May 30, 2017
ARLINGTON,
Va. -- Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of Arlington, announced that
Saint Bridget of Ireland Mission, located in Berryville, will be established as
a parish, effective Wednesday, July 12, 2017. Reverend Stanley J. Krempa, who
has been pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus in Winchester since June 28, 1999, has
also been pastor of Saint Bridget because it is a mission of Sacred Heart.
Father Krempa will now be the first pastor of the new parish.
“It
gives me great joy to announce the establishment of Saint Bridget of Ireland
Church in Berryville as a parish in the Diocese of Arlington, effective July
12, 2017,” said Bishop Burbidge. “I
thank all those who have given their time, talent and treasure to build up the
Catholic community in Berryville over the years. I especially thank
Father Stan Krempa, pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Winchester, for
his attentive ministry to the Mission of Saint Bridget of Ireland over the past
16 years. Fr. Krempa will be the founding pastor of St. Bridget of Ireland
Parish.”
Saint
Bridget of Ireland Mission was established in 1999 to serve the growing
Catholic population of Clarke County.
A
mission becomes a parish when it is financially stable and when land is secured
for a church building, if there is not a church already. Saint Bridget already
has a church building, which was dedicated by Most Reverend Paul S. Loverde on
May 25, 2002.
Saint
Bridget of Ireland will be the 70th parish of the Diocese. The
Diocese of Arlington is home to more than 600,000 Catholics living in 21
counties and seven cities in central and northern Virginia. Parishioners live
out their faith at 69 parishes and five missions, and 17,600 students attend 44
Catholic elementary and high schools.