A Parish Where Gregorian Chant Holds Pride of Place
St. John the Beloved Catholic Church stands on Linway Terrace in McLean, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C. The parish's motto is simple and explicit: to make Jesus Christ the center of everything. That conviction shapes a daily rhythm of Mass, hours of Eucharistic adoration, a flourishing Gregorian chant program, and a Catholic liberal arts academy serving children from kindergarten through eighth grade.
Founded in 1951 as part of the Diocese of Arlington, St. John the Beloved is a parish of the Latin Rite that has become a regional draw for Catholics who love the Church's older liturgical traditions. The Sunday schedule includes a Latin Mass in the Extraordinary Form sung by a professional choir. The parish's sacred music apprenticeship for high school juniors and seniors has been featured by the Arlington Catholic Herald and on EWTN.
Sacred Music: Chant, Polyphony, and a High School Apprenticeship
Sacred music at St. John the Beloved is built on Vatican II's instruction that Gregorian chant should be given pride of place in the liturgy, building on St. Pius X's Tra le Sollecitudini, which calls chant the supreme model of Church music. All liturgical music at the parish strives to combine holiness, beauty of form, and universality for the glory of God.
Three choirs support the parish's sung liturgy:
- The Parish Choir is a volunteer ensemble of teenagers and adults (grades 9 and above) that sings for the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass, with Tuesday evening rehearsals from 7:15 to 8:45 p.m.
- The Choir of Our Lady of Ephesus is a schola for girls in grades 7 through 12 that rehearses Sunday mornings from 9:15 to 10:20 a.m. and sings every other week at the 10:30 a.m. Mass.
- The Saint Gregory Choir is a professional SATB ensemble that sings for the Extraordinary Form Mass at noon on Sundays, with rehearsals on some Thursday evenings and required auditions.
The Sacred Music Apprenticeship trains 11th and 12th grade students in two tracks, cantor and organist. Apprentices receive formal instruction in the theology, history, music, and planning of the liturgy, along with practical experience assisting at the liturgy. Graduates leave prepared to lead music at Mass and to continue further musical study.
Mass Times Across the Week
The Mass schedule is generous, with multiple daily opportunities to attend.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 p.m.
- Sunday: 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and the Extraordinary Form in Latin at noon
- Monday through Friday: 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., with additional Masses
- Wednesday: a Latin Ordinary Form Mass at 8:00 p.m.
- Saturday morning: 8:30 a.m.
For those unable to enter the church, Holy Communion can be received in the vestibule after any Mass. Outdoor speakers broadcast the liturgy to those listening from the parking lot or sidewalk, and an usher will assist anyone wishing to receive.
Confession Throughout the Week
The Sacrament of Penance is offered several times each week.
- Wednesday: after the 8:30 a.m. Mass, and at the top of every hour from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. as long as penitents are waiting
- Saturday: after the 8:30 a.m. Mass and from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- First Friday: after the 8:30 a.m. Mass
For those who cannot use the regular confessionals, a priest can meet a penitent in the church cry room or the parking lot by calling the rectory emergency line. Private appointments can be arranged through the parish office.
Eucharistic Adoration and Devotions
The Blessed Sacrament is at the center of parish life. Eucharistic Adoration is offered:
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Wednesday: 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Sunday: 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
On First Fridays, adoration continues for 24 hours, from after the morning Mass until the 8:15 a.m. Mass the next morning. First Saturdays include exposition after the 8:15 a.m. Mass followed by First Saturday Devotions in the tradition of Our Lady of Fatima.
Parishioners gather for the Miraculous Medal Novena every Wednesday evening, and on First Saturdays new members are enrolled in the Miraculous Medal. The parish has practiced this devotion for decades as a way of asking Our Lady's protection over the parish and its boundaries.
During Lent, the parish gathers for Soup Suppers on Friday evenings in the Parish Hall, beginning with the Angelus at 6:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross follow in church at 7:30 p.m.
The Academy, Faith Formation, and OCIA
St. John the Beloved Academy is the parish's K-8 school, whose Annual Fund supports financial aid, faculty salaries and professional development, and operations. The school shares facilities with the parish, including a gymnasium that hosts the annual Christmas Bazaar.
Children's Faith Formation meets on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for children in kindergarten through eighth grade. The parish supports parents as the primary educators of their children, with grade-level parent sheets, online resources, monthly parent nights with adult catechesis, and family activities that extend formation into the home. Sacramental preparation is built into the program.
First Confession usually takes place at the beginning of Lent, and First Holy Communion is typically received on the Saturday before Mother's Day. Both follow a year-long preparation beginning in first grade, with the sacraments received in second grade. Confirmation is a two-year catechesis beginning in seventh grade, with the sacrament received in the spring of eighth grade.
The parish also supports families who educate their children at home, providing a list of recommended curriculum resources including Kolbe Academy, Seton Home Study School, Aquinas Learning, Mother of Divine Grace, Memoria Press, and Queen of Heaven Academy. Local gatherings such as the McLean Area Catholic Homeschoolers (MACH) and the St. Cecelia Club offer field trips, music, and art enrichment.
The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) meets on Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m. in Room 10 of the Academy, pausing for July and August. The program welcomes adults considering joining the Catholic Church, baptized Catholics preparing for Confirmation, and Catholics in full communion who wish to deepen their understanding of the faith. High school juniors and older are welcome.
Parishioners also have free access to Formed.org through the parish subscription, with video and Bible study content from Dr. Tim Gray, Dr. Edward Sri, Dr. Scott Hahn, Bishop Robert Barron, Chris Stewart, and others. The parish uses Formed.org for online Baptism preparation as well.
Christ House, SHARE, and Neighbors in Need
St. John the Beloved reaches beyond its walls through several outreach ministries.
Christ House is a Catholic Charities shelter in Alexandria. On the second Friday of every month, a team of volunteers prepares and serves an evening meal there, feeding 65 to 75 homeless guests.
SHARE of McLean was founded in 1969 by a coalition of religious and civic institutions to meet emergency needs in McLean, Great Falls, Pimmit Hills, Tysons, and surrounding communities. The parish supports SHARE with food and monetary collections on the third Sunday of each month, along with the annual Food Drive, Thanksgiving and Christmas Food Basket programs, and the Christmas Gift Store.
The St. Vincent de Paul Society is in the process of establishing a parish conference, joining the worldwide Vincentian mission of helping neighbors through disaster services, food and clothing, housing, and other works of charity.
The Neighbors in Need ministry coordinates volunteers who deliver groceries or otherwise assist neighbors unable to leave their homes. The Parishioner Assistance Network connects parishioners willing to give occasional rides, visits, or meals with those who need a hand.
Lay Apostles and Parish Societies
The parish is home to a rich variety of lay-led groups.
- Legion of Mary, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel praesidium was established at St. John in 1988. Members meet Monday evenings to grow in spiritual formation and serve through visits to residents of Arleigh-Burke and Powhatan Nursing Homes, home visits to welcome new parishioners, the Pilgrim Virgin Statue visitation program, door-to-door evangelization, the Book Barrow, and encouragement of family enthronement to the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart.
- Knights of Columbus Council 11806 meets the first Thursday of each month. The Knights support Catholic families through faith and service in the tradition of charity, unity, and fraternity.
- Altar Boys from fourth grade through senior year assist at Sunday, Holy Day, and weekday Masses, as well as the Wednesday evening novena, weddings, and funerals. Training materials cover both the Ordinary Form and the Extraordinary Form of the Mass.
- Lectors proclaim the Word of God at Mass. Two lectors are assigned for each Sunday Mass, and weekday lectors serve a particular day. Periodic workshops offer ongoing training.
- Mothers Group meets in church, on the playground, and in homes to meet the spiritual and social needs of parish moms.
- Seniors Group welcomes parishioners and their guests age 50 and older for monthly luncheons from September through May. The gathering begins with the 11:30 a.m. Mass, followed by a social period, catered lunch, and a guest speaker or musical entertainment.
- Youth Ministry includes summer WorkCamp, where high school teens complete significant home improvements for neighbors in need, and swing dance nights for high schoolers. The parish also fields CYO basketball and girls' volleyball teams.
- Pro Animis Sanctis in Purgatorio is a Purgatorial Prayer Society that prays for the Holy Souls on the first Monday of each month in the Academy school hall from 7:00 to 7:45 p.m. The group sponsors events and a book club.
- Pro-Life Committee educates parishioners on life issues, organizes parish participation in the annual March for Life, and prays outside the Falls Church abortion clinic.
- St. John the Beloved Prayer Chain is an email group of several hundred souls praying for the intentions of the parish community.
- The WORD Book and Gift Shop offers Catholic books, sacramentals, hand-made rosaries from the Dominican Nuns in Linden, and children's activity books. It is open Saturday evenings and Sundays before and after Masses, or by appointment.
The Seven Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments.
Baptism is typically scheduled for Sundays at 2:30 p.m. and can often be arranged on other days. Parents complete Baptism Preparation online through Formed.org or in person with one of the priests. A Godparent Certificate is provided for the godmother and godfather to be signed by their pastors.
First Confession and First Communion are prepared through a year-long program in the Academy or Religious Education, with First Confession at the beginning of Lent and First Communion on the Saturday before Mother's Day.
Confirmation is prepared through a two-year catechesis with the Religious Education Office, typically received in the spring of eighth grade.
Weddings require engaged couples to contact a priest at least six months before the proposed date, in keeping with diocesan regulations.
Anointing of the Sick is offered to anyone suffering grave illness, with the Apostolic Pardon given to those approaching death. An emergency line is available after office hours for anyone in need of a priest.
Funerals at the parish follow the classic Requiem tradition, with Scriptural prayers and monastic chants that have marked Christian burial for more than a thousand years. A Funeral Planning guide and Funeral Lectionary are available to help families prepare.
Holy Communion at Home brings prayer, blessing, Confession, and the Eucharist to homebound members, served by extraordinary ministers on an ongoing basis.
Supporting the Parish
Parishioners can support St. John the Beloved in several ways.
Online Giving through ParishSOFT allows recurring and one-time gifts to be made securely. Gifts of Stock are welcomed, with the Director of Finance notified so the gift can be identified when it arrives.
Those 70½ and older can support the parish with an IRA Charitable Rollover, directing up to $105,000 per year from their IRA directly to the parish without paying income taxes on the distribution.
Planned Giving through wills, retirement plans, or other estate arrangements leaves a lasting legacy for generations to come. The Parish Business Manager is happy to assist anyone in shaping the parish's plans.
The SJBA Annual Fund directly supports the Academy's financial aid program, faculty development, and operational needs, sustaining a value-based and value-added Catholic liberal arts education.
Clergy and Staff
The parish is served by three priests and a fourth in residence, with a dedicated music and faith formation team.
- Very Rev. Christopher J. Pollard, V.F. - Pastor
- Rev. John Melmer - Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Kevin Fimian - Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Dort Bigg - In Residence
- David Lang - Director of Music
- Michael Jacobeen - Faith Formation Director and Youth Ministry Coordinator
- Theresa Carrescia - Assistant Faith Formation Director
Visiting St. John the Beloved
The church is located at 6420 Linway Terrace in McLean, Virginia. Parking is available on site. The parish office can be reached at (703) 356-7916 or info@stjohncatholicmclean.org. New parishioners are invited to register through the parish website, and visitors are warmly welcomed at any Mass or devotion.