulfill Jesus’s teaching by spending millions to build yourself a new church.

sheeesh. Looks like nothing has changed since the Crusades…

Why didn’t they just add more “sessions”, or whatever they call them? Meaning, more opportunities for people to come to worship or whatever. Why do they have to sardine 1200 people in all at once? Why pave so much and then have it UN-USED for like 20 hours a day, rather than use it more often?

Fr. Moismann do not loose heart; your great work will be a sign of God’s love and there will always be those who persecute Christians/any organized religion.  Many don’t know how this parish has had many a person sit on the floor or have kids crawl in a hallway to ‘worship’ due to a lack of seats/space.  We need this space and we shouldn’t have to justify it to the overwhelmingly judgmental community. 

I wish the community would stop ‘throwing stones’ and look inward and see what they are doing to help their fellow man.

Nick, you should check out Matthew 19:13.

I hope there is a CLOSED sound proof area for parents with obnoxious screaming kids. There is such a place at the church near my parents house just outside of Chicago.

The church experience is of community and a personal relationship with God.

the people speaking badly about the catholics or religion in general will be held accountable. I bet these people don’t know whether to scratch their watch or wind their ass.

To all who judge that the money for this church should have been spent on the poor….we wait for you to sell your house, your car, your worldly goods and give it all to the poor.  Then we will follow in YOUR footsteps and value your opinion.  This parish does so much for the community…ask Interfaith Relief who donates regularly to their food bank.  They do not take from the community…they give.  If you do not like it, fine, but don’t judge them as not doing their part to help those less fortunate.  It is you with your nasty words that poisons the world.

Rita:

Rather ironic that you would quote Jesus and then say “But Jesus would have fed the poor…”

You don’t know Scripture very well. Jesus said that in response to Judas and his false indignation that the penitent woman used a jar of expensive nard to anoint him. He was reminding Judas and all of his followers that money is never wasted giving glory to God.

And, to get the facts straight, the Catholic Church, Roman and Eastern, is THE LARGEST CHARITABLE INSTITUTION ON THE PLANET.

Every year, the Church feeds, clothes, educates and cares for more people than any other institution, including the US government and does it for a lot less money!

The Church INVENTED the scientific method, the University system and built hospitals throughout the world.

If you’re going to quote Our Lord, PLEASE quote Him in context?

Sick of it:  Understood, I’ll bet many here are not anti-Catholic, just weary of ANY entity with money engaged in moral sanctimony.  The good that churches do generally outweighs the bad.  Just get out of our legislature as indicated by recent events.  All the best with the new cathedral.

I’m all for sharing opinions, but really, why do y’all have to be so mean? (IMHO) If you have dissenting opinions, I’m OK with that, really, but please phrase them respectfully and factually. Just common courtesy, please. It is sorely lacking online, and in our community. It doesn’t matter if you claim to be a Christian, or a Catholic, whatever, but can we please just practice some human decency? As a member of the St. John’s community, the Loudoun County community, and the online community, I know I would greatly appreciate it, as would others.

Judging by the comments, there is still such an anti-Catholic attitude in Leesburg.  Good job, guys….

RE:  Grand Opening:
ALL ARE WELCOME!

What we will have is a Consecration.  To consecrate means to make holy; that is, the Church building will be blessed for its proper use: to glorify God and sanctify people.  This Consecration will indeed take place in conjunction with Mass, the highest prayer the Church has to offer to God. 

ALL PEOPLE ARE WELCOME.  All people however, may not recognize their invitation to a Consecration or to Mass, so use of the term “Grand Opening” is accurate enough for public consumption.  When the date for the “Grand Opening” is set, it will be publicized.  When it actually happens, I hope the 1,100 seat-capacity is not enough.

yeah, Jesus let himself be killed to make the ultimate sacrifice one can make, to spur his followers on to do good deeds and even forgive those who killed him.

And this congregation, and all the others, they build their own magnificant comfy buildings to serve themselves, rather than devote every penny and every minute of volunteering to help those less fortunate than themselves.

But that doesn’t make you feel as good as putting in your hour a week on Sundays and dropping a $20 in the jar, and clearing your conscience and going about thinking your a good {insert religion name}.

Rick,
I think you could use a lesson in sentence structure. Run-on, much? All the alusions to spirits and lights, the capitalization of persons, it all just reeks of rhetoric. IMHO.

I just think, what good could have been done for the less fortunate right here in Loudoun County with the MILLIONS spent to build this beautiful building.  Your talk about spirits, prayers, service - couldn’t that all be done in the existing building, or in our own homes, and all the money people want to donate to the cause of, in your words, ” spreading the Gospel of Jesus to all the corners of the Earth” - be spent to feed and clothe the poor right here?

Nah, y’all just paid a bunch of contractors to build you a self-serving extravagant building that says “we’re better than you” to other religions with lesser buildings.

Sad.  At least, next winter, let the homeless sleep on the floor inside. That’d be the very least you could do in the mission of kindness.

...church’s cost at $15.8 million…. 
tsk, tsk

And on Sycolin Road, the poor line up at Loudoun County Interfaith Relief because they cannot afford to buy food for their families. 

...quoting Jesus himself from the Holy Bible “you will always have the poor”.
But Jesus would have fed his poor and preach from a spot in the open.  The cost is excessive when so much is needed for the people that can’t afford basic necessities.

Sorry, Rick, but the “prayers of His Most Blessed Mother”, otherwise known as Mary, did not call me to serve and worship God. Rather it was the Holy Spirit that called me to repentence from the dead works I pratciced as a Catholic and into the salvation that only comes through faith in Christ.

So long as they, or anyone, preaches tolerance over dogma more power to their GOOD deeds.

Meanwhile, Jill Vogel, a Catholic, reveals her political agenda to the Commonwealth and Nation.  Interesting timing for this article.

This new church has been in planning since the late 1990s.  The original plans were for a modern, generic-looking building that would have been nice, but fortunately new plans were developed and put into motion that are far more in keeping with the traditions of the Church through the centuries.

Tremendous good work has been done at our parish throughout the years and our pastor and his parochial vicars have worked tirelessly in the service of the Lord and the community, setting a good example of faith, hope and charity for the thousands of families that attend St. John the Apostle.

The Chapel of the Immaculate Conception (the little church) remains standing on the corner of King and Union streets remains an important historical monument and a significant piece of the history of Leesburg, including the support of many in the town, not just Catholics, but Protestants, who originally helped to build it.  But far from being only a relic of the past, the chapel is still used for daily Mass, weddings, and twice a month for the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass, which dates back to era of the Council of Trent in the early 16th century.  The chapel remains an integral part of the parish and the community.

To those who doubt what the Church has truly done for the world by spreading the Gospel of Jesus to all the corners of the Earth, to those who doubt the significance of ancient and unchanging Faith in a world of constant change and advance, to those who doubt that God, in His boundless Love has manifested great works through his humble, sinful servants, to those who doubt that Christ remains with us to this day, or that the ceaseless prayers of His Most Blessed Mother calls all men to serve and worship Him, to those who doubt the good works and unchanging faith of the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, which surely would fail disastrously without His constant care, but instead remains a light unto the world, you need only attend Mass at our parish, participate in any of its dozens of ministries of worship and service to see Christ’s humble servants setting an example of selflessness in this self-centered world.

I am truly proud to be a Catholic, and am proud to be a member of this good parish.  Its wonderful priests and parishoners have brought me and my family closer to God and have helped us to become better people. 

May this new church provide an even brighter beacon to draw more to Christ.

Like the early cathedrals of Europe, the complex rivals the county government building in size and scope—interesting architectural statement.

“There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate The Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be.”
― Bishop Fulton J. Sheen

I hope St. John’s new church will be a beacon of light for our community, encouraging those who aren’t Catholic to learn more about Catholicism, rather than clinging to myths and falsehoods.

They will know we are Christians by our love.  And so I resist the urge to blast those that mock Christianity and Catholics and this church in particular.  Many ‘preach’ a good game about tolerance, but it seems so one sided.  We are a community of Christians, agnostics, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, etc.  Let’s trying living in peace and stop this mud slinging that only breeds hatred.

To “Machine Gun Preacher”

So sad you don’t understand the difference between “religion” and “life-changing personal faith”

Just when you think Loudoun has left the ignorance in the past, you read hate filled posts like those below.

Want to talk about irony? Just across North King Street is the former black only school - that white barn looking thing on the edge of the graveyard. This is the same county where the Methodists destroyed the old stone church to end once and for all the claims any blacks had to using it. This after arguing in court that blacks, as slaves had not been members of the Congregation. The very same county where the volunteer fire department filled the town pool with concrete the day after a court decided it must be integrated.

Yah Loudouners, we know some of you hate, well I was going to say Catholics. But let’s just say you hate and leave it at that.

Religion is all about mind control.
think about it.

Religion convinced the world that there’s an invisible man in the sky who watches everything you do. And there’s 10 things he doesn’t want you to do or else you’ll
go to a burning place with a lake of fire until the end of eternity. But god, he loves you! ...And he needs money! He’s all powerful, but he can’t handle money! or balance a check book?

just like jim jones. look at what happened to Religion.

Actually, new churches do have sort of a grand opening: it is called a consecration, a practice shared by both Catholics and many Protestant denominations.

To those that belong to the congregation there. May God move on your behalf. May the Holy Spirit fill your lives and the lives of those in your community. I hope you experience revival lead by God himself inside and outside your walls. Most of all I pray many will come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior through your ministry. I’m not Catholic, I’d barley identify myself as a “Christian”. Religion is for the pharisees (IMHO). Relationship is for God’s children. And as Jesus said “Father, forgive them. They’re ignorant”. (ok i paraphrased it a bit.)

Sad when buildings are more important than God.

The new St. John the Apostle Catholic Church is breaking tradition to make a statement to Leesburg residents. The new church points north-to-south, instead of the customary east-to-west facing of Catholic churches. When completed this fall, the church’s front doors will face the Town of Leesburg.

“We wanted to open our doors to Leesburg,” Mosimann said.

Perhaps this statement is part of the symbolic and quite dramatically dominant, new religious overtones of our new century - a spirit of Christian unity.

There are approximately 150 churches in Loudoun County. Let’s begin to work to network and share resources in an effort to unite the Body of Christ in our community.

When can I nail my 95 theses to the door?

I hope they allow Dick Black to preach there.  We desperately need his wisdom and leadership in these trying times.

It is truly wonderful to see such a beautiful church erected in a day and age when our nation has lost its way.

Building a faithful home to God is not a waste of money my friend - quoting Jesus himself from the Holy Bible “you will always have the poor”. A beautiful testament to the generous Catholics who want to praise God in a house built for Him! And should you want to see the grand opening - please come and praise and glorify God during one of our beautiful masses! God and this loving community would welcome you.

It’s a monstrosity and an eye sore.

All that money spent on a building instead of helping the community. Such a hypocritical way of acting.

A “Grand Opening”???  It is a place of worship.  God’s house.  The “Grand Opening” that you are speaking of is called Mass.

I hope they have a grand opening.  I’d like to see it when its done.