About Fort Belvoir Catholic Community (St. Martin of Tours) · Fort Belvoir, Virginia
Fort Belvoir Catholic Community, formally styled St. Martin of Tours, is the Roman Catholic congregation serving the U.S. Army installation of Fort Belvoir in Fairfax County, Virginia. Because it is a military parish, it is staffed and pastorally served under the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), in coordination with the U.S. Army Garrison's Religious Support Office (RSO). Worship is offered across three on-post chapels — Woodlawn Chapel, Belvoir Chapel, and Fairfax Chapel — with daily Mass, a Saturday Vigil, multiple Sunday Masses (including a Spanish Mass), and a full sacramental and faith-formation program for service members, families, retirees, and authorized civilians.
- Patron
- St. Martin of Tours
- Rector
- Fr. Michael P. Lindsay (Installation Catholic Chaplain, Fort Belvoir RSO)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS); pastoral collaboration with the Diocese of Arlington
Why belong here
Fort Belvoir Catholic Community is the parish home for the Army families, service members, retirees, and DoD civilians who live and work on post. Across three chapels it offers a daily and weekend Mass schedule, a Spanish Mass, weekly Confession, monthly Adoration, the Miraculous Medal Novena, and a daily Rosary — a rhythm of prayer that fits a mobile military life. It also runs the faith-formation (CCD/Religious Education), RCIA, Catholic Women of the Chapel (CWOC), Catholic Men of the Chapel (CMOC), Knights of Columbus, and a Catholic youth ministry, so newcomers can plug into a community wherever they are in their faith journey.
Mass times at Fort Belvoir Catholic Community (St. Martin of Tours)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM (15:15–15:45) — Woodlawn Chapel
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM (16:00–16:45) — Woodlawn Chapel
- By appointment — call Catholic Coordinator 703-806-5745
Adoration times
- First Friday of every month, 9:00 AM – 11:45 AM — Woodlawn Chapel
Religious Education & Sacramental Preparation
Faith formation for children and adults meets Sunday 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM, covering Preschool through Adult, and is directed by Sister Michael Bochnowski, SSC, PhD, the Garrison Director of Religious Education (office at 5950 12th Street, Suite 101; phone 703-806-3418). RCIA is offered for adults preparing for initiation into the Catholic Church, and Catholic Youth Ministry gathers monthly. The annual Vacation Bible School is a major community event and typically recruits volunteers for the following summer.
- Religious Education (CCD) — Sundays 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM
- RCIA for adult initiation
- Catholic Youth Ministry — monthly
- Sister Michael Bochnowski, SSC, PhD — Garrison DRE
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Catholic Men of the Chapel (CMOC) and Catholic Women of the Chapel (CWOC) provide fellowship and formation for adults; CWOC meets Wednesdays 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM at Woodlawn Chapel. The Knights of Columbus Fort Belvoir Council 11170 meets the 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 7:30 PM at Belvoir Chapel and is active in Honor Guard, Memorial Masses, and parish events. Bible Studies and Divine Mercy devotions round out the parish's spiritual offerings.
- Catholic Women of the Chapel (CWOC) — Wednesdays 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM
- Catholic Men of the Chapel (CMOC)
- Knights of Columbus Council 11170 — 2nd & 4th Thursdays, 7:30 PM
- Bible Studies
- Divine Mercy devotion group
Baptism
Baptisms are scheduled through the Catholic Coordinator at 703-806-5745. Pre-registration is required. A preparation class for parents and godparents is held on the first Saturday of each month, and baptisms themselves are celebrated on the fourth Sunday of each month after the 9:15 AM Mass.
- Class for parents & godparents — first Saturday of the month
- Celebration — fourth Sunday of the month, after 9:15 AM Mass
- Contact: Catholic Coordinator, 703-806-5745
Marriage
Couples preparing for marriage are asked to make an appointment with the Catholic Coordinator at least nine months before their projected wedding date; sacramental celebration of marriage is coordinated one year prior. The parish offers Marriage Preparation Classes, and the Knights of Columbus Honor Guard has historically participated in wedding liturgies and Memorial Masses at Fort Belvoir.
- Initial appointment — 9+ months before wedding
- Sacrament date coordination — 1 year prior
- Marriage Preparation Classes available
Family Life & Counseling
The Fort Belvoir Chaplain Family Life Ministry, located in Room 22 of Woodlawn Chapel (8820 Wright Road), offers competent, compassionate, and confidential counseling and pastoral psychotherapy for individuals, couples, and families from the military community. Appointments are scheduled through the Family Life Center.
- Location: Room 22, Woodlawn Chapel, 8820 Wright Road
- Phone: 571-459-5543
- Open to service members, families, retirees, and DoD civilians
Religious Support Office (RSO)
The Religious Support Office at Fort Belvoir exists to provide comprehensive religious support for the spiritual and moral needs of service members, families, retirees, and authorized civilians. The Catholic ministry within the RSO is led by the Installation Catholic Chaplain and coordinated with the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS) and the Diocese of Arlington. The RSO can be reached at 571-266-2086 for general Catholic-program information.
- Installation Catholic Chaplain — Fr. Michael P. Lindsay
- RSO information line — 571-266-2086
- Connected to AMS and the Diocese of Arlington