A Parish on Vale Road Since 1965
St. Mark Catholic Church sits on twenty acres along Vale Road in Vienna, Virginia, in the heart of Fairfax County. Founded in May 1965 at the request of Bishop John J. Russell of Richmond, the parish grew out of the changes sweeping the Catholic Church in the years following the Second Vatican Council. Its first pastor, Fr. Robert J. Walsh, gathered 400 families for the inaugural Mass on August 1, 1965, held at James Madison High School while the new church was being built. The parish moved into its own church on the present Vale Road site in August 1968, expanded into a larger sanctuary complex in 1984, and added the Christian Formation Center in 2003. The original church was rededicated as the Monsignor Thomas J. Cassidy Activities Center in honor of the second pastor, who guided the parish through a period of healing and growth.
Six pastors have shaped St. Mark over the decades. After Fr. Walsh and Monsignor Cassidy came Fr. Anthony Justs, Fr. Stewart Culkin, and Fr. Patrick Holroyd, who led the parish into its fiftieth anniversary in 2015 with a fully paid mortgage. The current pastor, Fr. Peter Nassetta, Y.A., joined St. Mark in 2024. The parish's mission statement reads simply: "a Catholic community called by Christ to Worship God, to Invite all with love, to Nurture our faith, and to Serve others." The parish belongs to the Diocese of Arlington and serves Catholics in Vienna, Oakton, Dunn Loring, and the surrounding communities.
Mass, Reconciliation, and Eucharistic Adoration
The weekend schedule centers on Saturday evening and three Sunday morning Masses: Saturday at 5:00 pm, and Sunday at 8:30 am, 10:00 am, and 11:45 am. Daily Mass is offered Monday through Friday at 9:15 am, with additional morning Mass on Friday at 6:15 am, an evening Mass on Monday at 7:30 pm, and a Saturday morning Mass at 8:00 am. The schedule was updated in August 2026 after a parish survey drew responses from more than 500 parishioners, especially families asking for additional Sunday morning options.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is heard on Saturdays from 8:45 to 9:30 am and again from 3:30 to 4:30 pm. During Lent, additional Wednesday evening confessions are scheduled from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Confessions are also available by appointment by calling the parish office. The parish encourages preparation for the sacrament with a published Guide to Confession, examinations of conscience for children and adults, and other resources.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament takes place every Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00 pm, followed by Evening Prayer and Benediction. First Friday Adoration runs from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Two committed adorers are needed at all times during these hours, and the parish invites volunteers to sign up for regular slots.
Sacraments for Children and Adults
St. Mark prepares Catholics of every age to receive the Sacraments of Initiation. Infant Baptism is celebrated communally on Sunday afternoons once a month. Parents complete an initial form, after which the Director of Religious Education, Tiffany Lambert, walks them through preparation, godparent requirements, and scheduling. At least one godparent must be a practicing Catholic at least 16 years old who has received Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist and, if married, is in a marriage recognized by the Church. Any baptized Christian may serve as a Christian Witness alongside a Catholic godparent.
Children ordinarily prepare for First Penance and First Eucharist in second grade, with the Diocese of Arlington requiring two consecutive years of faith formation before reception. First Penance is typically celebrated in December in a communal service, and First Eucharist is celebrated the first weekend of May at the weekend Masses. Confirmation is normally received in eighth grade after two years of preparation that include enrollment in a Religious Education program or Catholic school, a Spirit Team experience, a Confirmation retreat, an interview with Fr. Peter, and a letter written to the pastor.
Adults who have never been baptized, or who were baptized in another Christian tradition, are welcomed through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, known as OCIA. Inquiry sessions are held on Monday evenings from 8:00 to 9:15 pm in the Faith Formation Office and are open to anyone curious about Catholicism. Baptized Catholic adults seeking Confirmation or Eucharist also meet individually with the Director of Religious Education. Confirmation of adults is celebrated at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More each year on Pentecost Sunday.
Couples preparing for marriage are asked to begin at least six months in advance. The parish coordinates Pre-Cana preparation and other requirements of the Diocese of Arlington. Those facing serious illness or surgery may request the Anointing of the Sick by calling the parish office, and the staff maintains a prayer request form for those wishing to submit intentions.
Nine Choirs and a Welcoming Sound
Music is a defining feature of parish life at St. Mark. Under the direction of Nichole Reynolds, the music ministry includes nine choirs that support virtually every Mass in the church. The 5:30 Choir leads the Saturday evening Mass with a mix of contemporary, folk, and traditional Catholic music accompanied by piano, organ, guitar, bass, and a full wind section. The 9:00 Choir sings SATB repertoire from the classical sacred choral tradition at the Sunday morning Mass. The 11:00 Choir offers a contemporary folk sound with strings and percussion. A Youth Choir of students in grades four through twelve leads the 8:30 am Mass, while the St. Mark School Children's Choir supports the weekly school Mass.
Two ensembles gather for special occasions. The Handbell Choir rings on a five-octave set of Schulmerich handbells once a month and at major feasts. The Festival Choir, made up of members of every other choir along with interested parishioners, prepares large choral works by Bach, Handel, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Fauré, and others for the Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols and the liturgies of the Paschal Triduum. The Resurrection Choir, a group of women who sing at funerals and Holy Day Masses, provides a particularly tender ministry of comfort to grieving families. New members are welcomed into every choir.
Liturgical Ministries Beyond the Pews
The worship life of the parish is supported by a deep bench of liturgical volunteers, all coordinated by Nichole Reynolds and the Worship Office. Ushers greet parishioners, distribute song sheets, seat latecomers, take up the collection, and attend to any emergencies during Mass; they serve on a rotating team every other month and wear gray slacks or skirts, white shirts, blue blazers, and red ties or scarves. Lectors proclaim the readings at weekend and Holy Day Masses and at devotionals such as the Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols, the Lenten Stations of the Cross, and Taizé Prayer.
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist the priests at Mass after diocesan training and parish orientation; they must be at least 21, a Catholic in good standing, and comfortable offering the Eucharist both on the tongue and in the hand. Altar Servers, students in fourth grade through high school, carry candles, hold the crucifix, and serve incense at Mass and at special liturgies. Children in kindergarten through sixth grade may attend the Children's Liturgy of the Word during the 8:30 am Sunday Mass in the chapel.
Behind the scenes, Liturgy Coordinators set up the sanctuary for each Mass and recruit last-minute lectors and servers. The Liturgical Art Committee, founded by Monsignor Cassidy, prepares the church environment for Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and Ordinary Time. Liturgy Planners meet twice a year to shape the great seasons of the Church year. The Altar Guild washes and irons the sacred linens. The Candle Team cleans the altar candles of the church and chapel. The Wedding Committee helps two to four couples a year ensure that their wedding day runs smoothly.
Religious Education and SPRED
Faith formation for parish children is organized through the Religious Education office under Tiffany Lambert and Assistant Director Cassie Wujick. Classes meet on Sundays at the Christian Formation Center, with morning sessions from 9:45 to 11:15 am and evening sessions from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. Students in PreK 4 and Kindergarten attend morning classes only; grades one through six may choose either morning or evening sessions; and grades seven and eight meet in the evening in preparation for Confirmation. High school students preparing for Confirmation meet one to two Sunday afternoons per month over the course of a school year. A self-paced online curriculum is also available for grades three through six.
Special Religious Development, known as SPRED, is a separate track within Religious Education for children with developmental disabilities. Fully endorsed by the Diocese of Arlington, SPRED serves students in grades one through five through twelve morning Sunday sessions and a small group model that emphasizes belonging and participation in the faith community. The program is supported by trained catechists who accompany each child throughout the year.
The Religious Education program depends on volunteer catechists. The parish notes that a minimum of one adult catechist and five students are required for any in-person class to proceed, and a yearly Catechist Inservice gathers all teachers for training before the start of classes.
Youth Ministry, WorkCamp, and Steubenville
Middle School and High School Youth Ministry at St. Mark is led by Director of Youth Ministry Jamie Cross and Faith Formation Associate Chris Roy. Programs are open to teens in grades six through twelve and include regular gatherings, Bible studies, retreats, service projects, and trips. The ministry's Instagram account, @saintmarkyouthministry, posts updates on upcoming events.
Each summer, the parish sends groups to two major youth events. Middle School WorkCamp is a week-long day camp held at St. Mark from 9 am to 5 pm, during which campers serve at worksites around the community on projects such as mulching, painting, food collection, and building bookshelves and garden benches for community centers and parishioners. High School WorkCamp, organized each June by the Diocese of Arlington, places students in Shenandoah County for a week of home repair projects, intentional Christian community, and prayer; registration begins in the fall and is capped, so early sign-ups are encouraged. Both programs require adult leaders who have completed diocesan child protection compliance.
The parish also travels together to the Steubenville Conference, a three-day Catholic youth conference held at Franciscan University of Ohio each July. Students from rising ninth graders through high school seniors ride together, stay in dorms, attend daily Mass, and experience adoration, confession, and fellowship with thousands of other young Catholics from across North America. Other annual events include a Ski Trip to Bryce Resort on Presidents' Day, a Kings Dominion Day with the diocese, BASH for middle schoolers at Bishop O'Connell High School, and RALLY for high schoolers at the same venue.
CYO Sports and Scouting
Athletics and outdoor adventure form another layer of parish life. St. Mark fields teams in the Northern Virginia Junior Catholic Youth Organization, known as CYO, through the Diocese of Arlington. Programs are open to students in grades three through eight who are enrolled in Religious Education or at St. Mark Catholic School. Sports include basketball, volleyball, tennis, cross country, track and field, and cheer. Practices are held on parish grounds or at nearby schools, and games are played in gyms throughout the diocese. All coaches and parent volunteers must complete the diocesan child protection requirements.
St. Mark also sponsors Scouts. Troop 1978, with separate troops for boys and girls, meets at 7:30 pm on Tuesday evenings and is open to Scouts from age eleven through eighteen. The troop participates in summer camp, hikes, backpacking, canoeing, rock climbing, and service projects that benefit the parish, the school, and the Town of Vienna. Cub Scout Pack 1978 welcomes children from kindergarten through fifth grade for den and pack meetings, fall and spring campouts, and the annual Pinewood Derby. Girl Scout troops are also active in the parish for girls in kindergarten through eighth grade and beyond.
Adult Faith Formation and Small Communities
Adult Faith Formation at St. Mark offers a wide menu of ongoing groups. Monday evenings feature a gathering that includes a potluck dinner, a presentation, and small group discussion; the current series is Alpha in a Catholic context. Small Communities of Faith meet in homes or on Zoom most days of the week, with some formed especially for Advent and Lent. An online Bible study on the Acts of the Apostles meets on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings via Zoom, and an Online Book Club gathers on the second Thursday of each month.
Other ongoing groups include the Men's Group, the Moms of St. Mark, the virtual Rosary Prayer Group, and Le Cercle Français, a conversational French group that meets Tuesday mornings. The Creation Care Team reflects on Pope Francis's encyclical Laudato Si' and maintains the parish's Mary Garden, a certified St. Kateri Habitat. Christians in Commerce, a chapter for working men and women, meets on Wednesday mornings on Zoom for prayer, teaching, and fellowship.
The parish is a subscriber site for FORMED, the Catholic streaming platform that provides thousands of movies, audio talks, books, and study programs to parishioners free of charge. FORMED is accessible on any internet-connected device through the parish's subscription.
Becoming Catholic and the OCIA
Adults interested in becoming Catholic begin with Inquiry, an open series of Monday evening sessions that introduces the Catholic faith and answers questions. Those who wish to continue enter OCIA, a gradual process of formation that includes the study of Scripture and Church teaching, participation in the prayer and rituals of the Catholic Church, and formation in a specific parish community. Reception of the Sacraments of Initiation is determined individually and celebrated at the Easter Vigil for those ready. Baptized Catholics who have not received Confirmation or Eucharist also meet individually with Tiffany Lambert to prepare for those sacraments.
Service to the Wider Community
St. Mark has built an extensive network of service ministries that reach far beyond the parish grounds. The Christ House team provides a hot, nutritious lunch to homeless men in need of health care in Washington, D.C., on the third Sunday of every month. The Gift of Peace ministry delivers a monthly lunch to the Embry Rucker Homeless Shelter in Reston on the first Thursday of the month. The Hypothermia Shelter ministry partners with FACETS to provide food and overnight companionship to homeless adults during the coldest months. The Facets Hot Meals team prepares 130 meals six times a year for distribution in Fairfax. The Lamb Center in Fairfax is supported by volunteers who serve breakfast and lunch and welcome guests.
The parish's English as a Second Language program, known as ESL, is one of the largest volunteer ministries at St. Mark. Classes meet on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in the Christian Formation Center and serve adult learners from more than thirty countries and five continents. Optional conversation, writing, and citizenship preparation classes supplement the core English curriculum, and students may also receive individualized tutoring for the naturalization interview. The program depends on volunteers, many of whom commit one evening a week to teach or assist.
Other service ministries include the Christmas Giving Tree, an annual collection of gifts for the disadvantaged; the Thanksgiving Clothing Drive, which supports charities throughout the Washington area; the Matthew 25 Program, which collects food and goods for local charities year-round; and the Respect-Life Committee, which organizes spiritual adoption, the parish trip to the March for Life, and other pro-life activities. Social Action Linking Together, or SALT, mobilizes parishioners to advocate for legislation that aids low-income families, the incarcerated, the homeless, and the working poor. The Shepherd Center of Oakton, supported by St. Mark, provides transportation and other services to neighbors in need in the Vienna, Oakton, and Dunn Loring area.
St. Mark Catholic School
St. Mark Catholic School shares the parish campus and is a cornerstone of parish life. Under Principal Kimberly Parker and Assistant Principal Cathy Wright, the school serves students in preschool through eighth grade and integrates Catholic faith, academic excellence, and service. Weekly school Masses are held in the parish church, supported by the St. Mark School Children's Choir. The school and parish together welcomed families back in August 2026 with a Welcome Back Day that introduced parents to volunteer opportunities in both the school and parish ministries.
A Three-Year Parish Strategic Plan
In 2026, the parish launched a three-year Strategic Plan organized around three priorities: Build One Parish Family, Improve Discipleship and Faith Formation, and Increase Fellowship and Hospitality. The plan emerged from a parish survey that drew more than 700 individual responses, more than twice the participation the Catholic Leadership Institute typically expects. Priority teams are working on initiatives that include a renewed Pastoral Council, a two-year partnership with the Hallow prayer app launching in October, a parish-wide rollout of Trinity House family formation, and an increased presence at community events such as Viva! Vienna. Father Peter has met with architects about longer-term beautification of the sanctuary and has established a Renovation Committee to gather smaller improvement ideas. A Security Committee is also at work on access control, camera coverage, and other enhancements to campus safety.
Stewardship and Giving
The parish describes stewardship as "an act of faith" and asks parishioners to share their time, talent, and treasure. Online giving is available through ParishSOFT Giving, with options for one-time and recurring gifts and the ability to donate using a bank account, credit card, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. Weekly envelopes are mailed to registered parishioners. The parish also accepts direct grants, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, donor-advised fund gifts, stock and non-cash gifts, and employer matching gifts. A Tithing Allocation Committee, currently paused, advises the pastor on grants to outside charitable, evangelization, and education organizations, with a preference for Catholic organizations.
Facilities, Grounds, and Community Events
The parish facilities include the church and sanctuary complex, the Christian Formation Center, the Monsignor Thomas J. Cassidy Activities Center, the parish offices, the school, and the gymnasium. Recent improvements include new volleyball equipment in the gym and upgraded sound, lighting, and acoustics in the gym stage and the Cassidy Activities Center. A walking path across a previously muddy section of the grounds was completed by parishioner volunteers. A new sign on Vale Road marks the parish entrance, and ongoing improvements to campus signage and landscaping continue.
Community life at St. Mark is sustained by a steady rhythm of events. Donut Sunday in the Cassidy Activities Center, parish breakfasts, spaghetti dinners, monthly movie nights with ice cream for families and wine-and-cheese films for adults, and Lenten soup suppers before Stations of the Cross provide opportunities for fellowship. Funeral receptions hosted in the Activities Center are prepared by a dedicated team of volunteers. Small groups meet in members' homes. The Moms of St. Mark host gatherings on designated Saturday mornings, and the parish breakfast on the last Sunday of October is a regular tradition.
Getting to St. Mark
St. Mark Catholic Church is located at 9970 Vale Road, Vienna, Virginia 22181. From the Capital Beltway, drivers take Interstate 66 West to the first Vienna exit, follow Route 243 North (Nutley Street) to Malcolm Road, turn left onto Malcolm, and continue as it becomes Vale Road past the town limits; the church is on the right. From Interstate 66 West toward Front Royal, drivers take the Route 123 exit toward Vienna and Oakton, proceed to Hunter Mill Road, turn left and continue about two miles, then turn right onto Vale Road; the church is on the left.
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed at any Mass. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The parish registration form is available online, and staff are glad to assist anyone wishing to register in person. Pastoral care, including visits to the sick and homebound through the Pastoral Assistants Care Team, and bereavement support through the joint Grief Support Group with Our Lady of Good Counsel, are available to all parishioners.