About Our Lady of Angels · Woodbridge, Virginia
Our Lady of Angels is a large Roman Catholic parish in Woodbridge, Virginia, in the Diocese of Arlington. Founded in 1956 as a mission of All Saints Catholic Church in Manassas and formally established as its own parish in 1959, it now counts roughly 15,400 registered parishioners and is one of the biggest parishes in the diocese. Since June 2020 the parish has been entrusted to the Disciples of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary (DCJM), a Spanish religious institute whose charism focuses on family life, the sacraments, and spiritual formation. Our Lady of Angels is bilingual (English and Spanish), maintains a 24/7 Perpetual Adoration Chapel, hosts a regional Catholic school, and continues a Stigmatine-rooted tradition of weekly Mass, daily Confession, and outreach to the surrounding Prince William County community.
- Established
- 1956 (mission); 1959 (formally declared a parish)
- Patron
- Our Lady of Angels
- Rector
- Fr. Álvaro Montero, DCJM
- Diocese
- Diocese of Arlington
Why belong here
Our Lady of Angels is a thriving, bilingual parish where daily Confession and perpetual Eucharistic Adoration are simply part of the rhythm of the week. Families find a particular welcome: the Disciples of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary see themselves as 'priests for the family,' and the parish offers dedicated groups for young adults, mothers, youth (Spanish-language youth ministry included), and Catholic men and women, plus a vibrant faith-formation program and the on-site Saint Thomas Aquinas Regional School (Pre-K–8). With four Spanish Masses every Sunday, a thriving Saint Vincent de Paul food pantry, the Year of Saint John Paul II celebrations, and an extraordinary 24/7 adoration chapel on site, the parish offers both the depth of devotions one would expect of a historic Catholic community and the cultural warmth that comes from being one of the largest and most diverse parishes in the Diocese of Arlington.
Mass times at Our Lady of Angels
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:30 AM
- Monday–Friday: 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
- Monday–Friday: 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM
- Monday–Friday: 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM
- Thursday evening (before 7 PM Spanish Mass): 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM
- Friday: 6:30 PM (until the last person, no later than 5:00 PM cumulative)
- Saturday: 3:30 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM and 11:45 AM
- By appointment — email [email protected] or call the parish office
- Note: Confessions end at the start of each Mass. The parish office is closed (and 6:30 AM Mass and confessions are cancelled) on federal holidays.
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the original 1958 chapel (parishioners are invited to commit to one weekly hour).
- Thursday evening Spanish Mass is preceded by a Holy Hour.
History of Our Lady of Angels
Our Lady of Angels began in 1956 as a mission of All Saints Catholic Church in Manassas, when Stigmatine pastor Fr. George Ecker celebrated the first Mass in the Occoquan School auditorium for 66 Catholics. A small wooden chapel was dedicated on October 27, 1958, and on September 26, 1959 the parish was formally established with Fr. James Shea, CSS, as its first resident pastor. Spanish-speaking ministry began in 1982, the current church was built in 1985, Perpetual Adoration began in 1996, the Stigmatine handed the parish back to the Diocese in 1994, and in June 2020 Bishop Burbidge entrusted the parish to the Disciples of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
- 1956 — first Mass at Occoquan School (Fr. George Ecker, CSS); 66 Catholics
- October 27, 1958 — chapel dedicated (now the Adoration Chapel)
- September 26, 1959 — parish formally declared; Fr. James Shea, first pastor
- 1970 — Holy Family Parish (Dale City) carved out
- 1976 — Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish (Lake Ridge) carved out
- 1977 — Saint Thomas Aquinas Regional School founded on parish grounds
- 1982 — first Spanish-language Masses
- 1985 — current church building dedicated
- 1994 — Stigmatine withdraw; diocesan priests take over
- 1996 — Perpetual Adoration begins in the original chapel
- June 25, 2020 — Disciples of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary (DCJM) assume pastoral care
Parish Life & Clergy
Since June 25, 2020 the parish has been staffed by the Disciples of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary (DCJM), a religious institute based in Spain whose mission is to strengthen family life through the sacraments and spiritual formation. Fr. Álvaro Montero, DCJM, serves as pastor with three parochial vicars (Frs. Juan Espino, Armando Marsal, and Leopoldo Vives) and Fr. Ignacio de Ribera, DCJM, the community's local superior, in residence. The community consecrated the parish to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, installed a Holy Family statue at the entrance during the Year of Saint Joseph, and led a parish Year of Saint John Paul II.
- Pastor: Fr. Álvaro Montero, DCJM (since 2020)
- Parochial Vicars: Fr. Juan Espino, DCJM; Fr. Armando Marsal, DCJM; Fr. Leopoldo Vives, DCJM
- In Residence: Fr. Ignacio de Ribera, DCJM
- Charism: 'priests for the family'; sacramentally-oriented; strengthens sonship, brotherhood, spousal love, parenthood
Sacraments
All seven sacraments are celebrated regularly at Our Lady of Angels, with both English and Spanish preparation tracks. Baptisms require a Baptismal Questionnaire and a preparation class; First Communion, First Penance, and Confirmation are coordinated through the Religious Education Office. Marriage preparation begins at least six months in advance. RCIA / RICA is offered for adults seeking initiation. The parish also celebrates Quinceañeras (a devotion rather than a sacrament) and offers priestly discernment conversations with Fr. Montero.
- Baptism (English & Spanish)
- First Holy Communion / Primera Comunión
- First Penance
- Confirmation (youth and adult)
- RCIA / RICA (adult initiation)
- Marriage (6-month preparation)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders discernment
- Quinceañera celebrations
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at Our Lady of Angels is bilingual and parish-wide. The Religious Education Office (703-494-3696) coordinates children's catechesis, sacramental preparation (First Penance, First Communion, Confirmation), and adult initiation via RCIA / RICA. Youth Ministry serves teens, and a dedicated Spanish Youth Group is led by Fr. Armando Marsal, DCJM, alongside weekly formation talks in Spanish. The parish also supports small faith-sharing 'Communities of Faith'.
- Catequesis in English and Spanish
- RCIA / RICA (year-round inquiry)
- Sacramental prep for children (Penance, Eucharist, Confirmation)
- Youth Ministry (middle and high school)
- Spanish Youth Group with Fr. Armando Marsal
- Monthly priestly formation talks in English; weekly talks in Spanish
Saint Thomas Aquinas Regional School
Saint Thomas Aquinas Regional School is a Pre-K through 8 Catholic school located on the parish campus (13750 Mary's Way), serving more than 510 students from Our Lady of Angels, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, and Sacred Heart (Manassas). Founded in 1977 and administered by the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia, the school is fully accredited and boasts a richly diverse student body in which roughly 20 percent speak one of 17 secondary languages. The principal is Sr. Mary Sheila, O.P. Contact for the school: 703-491-4447.
- Founded 1977; Pre-K–8; fully accredited
- Staffed by Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia and lay faculty
- Serves 3 parishes (Our Lady of Angels, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Sacred Heart – Manassas)
- Approximately 510 students; 17+ home languages
- Web: aquinastars.org
Ministries & Outreach
Our Lady of Angels runs an unusually broad list of lay ministries, organized into family/formation/care, fellowship/fraternal, and service arms. A Saint Vincent de Paul Society food pantry distributes food to neighbors in need once a month. Volunteers can sign up for liturgical and ministry rotations through an online Ministry Scheduler. Longtime religious-education teacher Edward Ettner (who turned 100) is highlighted as an inspiration to generations of students.
- Saint Vincent de Paul Society (monthly food distribution)
- Catholic Women's Council, Defenders of the Faith Men's Group
- Ancient Order of Hibernians (men's and women's divisions)
- Legion of Mary
- Mother's Group, Bereavement, Blankets Ministry, Families of Bethany
- Young Adults and Young Adult Men
- Online Ministry Scheduler for liturgical rotations
Visiting & Practical Information
The parish office may be reached at 703-494-2444 or [email protected]; the Religious Education Office is at 703-494-3696. On federal holidays the office is closed, the 6:30 AM Mass and confessions are cancelled, and only the 9:00 AM Mass is celebrated. Visitors are encouraged to stop in for any of the seven Sunday Masses, to spend time in the 24/7 Perpetual Adoration Chapel, and to register with the parish to receive communications and bulletins.
- Parish Office: 703-494-2444
- Religious Education: 703-494-3696
- School: 703-491-4447
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 13752 Mary's Way, Woodbridge, VA 22191
- Easy access via I-95 (Rippon / Featherstone Road exits); ample on-campus parking
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. George Ecker, CSS1956–1958
Stigmatine pastor of All Saints (Manassas) who began celebrating Sunday Mass for Woodbridge Catholics in the Occoquan School auditorium on May 22, 1956. Considered the founder of the mission.
- Rev. James Shea, CSS1959–
First resident pastor when Our Lady of Angels was formally declared a parish on September 26, 1959. Stigmatine.
- (unnamed Stigmatine pastors, 1960s–1980s)1960s–1994
The Stigmatine Order staffed the parish continuously from founding until 1994. Specific subsequent resident pastors were not located in this search.
- Rev. J. Kevin O'Keefec. 2011–2020
Served as Parochial Administrator from c. 2011, named Pastor in the 2012 clergy assignments; transferred June 25, 2020 to become pastor of Saint Jude, Fredericksburg, when the Disciples of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary arrived.
- Rev. Alexander Diazbefore 2020
Listed as a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Angels just before the 2020 transition; reassigned June 25, 2020 as pastor of Queen of Apostles, Alexandria.
- Rev. Thomas B. Cavanaughbefore 2020
Parochial vicar just before June 2020; reassigned June 25, 2020 to Saint John the Apostle, Leesburg.
- Rev. Álvaro Montero, DCJM2020–present
Installed as pastor June 25, 2020 as part of the Disciples of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary assuming pastoral care of the parish under Bishop Burbidge.