For nearly every Sunday for the past 65 years, visitors and members to the First Baptist Church of Vienna have been greeted by a sweet little woman at the front door of the church's narthex or entranceway. Known for her hugs, her bags of candy for the children and her dedication to ushering two services every Sunday despite her age, Catherine Thomas Faggin of Vienna turned 90 on Monday, July 5. To honor "Mother Catherine," her sons Ernest and Preston, her family, and 150 other friends and church members gave her a surprise birthday party at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fairfax last Saturday, July 10.
Faggin drove up to the hotel with several of her good friends expecting a lunch with her son but instead was greeted with the cheers, songs and prayers of her church community.
"Well, baby, I had not the slightest idea," Faggin said of her surprise birthday party. "I feel that the Lord has really blessed me."
Those who came to celebrate wished their Mother Catherine joy and happiness for the upcoming year.
"All of us have been blessed through her midst," said Constance Bails, past president of the church's ushering ministry.
FAGGIN, who raised her family in Vienna, has been attending the First Baptist Church of Vienna for decades. An usher for 65 years, Faggin has represented the Northern Virginia region at international ushering association events. She is also involved with the nursing home outreach, the missionary ministry and the unique ministry.
"We call her the mother of ushering," Bails said.
But it is Faggin's faithfulness and loving demeanor throughout the years that have endeared church members and visitors alike.
"She has the sweetest disposition of anyone you will ever meet," said Naomi Pearson of Vienna, one of Faggin's close friends.
Esther McCullough of Herndon, who helped make decorations and the photography display of Faggin's life, agreed.
"She's such an inspiration because even though she's 90 years old, you don't focus on that. The lady reads the little print in the Bible," McCullough said.
When asked how she came to live as long as she has, Faggin said she didn't know. All her siblings have died, but she still enjoys doing many activities, such as ushering for the church.
"I said, I must have done something good in my lifetime to be able to stay here this long," she joked.