HISTORY TIME LINE FOR PRECIOUS BLOOD CATHOLIC CHURCH


† 1868 - First services held in Green’s Hall, corner of Main and Davis Streets. Services held about once per month.


† 1879 – Land was bought for the church from Ms. Mary and Ms. Betty Kirkman for $400. Following the death of the two Kirkman sisters, they were buried in vaults behind the old Church. When the new Church was built, the vaults were removed and re-interred on the southeast side of the present church. Their headstones may be seen there today near the fountain courtyard.


† 1880 – Cornerstone laid by bishop J. Keane – July 4, 1880.

In 1880 there were 20 families registered at Precious Blood.


† 1880 – 1890 Mission of Warrenton.


† 1890 – 1898 Mission of All Saints Church, Manassas.


† 1898 – 1922 Mission of Holy Comforter, Charlottesville.


† 1922 – 1946 Mission of Warrenton.


† 1946 - Established as independent parish with missions pf St. John in Orange and St. Mark of Gordonsville on November 15, 1946. Father Maurice du Castillon, C.I.C.M. appointed as our first pastor with Father Andrew Taillieu, C.I.C.M. as his assistant.

In 1946-47 – Precious Blood had 39 registered families.


† 1947 – Father Maurice du Castillon, C.I.C.M. recalled by the General Chapter of his Society in Belgium to resume his teaching career. He was succeeded by Father Andrew Taillieu, C.I.C.M., at his request on September 1, 1947.


† 1949 – Rectory building started in June 1949 by George Robson. Cornerstone laid on July 24, 1949. Dedication was made on November 20, 1949 by Right Reverend Edward L. Stevens, Dean of our Deanery of Alexandria. The contractor, George Robson was paid $15,164.26.


† 1954 – Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes was built by Father Andrew Taillieu, C.I.C.M., pastor of Precious Blood and Father Paul Van Wassenhove, C.I.C.M. in the summer of 1954. Dedication by Bishop Joseph H. Hodges was on October 3, 1954. The funds were raised through contributions from the Precious Blood congregation.

In December of 1954, Father Andrew Taillieu, C.I.C.M., was transferred to Detroit. Father John Jansen, C.I.C.M, assumed charge of the parish until September 23, 1955.


† 1955 – Father Maurice du Castillon, C.I.C.M. returned to Precious Blood on September 23.


† 1957 – Parish Hall, which was the Gospel Tabernacle, a Protestant denomination, was purchased from the minister, Rev. Paul Boyce in August for $15,000.


† 1967 – September 21, Precious Blood Parish bought 53 acres at Catalpa with future Church in mind. We paid $65,000. In 1982 the Catalpa property was sold to the Arlington Diocese for $75,000 to help with funding of the new Parish Hall-CCD building and church building.


† 1969 – December 9, purchased the Old Culpeper Terrace Motel next to the Church, which included another house for $45,000. These properties were purchased from mrs. H.B. Lacy. Sunday School was started in the new place December 14. 

 

In 1969 Precious Blood had 135 registered families.


† 1974 – July 29, the Nelson property on Edmondson Street was purchased for $15,000. The new Diocese of Arlington was formed August 13, of which Precious Blood was a part. His Excellency Bishop Thomas J. Welsh was appointed first bishop of the Diocese.


† 1977 – Father Maurice du Castillon, C.I.C.M., celebrates his Golden Jubilee as a priest.


† 1979 – Father Maurice du Castillon, C.I.C.M., leaves Precious Blood after 25 years of service and Father Leo Zonneveld, also a C.I.C.M. priest, arrives to assume pastoral duties.


† 1980 – Church Centennial celebration with His Excellency Thomas J. Welsh, D.D., J.D.C., 1st Bishop of Arlington, as the main celebrant. Three year pledge program begun for new Church, Parish Hall, and C.C.D. facilities.

In 1980 there were approximately 300 families registered at Precious Blood.


† 1981 – Father Leo (as he affectionately is referred) requests a Precious Blood Parish song to be written for the Mass of Dedication for the new church.  


† 1983 – Dedication of new Church of Precious Blood by His Excellency John Richard Keating, D.D., J.C.D., Bishop of Arlington, on August 15, his first official act as our new Bishop. Mini-pledge program begun in October 1983.


† 1987 – Celebration of Father Maurice du Castillon’s sixtieth (60th) anniversary as a priest, along with St. Peter’s Church of Washington.


† 1989 – Second three year pledge program started to build Rectory Parish Office and additional parking.


† 1990 – Father Maurice du Castillon, C.I.C.M. died on November 15, 1990.


† 1991 – Rectory, parish office, and additional parking areas completed.


† 1992 – Weeping crucifix installed.


† 1993 – CYO members attend :World Youth Day” in Denver with Pope John Paul II.


† 1996 - Precious Blood Celebrated 50 years as a parish.


† 1999 - The Diocese of Arlington purchased 22 acres of land off route 299 with the future expansion of Epiphany School in mind. This land comes complete with a picturesque red barn and a breath taking view of the Blue Ridge mountains. One day, it may become the site of the new parish.


† 2006 - The H&R Block building on East Street (Now Precious Blood Annex) was purchased to provide more classroom space and parking. The purchase of the Deane house will eventually allow us to expand parking facilities. 


† 2008 – Precious Blood has 1068 registered families and over 3000 Catholics in our Parish.


† July 2008 – Father Leo Zonneveld, C.I.C.M., to celebrate his Golden Jubilee (50 years) of serving the priesthood and twenty-nine years as Pastor of Precious Blood.

 

† July 2012 - Father Leo Zonneveld retires from Precious Blood

 

† July 2012-2016  Father Anselme Malonda, CICM serves as Pastor of Precious Blood 

 

† July 2016 Father Kevin Walsh arrives as our new Diocesan Pastor along with Father Mark Moretti as our Parochial Vicar 

 

Month of the Most Precious Blood is (July).

"Thou hast redeemed us, O Lord in Thy Blood, out of every tribe and tongue, and people and nation, and hast made us to our God a kingdom." Introit from the Mass of the Most Precious Blood.


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Catholics should have a great devotion to the Precious Blood of our Blessed Lord, since it was this Precious Blood which paid the price for our salvation. Never should we lose sight of the fact that, though Our Lord could have saved us by shedding just one drop of His blood, He showed the greatness of His love for us by shedding every drop from His Body. "Come, let us adore Christ, the Son of God, who hath redeemed us."


Precious Blood Catholic Church
114 East Edmondson Street
Culpeper, Virginia 22701
Rectory Office 540-825-8945
Parish Hall - CCD Office 540-825-1339
Epiphany Catholic School 540-825-9017

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