Our Lady Help of Christians (OLHOC) Catholic Church in Waldorf is welcoming a new pastor. Fr. Agustín López will be installed as pastor during a special Mass on August 10 at 11:30 a.m. The Mass will be celebrated by Charles County Dean Fr. Keith A. Woods.

Fr. López has been serving the Archdiocese of Washington since 2001, when he came to the seminary and studied at The Catholic University of America, where he earned a theology degree. He completed his priestly formation at the Archdiocesan Redemptoris Mater Missionary Seminary in Washington, D.C. Fr. López was ordained in June 2011 at The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. He served as parochial vicar at St. Raphael Catholic Church in Rockville after his ordination.

Fr. Lopez served as parochial vicar at OLHOC from 2014 to 2017 under Fr. Alain Colliou, who recently retired. In 2017, Fr. Lopez was assigned to the Cathedral of St. Matthew for two years. In 2019, he was sent on missionary work for five years to various states including Missouri, Kansas, and Arkansas. Most recently, he was pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Washington, D.C., and has now returned to OLHOC.

Commenting on his new assignment, Fr. López said, “I have been sent to serve you, to learn from you, and to proclaim one message—Jesus Christ, crucified and risen for us. I promise you this: I will love you and your families and will strive to bring you ever closer to Christ.”

Fr. López, the youngest of six children, was born in Quito, Ecuador, in October 1978. He holds a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from the San Francisco University of Ecuador. He worked for several national and international companies, including Citibank in Ecuador, before coming to the United States.

All are welcome to the Mass on Sunday, August 10, at 11:30 a.m., at OLHOC, 100 Village Street, Waldorf. Light refreshments will follow. For more information, please call the church office at 301-645-7112.

www.olhoc.com/