Virginia's First Catholic Parish, Now a Basilica
At the corner of South Royal and Duke Streets in Old Town Alexandria stands the Basilica of Saint Mary, a Roman Catholic parish with roots that reach back to the last decade of the eighteenth century. Founded in 1795, it holds the distinction of being the first Catholic parish in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a status the parish itself describes as that of an "eldest daughter" of the Church in the region. On January 14, 2018, Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington announced that Saint Mary Catholic Church had been granted the title of minor basilica, making it the first basilica in Northern Virginia, the first in the diocese, and the eighty-fourth in the United States.
The parish takes its Latin motto from its basilica identity: Cum Petro Ad Jesum Per Mariam - With Peter to Jesus Through Mary. Its mission statement describes a community of Roman Catholics united in worshipping God through the celebration of the Eucharist, forming a loving and welcoming community anchored in the truth of Catholic teaching and faithful to the Holy Father. With more than fifty apostolate groups and hundreds of parishioners volunteering throughout the wider community, the parish continues to play a central role in the Catholic life of Alexandria and Northern Virginia.
A History That Begins with George Washington
The story of the parish begins before 1795. In 1781, a Catholic chaplain serving French soldiers in the army commanded by Marshal Rochambeau offered the first recorded Holy Mass in Alexandria City. After the French departed Virginia in 1782, the need for a permanent place for Catholics to worship became pressing. On March 17, 1788, Colonel John Fitzgerald, former aide-de-camp to General Washington and a prominent Alexandrian, hosted a dinner in his home to raise building funds for what would become the first Catholic parish in Virginia. Verified documentation from the period shows that General George Washington himself made a contribution to that fund. Thornton Alexander and Colonel Robert T. Hooe donated land at Church and South Washington Streets, just outside the Alexandria city limits at the time, and the cornerstone of the first brick structure known as the Church of Saint Mary was laid in 1795 under the guidance of the Very Reverend Francis Ignatius Neale, S.J., then president of Georgetown College and pastor of Holy Trinity Church. That land remains today the site of Saint Mary's Cemetery, the first Catholic cemetery in Virginia.
In 1810, the parish moved closer to the center of Alexandria, and by 1826 Pastor Father Joseph W. Fairclough had erected the sanctuary and the major portion of the present-day church at 310 South Royal Street. The building was formally dedicated in 1827. Throughout the nineteenth century, Saint Mary's planted mission churches across Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia; many of those missions grew into independent parishes within the Diocese of Richmond, the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, and later the Diocese of Arlington, which now numbers more than seventy parishes.
Mass Times for Visitors and Regulars
The parish gathers for Mass six days a week, with a full Sunday schedule that includes a Mass specifically for children. Sunday Masses are offered at 7:00 a.m., 8:30 a.m. (the Saint Nicholas Children's Mass, in which youth serve as lectors, gift bearers, and singers, and where the homily is geared toward children), 10:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, 1:30 p.m., and 5:00 p.m. The Saturday Vigil Mass is celebrated at 5:00 p.m., preceded by an 8:30 a.m. daily Mass.
On weekdays, Mass is offered three times: Monday through Friday at 6:30 a.m., 8:00 a.m., and 12:10 p.m. The 12:10 p.m. weekday Mass, the Saturday 8:30 a.m. Mass, and the Sunday 10:00 a.m. Mass are livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person. The 10:00 a.m. Sunday Mass is the only Sunday liturgy that is livestreamed. Visitors can find the links on the parish's Vimeo page.
Confession, Adoration, and Devotions
The Sacrament of Confession is offered Monday through Friday after the 12:10 p.m. Mass (generally around 12:45 p.m.), on Wednesdays from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., and on Saturdays from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. and again from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Priests are also available by appointment through the parish office.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is a regular part of parish life. Morning adoration runs Monday through Friday from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m., followed by the 8:00 a.m. Mass. Wednesday afternoons bring an extended holy hour from 12:45 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., concluding with a Holy Half Hour and Benediction from 7:30 to 8:00 p.m.; confessions are heard during the evening portion. On the first Friday of each month, the Nocturnal Adoration Society keeps watch from 9:00 p.m. Friday through 8:20 a.m. Saturday.
The Rosary is prayed Monday through Friday before the 8:00 a.m. Mass and on Saturdays before the 8:30 a.m. Mass. After the 5:00 p.m. Mass on the third and fifth Sundays of each month, parishioners gather to pray the Rosary together. On the first Saturday of every month, the parish observes the Communal First Saturdays devotion: Eucharistic adoration with a guided meditation on a mystery of the Rosary at 8:00 a.m., Mass at 8:30 a.m., and confessions and a Rosary at 9:00 a.m.
The Sacraments
The parish centers its liturgical life on the seven sacraments. Infant baptisms are celebrated every Sunday at 2:45 p.m. Parents baptizing a child for the first time must attend a preparation class held on the first Monday of every month at 7:00 p.m. in the Lyceum; the parish also requires a copy of the child's birth certificate and active parish registration. Older children and adults seeking baptism work with the Director of Religious Education.
First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion are prepared through the parish's Catechism/CCD program or the Basilica School of Saint Mary. Confirmation is normally received in eighth grade, with a two-year formal preparation period using materials from Word of Life, Chosen, and the Faith and Life series. Adults who have not yet been confirmed may take part in an Adult Confirmation Crash Course that meets in April and May, culminating with the Bishop's celebration of the rite. Those interested in becoming Catholic are accompanied through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), formerly known as RCIA.
Couples preparing for marriage begin with a six-month formation process that includes three meetings with an assigned parish priest, six formation seminars, and mentorship with a Catholic married couple. The parish's marriage preparation program is called Prepare to Serve. Couples living together before marriage are asked to live separately during the preparation period. The parish also offers convalidation for those civilly married who wish to have their marriage blessed in the Church. Because of the large number of weddings requested, only registered parishioners (or those whose parents are parishioners) in good standing may reserve the Basilica for a wedding.
The Anointing of the Sick is available by contacting a priest through the parish office. Funerals are coordinated through the parish, with bereavement receptions hosted in the Lyceum by the Bereavement Committee.
Religious Education for Children and Adults
Children who do not attend the Basilica School receive faith formation through the parish's Catechism/CCD program, with weekly classes and dedicated preparation for First Communion, Confirmation, and Reconciliation. For families of children with developmental disabilities such as Down syndrome, autism, or learning disabilities, the parish hosts the Special Religious Education Development (SPRED) program, which welcomes children ages six through thirteen for twelve Tuesday-evening lessons during the school year. Volunteer adults, called "friends," share in catechesis and joyful activities with the children. The parish also runs Vacation Bible School each summer; the 2026 program is themed "Marvelous Mystery: The Mass Comes Alive!" and runs Monday through Friday mornings for rising kindergartners through fifth graders, with a counselor-in-training track for middle and high school students.
For adults, the parish offers regular Adult Faith Formation talks by priests and guest speakers, free of charge and open to all regardless of religious affiliation. The Our Lady of Wisdom Women's Bible Study meets every Wednesday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Saint Joseph Room at the Lyceum. The Walking with Purpose program offers a Catholic women's Bible study with a more personal bent. Walking with Purpose holds an open house in early autumn. Men gather for That Man is You!, an apostolate devoted to men's spiritual formation. A Vocations Crucifix Program invites parishioners to take home a crucifix and pray for an increase in vocations.
The Basilica School of Saint Mary
Founded in 1869, the Basilica School of Saint Mary is the largest elementary school in the Diocese of Arlington, with a current enrollment exceeding seven hundred students. Located at 400 Green Street, the parish school is staffed by a principal and supported by an Annual Fund and Alumni Relations Office. The Mater Dei School Program Fund supports tuition assistance, and a Mary Lead Us Campaign helps fund capital and programmatic needs. The school is accredited by the diocese and shares the parish's commitment to the formation of young people in the Catholic faith.
Music at the Basilica
The Director of Music, David Elliott, oversees a program that ranges from Gregorian chant to modern compositions. The Basilica Schola Cantorum sings the parish's liturgical music, and seasonal ensembles support the church's liturgical calendar. The Saint Gregory the Great Children's Choir School offers a four-year program of comprehensive musical training for Catholic boys and girls ages eight through twelve, using the curriculum of the Royal College of Music in Toronto. Children need not be parishioners or enrolled at the Basilica School to participate; classes meet twice a week, and students take an increasing role in the parish's liturgical life as they progress. The Basilica Concert Guild supports sacred music performance through concerts and other events. A printed parish history book, rosaries made for the parish, and floral contributions to the sanctuary are available as additional ways to support the church.
Youth, Young Adults, and Young Families
The Office of Youth, Young Adults, and Young Families oversees a wide range of ministries from kindergarten through young family life. The Director of Ministries to the Youth, Young Adults, and Young Families, Mariane Staron, and the Coordinator of Youth Ministry, Flanagan Anderson, lead the staff team, supported by a program assistant.
Elementary and family opportunities include CYO sports for grades one through eight, American Heritage Girls for kindergarten through twelfth grade, Junior Legion of Mary for grades two through twelve, and Altar Servers for boys in fifth grade and above.
Middle schoolers (grades six through eight) gather for monthly F3: Faith, Fun, and Friends nights with games, music, prayer, and fellowship. Girls in grades seven and eight join Blaze for Bible study and discipleship; boys in grades six through eight meet as the Saint Dominic Savio Society for prayer, fraternity, and service. Junior Catholic Daughters is open to girls in grades six through eight. The annual Diocesan BASH brings middle schoolers from across the diocese together.
High schoolers (grades nine through twelve) take part in Behold, a monthly gathering for prayer, formation, fellowship, and small groups. Boys and girls each have their own weekly small groups: the High School Boys' Group meets Wednesdays from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Casa Frassati (307 S. Royal St.), and the High School Girls' Group meets Wednesdays from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Casa Maria (309 S. Royal St.). Both groups use the diocesan Journey to Emmaus formation curriculum. High schoolers can also attend the annual Diocesan WorkCamp for a week of service projects, the Steubenville Youth Conference for a summer weekend of worship and formation, and the Diocesan Rally. A Youth Leadership Program invites tenth through twelfth graders to plan and run middle school events.
Young adults ages twenty-one through thirty-nine, whether single, engaged, married, with children, or new to the area, are accompanied through prayer, fellowship, service, and formation. Catholic Sports, a nationally growing recreational sports outreach for young adults ages eighteen to thirty-nine, partners with the Basilica to organize leagues and social events in Northern Virginia. F3, the men's fitness, fellowship, and faith group, meets Saturdays at 5:00 a.m. in front of the Basilica for a peer-led workout in a nearby park, ending in prayer.
Engaged couples find their place in Prepare to Serve, the parish's marriage formation program. Married couples and families are supported through Marriage and Family Life, which offers formation, retreats, workshops, mentoring, meal trains, and special group connections. Date Night at the Basilica offers evenings for couples to step away together. The Santa Familia group supports families in their faith. Trinity House is among the resources for young adults and young families. Praying College Moms keeps mothers of college-aged children connected in prayer.
Fellowship Groups and Other Apostolates
Beyond the youth-focused ministries, the parish hosts a wide array of fellowship and formation groups. The Ancient Order of Hibernians gathers those of Irish heritage. Catholic Friends offers community for adults. Catholic Daughters of the Americas, with a Junior Catholic Daughters counterpart for girls in grades six through eight, brings women together for service and prayer. Knights of Columbus Council #459 supports the parish through service projects and prayer. The Moms' Book Club and the Saint Mary's Play Group (which meets on Monday mornings at area playgrounds for parents and caregivers of infants and small children) provide connection for mothers. The Saints Anne and Joachim Society (the parish's seniors' group, open to all fifty-five and older) plans excursions, luncheons, and seminars throughout the year. Trail Life Troop VA-2311 offers outdoor adventure and character formation for boys.
The Legion of Mary and the Junior Legion of Mary (grades two through twelve) foster devotion to Our Lady through prayer and service. The Secular Franciscan Order gathers those called to live the Franciscan charism in lay life. The Luminaries of Holy Mary, a Fatima prayer group, meets on the third Saturday of every month, attending the 8:30 a.m. Mass, praying the Rosary, and gathering in the Lyceum for study and reflection on the messages of Fatima. The Eucharistic Apostles of Divine Mercy support devotion to the Divine Mercy. The Saint Katharine Drexel Society hosts a monthly Holy Half Hour with prayer and reflection. The Institute for Faith and Public Culture engages the parish in conversations at the intersection of faith and civic life.
Service to the Wider Community
The parish's service apostolates reach far beyond the church walls. ALIVE! (Alexandrians Involved Ecumenically), a nonprofit of more than forty religious congregations and community volunteers, was founded in 1969 with St. Mary's as one of its founding congregations. ALIVE! provides shelter, low-cost early childhood education and childcare, financial help for rent and utilities, emergency food, and deliveries of donated furniture and housewares; it is the largest private safety net for those in need in the City of Alexandria.
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul offers direct assistance to neighbors in need. The Gabriel Project supports pregnant women and their families. Project Rachel provides post-abortion healing and counseling. The parish partners with Senior Services of Alexandria to support programs including Meals on Wheels, Groceries to Go, transportation for disabled residents, the AniMeals on Wheels pet food program, the Friendly Visitor Program, and the Silver Service Card. Parishioners volunteer at Carpenter's Shelter for the homeless, serve dinners at Christ House, visit inmates through the Jail Ministry, bring Communion to the homebound through Shut-In Visitation, and visit residents at Sunrise Retirement Home weekly and Woodbine Rehabilitation Center on the first Friday of each month. The parish also supports Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington.
Worship and Liturgical Ministries
The Basilica Rosary Society promotes devotion to Our Lady through the regular praying of the Rosary. Lectors proclaim the Scripture readings at Mass. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist the priests in distributing Communion, including to the homebound and to those in local care facilities. Ushers and the Sanctuary Society assist with the order and beauty of liturgies. Sacristans prepare the altar and the sacred vessels. Altar Servers (boys in fifth grade and above) assist at weekly Masses, funerals, weddings, feast days, and other special liturgical events; the parish offers regular training sessions for new servers.
The Building, the Cemetery, and the Basilica Museum
The present-day church at 310 South Royal Street, erected in 1826 and dedicated in 1827, anchors a campus that includes Saint Mary's Lyceum at 313 Duke Street (the parish offices), the Rectory at 310 Duke Street, the Fr. Rankin House at 314 Duke Street, the Youth and Young Adult's Office at 309 South Royal Street, and the Religious Education Office at 307 South Royal Street (Casa Frassati). Casa Maria, at 309 South Royal Street, hosts the High School Girls' Group.
Three parking lots serve the parish: on South Pitt Street between Duke and Wolfe Streets, on the corner of Duke and South Fairfax Streets, and on the corner of South Royal and Wolfe Streets. The church is open Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Sunday from 6:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Saint Mary's Cemetery, the first Catholic cemetery in Virginia, sits at 1000 South Royal Street and is the final resting place of many of the early Catholic families of Alexandria, including some connected to George Washington and Colonel Fitzgerald. The Queen of Heaven Columbarium is located on the same grounds. A Basilica Museum on the campus preserves the artifacts and history of the parish.
The Basilica offers public tours on the fourth Monday of every month at 6:00 p.m., meeting outside the front entrance and lasting about thirty minutes; private group tours can be scheduled by calling the parish office. Plenary Indulgence Days are observed in keeping with the parish's basilica status.
Giving, Stewardship, and Support
The parish supports its mission through a Sunday Offertory and a number of additional giving programs. Online giving is available through Faith Direct, with options for general parish giving, the Mary Lead Us Campaign, and other designated funds. Donations by mail can be sent to 313 Duke Street. The parish also accepts bequests and planned gifts through the Basilica's planned giving portal, as well as workplace giving and matching gifts. Floral contributions can be designated for the sanctuary. The Basilica Rosary Society sells parish-made rosaries, with proceeds supporting the church.
The Basilica Preservation Fund supports the ongoing care of the historic church building. The Mater Dei School Program Fund supports tuition assistance at the Basilica School. The school also runs its own Annual Fund and the Mary Lead Us Campaign.
Clergy and Staff
The Very Reverend Edward Hathaway serves as Rector of the Basilica. He is assisted by three Parochial Vicars: Rev. Jason Burchell, Rev. John Meyerhofer, and Rev. James Searby, with Rev. Christopher Tipton serving as Priest-in-Residence. The Basilica School is led by Principal Robert Loia. Susan Gray Sheehan is the Director of Religious Education, assisted by Yunchong (Clare) Boyle as Assistant Director. David Elliott is the Director of Music. Mariane Staron directs ministries to youth, young adults, and young families, including the marriage formation program. Carlos Briceño is the Director of Communications and Evangelization. John Harchick directs Saint Mary's Cemetery. Anne Mathis is the Chief Stewardship Officer, and Jackie Riordan is the Sacramental Coordinator.
Joining the Parish
New parishioners are welcome to register with the parish office at 313 Duke Street. A weekly Flocknote newsletter shares news, events, and formation opportunities; a separate Flocknote is available for the Youth Apostolate, with editions for middle school and high school. The parish maintains an active presence on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and Vimeo, where homilies, formation talks, and livestreamed Masses can be found. The Basilica Podcasts, hosted through Libsyn, feature homilies, formation talks, and interviews with parish leaders. FORMED, a Catholic media platform, is available to parishioners through the parish's subscription.
Office hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed on federal holidays. The parish office can be reached at (703) 836-4100, with fax at (703) 549-3605. The school office can be reached at (703) 549-1646.