Called by Our Lord, Rooted in Cherrydale
St. Agnes Catholic Church stands at the corner of North Randolph and Twenty-First Streets in Arlington's Cherrydale neighborhood, a few miles west of the Potomac. The 1914 mission that became the parish is still shaped by the same call that launched it: to be faithful missionary disciples of Jesus Christ, strengthened by Word and Sacrament and sent to share his love with one another and all in need. The parish that gathers here today is rooted in that original mission and stretched outward into a thriving community of more than a thousand families with a parish school, daily and Sunday Mass, perpetual Adoration, and ministries for every age and stage of life.
A Cherrydale Mission Born in a Grocery Store
The story of St. Agnes begins with the land itself. Native Americans passed through what is now Cherrydale, an area named after a nineteenth-century cherry orchard near today's Five Points intersection of Quincy Street, Old Dominion, Lee Highway and Military Road. After the Great Falls and Old Dominion Railroad began running electric trains through Cherrydale in 1906, Catholic families in the new suburbs asked for a mission of their own. On January 4, 1914, Father Frederick Lackey, relieved of his duties as chaplain at Fort Myer, was officially charged with the Cherrydale mission.
The first Cherrydale Mass was offered in a small grocery store near Lee Highway and Oakland Street. As the congregation grew, Mass moved to Pioneer Hall, a movie theatre between Pollard and Quincy Streets, where the men of the mission set up the altar after the last Saturday picture show and confessions were heard behind a piano. When that grew too tight, Mass moved again to Cherrydale Public School.
Funds were being raised when Naval Admiral A. W. Weaver, whose sister was a Sister of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul with the religious name Agnes, donated $1,500 toward the purchase of three lots at the corner of North Randolph and Twenty-First. Ground was broken on June 8, 1919, for a 250-seat church. The mission took its name from the admiral's sister and the early virgin-martyr she was named for. Bishop Dennis J. O'Connell consecrated the new church on January 18, 1920.
On November 8, 1936, during the Confirmation rites, Coadjutor Bishop Peter Ireton announced that St. Agnes would become its own parish. Father Edward W. Johnston, vicar at St. Charles, was appointed founding pastor and lived in the sacristy until a rectory was built in 1938. By the late 1930s, the parish had about 300 parishioners and offered two Sunday Masses, with Benedictine and later Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters teaching Sunday school.
The School, the New Church, and the Lord of Lords Window
Father R. Emmet Hannon took over in 1942 and built the school and convent. St. Agnes Elementary School opened on August 20, 1946, with five Sisters of Notre Dame from Cleveland teaching five grades to 200 students. A new church that could seat 700 and a school addition were begun on May 6, 1951, the same day as First Communions. Bishop Ireton consecrated that 1952 church (now the parish gym) at a Solemn High Mass.
Father Bernard Moore, the third pastor, built the current church beginning in 1961. Architect Joseph Johnson designed a fan-shaped sanctuary suited to the new microphone era, with clean lines, earthy colors, and a stained glass window high on the steeple overlooking Washington, D.C. That window, called the Lord of Lords Window, gives St. Agnes a special affinity with the Solemn Feast of Christ the King. In hues of yellow and gold, it depicts the spirit of Christ permeating the three branches of the United States government, with Christ raising his right hand as Teacher of Law while embracing a globe with his left. Bishop John Russell consecrated the new church at a Solemn High Mass on December 10, 1966.
In the early 1970s, Monsignor Harold Nott helped create the Diocese of Arlington, which was split from the Diocese of Richmond in June of 1974 with Bishop Thomas Welsh as its first shepherd. He was succeeded by Bishops John Keating, Paul Loverde, and now Michael Burbidge. Subsequent pastors have included Fathers Frank Hendrick, Joseph Loftus, Alan Lee, James Gould, Robert Ruskamp, Monsignor James McMurtrie, Lee Roos, and Frederick Edlefsen. Father Patrick Posey, now pastor of St. James, is a son of St. Agnes.
In 1991, the Pontifical Council for the Laity issued guidelines permitting perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. In May of 1999, Father James Gould instituted the Our Lady of the Eucharist Adoration Chapel at St. Agnes, which was moved to its current location in 2000. Father Gould also added the stained glass windows above the sanctuary and numerous statues around the perimeter of the church.
Mass and Confession Times
Mass is offered throughout the week at St. Agnes. The Saturday Vigil Mass is celebrated at 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses are at 7:30 a.m. (a lower Mass), 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 5:00 p.m. (also a lower Mass). Daily Mass is offered at 6:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. Monday through Friday, and at 7:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. on Saturday. Holy Days of Obligation bring additional Masses at noon and 7:00 p.m. Sunday Masses are livestreamed for those at home.
Confession is heard on Wednesday evenings during the Holy Hour, from 7:30 to 8:15 p.m., and on Saturday mornings from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. and Saturday afternoons from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Confession is also available by appointment by calling the parish office.
On the first Friday of each month, a sung Mass in the Ordinary Form is celebrated in Latin at 7:00 p.m. The parish's Schola Cantorum Sanctae Agnetis and organist provide music. Men and boys interested in serving at the altar for these Masses, and men and women interested in chanting in the Schola, contact Father Oetjen.
The Adoration Chapel and the Wednesday Holy Hour
The Our Lady of the Eucharist Adoration Chapel sits on the second floor of the Parish Center, accessed from the Stafford Street parking lot. It is open daily for quiet prayer. The Blessed Sacrament is exposed after the 9:00 a.m. Mass, around 9:30 a.m. during the week and around 10:00 a.m. on Sundays, and the chapel closes at 9:00 p.m. On Wednesdays, Adoration moves into the Church for a guided Holy Hour with a novena prayer, and Confession is available during that hour.
Parishioners are encouraged to sign up for one hour of Adoration a week to keep the chapel open. During the week, the Rosary is prayed daily after the 9:00 a.m. Mass. Visitors are welcome to bring a Bible or spiritual reading, and children are welcome to pray quietly with a parent. No food or drink other than water is permitted in the chapel.
Becoming Catholic through OCIA
Those who wish to become Catholic are welcomed through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, or OCIA. The process follows the ancient rhythm of the early Church: Inquiry, in which questions are explored and basic Catholic teaching is shared; the Catechumenate, a time of deeper formation in doctrine and prayer; Purification and Enlightenment during Lent, marked by the Rite of Election with the bishop; and Initiation, when the unbaptized receive Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist, ordinarily at the Easter Vigil. Those who have already been validly baptized are prepared for Confirmation and Holy Communion and are received into full communion with the Catholic Church.
After initiation, new Catholics enter the period of Mystagogy, deepening their grasp of the sacraments. Father Saunders' OCIA video classes introduce the process for newcomers. Those interested may email ocia@saintagnes.org.
What We Believe
St. Agnes teaches the Catholic faith in plain language rooted in Scripture and Tradition. The parish's teaching describes the heart of Catholicism as a loving relationship with God: the eternal God of the universe loves us so much that he sent his only Son to redeem us from sin, bring us into his divine life, and immerse us in his truth and love.
Salvation is understood as becoming a child of God. In the beginning, the Lord God breathed into man the breath of life, the ruach, the very spirit of God, making the first parents his children. That supernatural gift was lost through original sin, leaving the human race outside God's divine life, subject to suffering, death, and disordered desires. The Good News is that the eternal Son of God assumed our humanity in the womb of Mary, suffered, died, and rose again to bring us back into right relationship with the Father. Through Baptism we are reborn as children of God and enabled to live by the Holy Spirit. Through the Sacrament of Confession, priests forgive sins in the name of Christ, restoring the sinner to divine sonship. In the family of the Church, Mary becomes our spiritual mother, the saints are our older brothers and sisters, and we journey toward eternal joy in Heaven.
Parishioners have free access to Formed.org, often called a Catholic Netflix, through the parish code f1a3f2. Other recommended resources include Catholic Answers, Word on Fire, the Understanding the Scriptures Podcast, Faith Facts from Catholics United for the Faith, and a nine-book home study course from the Knights of Columbus.
Mission and Core Values
In 2016, the Parish Leadership Team completed a two-year study of the parish, interviewing staff, ministries, and parishioners and reviewing organizational structures. They produced a renewed Mission Statement and four Core Values that describe how the parish works together in service to Christ.
The mission is to be faithful missionary disciples of Jesus Christ, sharing his love with one another and all in need. The four core values are Communion, uniting with Christ and the Church which has its source and summit in the Eucharist; Holiness, embracing the light, love, and limitless possibility communicated by the Holy Spirit and consecrating ourselves to doing God's will; Joy, delighting in the peace that comes from knowing God's love and manifesting that love to others; and Service, promoting the dignity of the human person by sharing time, talent, and treasure.
Saint Agnes Catholic School
The parish school serves students in the lower grades through eighth grade with daily religion lessons woven into every classroom. Founded in 1946 with five Sisters of Notre Dame and 200 students in five grades, the school grew to all eight grades by 1948 and reached more than 900 students by the end of the 1950s. Today the school continues as a central part of parish life, supporting the religious formation of children whose families belong to St. Agnes.
Religious Education, First Communion, and Confirmation
Religious Education classes for children in grades one through eight are held on Tuesday evenings during the school year. Parents are the first teachers of the faith, and the parish program supplements what is taught at home. Sacramental preparation for First Communion, First Confession, and Confirmation is a separate track; a Special Sacraments course is available for students who missed their sacraments and meets biweekly on Sundays. Ian Radel serves as Director of Faith Formation.
Catechists, co-teachers, aides, substitutes, special-event helpers, and hall monitors are needed each year, and all volunteers must complete the Diocese of Arlington Child Safety Program paperwork before serving. New volunteers register through the parish, and the office is happy to walk newcomers through the process.
Children, Youth, and Young Adults
The parish hosts several groups for younger members. Challenge Club for Girls welcomes girls in grades two through eight, plus high school team leaders, helping them grow in their Catholic faith, deepen their friendship with Christ, and make a positive impact on family and friends. Conquest Club for Boys serves a similar mission for boys. Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts meet under parish sponsorship. The parish also fields a Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) sports program.
Saint Agnes Youth Ministry walks with high school teens, helping them trust, love, and serve God as disciples of Christ. Updates are sent by email and text through Flocknote, and the ministry is active on Instagram at stagnesyouth.
Saint Agnes Young Adult Ministry welcomes young adults, married or single, between the ages of 21 and 35. The group gathers for fellowship, faith, and service, communicates by email and through a private Facebook group, and posts updates on Instagram at saintagnesya. Young Families ministry reaches parents raising small children with the rhythms and demands of Catholic family life.
Men, Women, and Seniors
St. Joseph's League is the men's fellowship of the parish, and the Knights of Columbus Council 18572 is active locally, sponsoring events such as the annual Oktoberfest and supporting parish life in many other ways. For women, Walking With Purpose is a Catholic women's Bible study that applies timeless truths of Scripture to daily life; it meets on Tuesday evenings in the lower school and on Thursday mornings in the Parish Hall. The Arts and Crafts Guild gathers women who create together.
The Saint Agnes Seniors Group meets regularly in the Parish Hall with a potluck lunch, guest speakers, and field trips to places of interest in the wider region. New members are always welcome, and the group is a relaxed way for older parishioners to stay connected. Programs for those 55 and older offered through Arlington County are a regular topic of conversation.
Liturgical Ministry
The Mass at St. Agnes is supported by an extensive team of lay liturgical ministers. Altar Servers, both boys and girls, begin training in the summer after fourth grade and assist at Sunday Masses, weddings, funerals, Benediction, and the Stations of the Cross. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion help distribute the Eucharist at Mass and bring Communion to the sick and homebound. Lectors in the Ministry of the Word proclaim the readings, the responsorial Psalm at the 7:30 a.m. Mass, and the General Intercessions at every Mass. Sacristans prepare the sacred vessels and altar, and Ushers welcome worshippers, take up the collection, and assist with the flow of services.
The Music and Choir program, led by Director of Sacred Music Don Cotton, supports the full range of parish liturgies with choral and congregational singing. The Schola Cantorum Sanctae Agnetis sings the monthly First Friday Mass in Latin.
Prayer and Service
Prayer at St. Agnes reaches beyond the church building. The Cherrydale Prayer Group visits, prays, and brings Holy Communion to elderly residents of Cherrydale Nursing Home on Wednesdays after the 9:00 a.m. Mass, with a second Friday Mass offered there by a priest. The St. Raphael Prayer Group provides another small community of intercession.
The Bethany Ministry welcomes new parishioners, staffs the Welcome Table on Donut Sundays, hosts the Catacombs Café, organizes the Summer Parish Book Read, and gathers prayer requests each week. The Christ House Team caters and serves a meal at Christ House, a Catholic Workers' house of hospitality, on the first Tuesday of every month and welcomes volunteers to plan, purchase, and serve the meal. The Gabriel Project at Saint Agnes reaches out to expectant mothers in need. The Homebound Parishioner Visitation ministry sends volunteers weekly to pray, read Scripture, and bring Holy Communion to parishioners who cannot attend Mass.
Annual drives keep the parish connected to those beyond Arlington. The Mother's Day Baby Bottle Drive collects support for crisis pregnancies. The Annual Giving Tree during Advent gathers gifts for Catholic Charities Migration and Refugee Services, including cookware, lamps, child car seats, bathroom items, and winter accessories. The Annual Lenten Food Drive for Madison County has historically donated about one ton of food each year to MESA, a food bank serving 300 families a month in Madison County, Virginia. The Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive, organized by the Cub Scouts, supports Our Lady of the Blue Ridge and helps families in Madison County share a holiday meal. The Annual Parish Lenten Mission has long supported meals for the poor.
Evangelization ministry includes the Legion of Mary, which evangelizes through works and words, and the Pro-Life Awareness committee, which educates the parish and advocates for the unborn. The Borgo, the parish speaker series, hosts Catholic thinkers, priests, and authors throughout the year.
Catacombs Café and The Borgo Gift Shop
The Catacombs Café opens every Friday after the 6:30 a.m. Mass, serving coffee, espresso, and light treats in a relaxed space where parishioners can linger. Groups and ministries can request that the café stay open for a particular meeting by contacting the Bethany Ministry.
The Borgo Gift Shop offers Catholic books, devotional items, and gifts for parish families and visitors. The Borgo Speaker Series brings notable Catholic voices to the parish for evening talks.
Sacraments and Sacramental Preparation
Seven sacraments mark Catholic life at St. Agnes. Baptism, the first of the three Sacraments of Initiation, is offered to infants and to children under age seven as well as to adults and children over age seven through OCIA. Baptisms of infants and children are usually celebrated on Sundays around 12:15 p.m., right after the 11:00 a.m. Mass. Parents must be registered parishioners for at least three months and must attend a Baptismal preparation program. Godparents must be at least sixteen, having received Confirmation and Holy Eucharist, living a Catholic life, and not the mother or father of the child.
Confirmation and First Communion (Eucharist) are typically received after age seven and before age sixteen. The parish offers First Communion and First Confession preparation as well as Confirmation preparation, with separate tracks for parish school students and Religious Education students. A two-year preparation is typical before Confirmation.
Anointing of the Sick is offered to Catholics facing serious illness, surgery, or the approach of death. The parish encourages calling the parish phone number early in such situations so the priest can come for confession, Anointing, and Viaticum (final Holy Communion), and the Apostolic Pardon and prayers of commendation when appropriate.
Holy Matrimony preparation is offered to engaged couples, with a request form available through the parish office. Funeral planning is supported by the parish with a Funeral Liturgy Handbook and music listing, and the parish expresses its belief that through the Resurrection of Jesus, the bonds forged in life are not broken by death.
Parish Registration and Boundaries
Anyone who lives within the parish boundaries is invited to register. The boundaries begin at Key Bridge and run west on Lee Highway to I-66, west on I-66 to North Glebe Road, north on Glebe to North Seventeenth Street, west to North Edison Street, north to North Twenty-Second Street, west to North Lexington Street, north to Little Falls Road, west to North John Marshall Drive, north to the Arlington-Fairfax County line, east along the county line to the Potomac, and south on the Potomac back to Key Bridge. Reasons to register include a sense of belonging and identity, a commitment to practice the faith, better pastoral care during times of crisis, more reliable communication, eligibility for sponsor and godparent validation, and a stronger census that helps the diocese assign priests and plan Masses.
Faithful Stewardship and Giving
Parishioners support the mission of St. Agnes through time, talent, and treasure. ParishSOFT (formerly Faith Direct) allows recurring or one-time electronic giving, with new users enrolling online and returning users updating their giving preferences. QR codes are available on the Poor Box and candle boxes for electronic giving, and an additional QR code for Offertory contributions sits on the tables at the back of the church. The Parish Office accepts credit card payments through a Square reader for Mass intentions, donations, and other parish activities.
Weekly parish offerings support local operations, apostolates, and missions. A Debt Reduction appeal helps repay a loan from the Diocese for the church and school renovations. Second collections support world-wide ministries named by the diocese. The Bishop's Lenten Appeal supports diocesan ministries, parishes, seminaries, and schools.
Long-term giving includes planned giving through wills or trusts, with sample bequest language provided by the parish, and gifts of long-term appreciated stock that may yield both an income tax deduction and an avoidance of capital gains taxes. Those interested in deeper giving may contact Vitoria Vargas, Business Manager.
Communications and Parish Life
The parish publishes a weekly bulletin, a weekly email, and maintains an active presence on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. A Communications Request form routes items from ministries and school groups through the parish staff for review. Bulletins are submitted at least ten days before publication (fifteen days if graphic support is needed). Weekly email submissions are due by Wednesday of the week the email goes out, and items for the parish's online presence and social media are submitted with graphics at least five days in advance. Parishioners can subscribe to the parish calendar through Google Calendar, iCalendar, or Outlook. The bulletin archive stretches back years, and parish news is posted throughout the week. Whether stopping by for daily Mass, signing up for a Holy Hour, joining the Knights of Columbus, sending a child to Religious Education, walking with the Schola at a First Friday Latin Mass, or dropping in for coffee at the Catacombs Café, the daily life of St. Agnes continues to flow from the same conviction that brought Cherrydale Catholics together in a grocery store more than a century ago: that the Lord Jesus Christ calls his people to be missionary disciples, sent out from this corner of Arlington to share what they have received.