The addition of a new Catholic Charities center in downtown Leesburg will provide much-needed social outreach to Loudoun County and the surrounding areas, according to Steve Luteran, director of the diocesan organization.
The Loudoun Regional Office — what Luteran called a “multi-service center” — will give those in Loudoun and beyond access to family services, such as counseling and therapy; children’s services, such as crisis pregnancy, adoption and foster care; and Hogar Hispano’s social and immigration services.
“We feel responsible for those other counties that we’re not in,” Luteran said. “This will give us that opportunity to reach out to other people.”
The work space was blessed by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde last week as he sprinkled holy water on the freshly remodeled cream walls during a small ceremony. The three-room space has been in limited operation since the end of June, but last Wednesday marked its official opening.
The bishop deemed the opening of the new office a “milestone” in the history of Catholic Charities — one that was necessary “so the work of Charities may be visible, more present and more attainable.”
Those who aid the needy truly make themselves present to God, he said.
“When we assist those who are poor in any way, we are just not helping people, we are touching Christ because He identifies himself with the poor,” Bishop Loverde said. That’s why the Church, for centuries, “has reached out to the little ones, to the needy ones, in all sorts of ways.”
Catholic Charities, Bishop Loverde added, is one expression of that outreach, at all levels: international, national and diocesan.
In this new location, Charities hopes to expand its presence by being accessible to Purcellville, Winchester, Hamilton and other locations farther from the Arlington epicenter. Its services will target residents not only in Loudoun, but in Clarke, Fauquier, Frederick, Page, Rappahannock, Warren and Shenandoah counties.
Present at the blessing were not only diocesan supporters of Catholic Charities, but a representative from the Leesburg mayor’s office and one from the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors.
Kurt Pfluger, a member of the Catholic Charities Board, and his wife, Bonny, also were present. It was board members like Pfluger who really pushed for and helped fund an office in Loudoun County, Luteran said.
Bishop Loverde thanked the Pflugers, and all gathered, for their work to see this “local expression” of Catholic Charities into existence.
Father John P. Mosimann, newly appointed pastor of St. John the Apostle Parish in Leesburg, said having the presence and resources of Catholic Charities in the same town as his parish is a “delight.
“Everyone presumes that Loudoun County is overflowing with affluence (but) there are plenty of people with needs,” Father Mosimann said. “The poor are in our midst everywhere.”
The Loudoun County Regional Office is located at 100 Dry Mill Rd., S.W., Ste. 102, Leesburg. For information call 703/443-2481.

Gretchen R. Crowe can be reached at gcrowe@catholicherald.com.

(c) Copyright 2007 by Arlington Catholic Herald