About St. Agnes · Arlington, Virginia
Saint Agnes Catholic Church is a large, historic Catholic parish in the Cherrydale neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia, in the Diocese of Arlington. It grew from a 1914 mission of St. Charles Borromeo Church into a thriving parish in 1936, opening a K-8 school in 1946, building its distinctive fan-shaped church in 1966, and founding one of the earliest parish adoration chapels in the country. Today it serves roughly 4,700-5,300 families with a rich schedule of daily Masses, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, a parish school, religious education, youth ministry, and a wide range of service and prayer ministries. Its mission statement commits parishioners to be 'missionary disciples…committed to sharing His love with one another and all in need.'
- Established
- 1936
- Patron
- St. Agnes (4th-century virgin-martyr)
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. William P. Saunders
- Diocese
- Diocese of Arlington
Why belong here
St. Agnes offers a deep, well-rounded Catholic life rooted in more than a century of Cherrydale history: a strong daily Mass schedule (six days a week, including a First Friday Latin Mass), a nearly perpetual Adoration Chapel (instituted in 1999), a vibrant K-8 parish school, a parish school of religious education, youth ministry and RCIA, plus dozens of prayer and service ministries such as Legion of Mary, the St. Raphael Homebound Visitation League, and the Christ House homeless shelter team. With around 5,000 registered families and a recently renovated church and school complex, newcomers are welcomed into an established Catholic community that still sees itself, in its own words, as 'missionary disciples' of Jesus Christ.
Mass times at St. Agnes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday during Holy Hour: 7:30 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.
- Saturday: 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
- Saturday: 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Monday: 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. (Adoration Chapel)
- Tuesday: 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. (Adoration Chapel)
- Wednesday: Exposition in the Church following the 9:00 a.m. Mass until approximately 8:30 p.m.
- Thursday: 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. (Adoration Chapel)
- Friday: 10:00 a.m. through Sunday 9:00 p.m.
Our Story: 100+ Years of St. Agnes
St. Agnes began as a Cherrydale mission of St. Charles Borromeo in 1914 and became its own parish on November 15, 1936. An interactive history written by former pastor Fr. Frederick Edlefsen walks through the early Masses in a grocery store and movie theatre, the 1919-1920 church built with Admiral A. W. Weaver's donation, the founding of the school in 1946, construction of the present fan-shaped church in 1966, the institution of perpetual Adoration in 1999, and the 2021 renovations of the former convent and the church narthex.
- 1914 — Cherrydale mission established under Fr. Frederick Lackey
- 1919 — Ground broken for the original church (consecrated Jan. 18, 1920)
- 1936 — St. Agnes becomes a parish; Fr. Edward W. Johnston named founding pastor
- 1946 — St. Agnes Elementary School opens with five Sisters of Notre Dame
- 1952 — Larger church (now the gym) consecrated by Bishop Ireton
- 1966 — Present fan-shaped church dedicated by Bishop John Russell
- 1974 — Msgr. Nott helps create the Diocese of Arlington
- 1999 — Fr. James Gould institutes the Our Lady of the Eucharist Adoration Chapel
- 2016 — 80th Anniversary of the parish
- 2021 — Renovations of former convent (new school library, computer center, classrooms) and a new church narthex
The Architecture & 'Lord of Lords Window'
Architect Joseph Johnson designed the present church in the modernist fan-shaped style of the early 1960s — clean lines, earthy colors, and a wide sanctuary optimized for electronic sound amplification. Above the sanctuary, stained-glass windows installed by Fr. James Gould bathe the altar in colored light, while devotional statues line the perimeter of the church. The most unusual feature is the 'Lord of Lords Window' high on the steeple overlooking Washington, D.C., depicting Christ as 'Teacher of Law' with the globe in his left hand, in hues of yellow and gold, linking the parish to the Solemn Feast of Christ the King.
- Modernist fan-shaped plan by Joseph Johnson (1966)
- Stained-glass sanctuary windows (added 1999-2000 by Fr. Gould)
- Devotional statues along the perimeter
- The 'Lord of Lords Window' on the steeple
St. Agnes School
St. Agnes Catholic School (2024 N. Randolph St.) opened in 1946 with five Sisters of Notre Dame and 200 students in five grades, and today serves Pre-K through Grade 8 with Extended Day Care and a Resource Program. The school is accredited by the Virginia Catholic Education Association (approved by the Virginia Council for Private Education) and has been named a U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School. The school is among the most technologically progressive in the diocese, with a dedicated computer lab, makerspace, iPads in early-childhood classrooms, Chromebook carts in upper grades, and STEM curriculum featuring robots, coding, and 3D printing.
- Grades: Pre-K–8 with Extended Day Care and Resource Program
- Accredited by the Virginia Catholic Education Association
- National Blue Ribbon School (U.S. Department of Education)
- Standardized testing: Scantron Performance Series, DRA, Brigance, PALS, ACRE, HSPT
- Tuition (2024-25): $9,200/child Catholic K-8; $14,000 non-Catholic K-8
Religious Education & Faith Formation
In addition to the parish school, St. Agnes runs a Religious Education program (CCD) for parish children attending public schools, with First Communion and Confirmation preparation, plus adult faith formation, RCIA, and youth ministry. The parish bulletins emphasize getting involved as 'God's work in our midst.'
- Religious Education (CCD) for parish youth
- First Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Youth and Young Adult Ministry (led by Fr. Andrew Haissig)
- Adult Faith Formation and Evangelization (Director: Isabella Grado)
Service Ministries
St. Agnes maintains a strong tradition of outreach rooted in the parish's mission to be 'missionary disciples.' From the Brotherhood of Brother Dennis (a tithe of the parish collection that has supported global charities since 1965) to hands-on ministries feeding the homeless at Christ House in Alexandria and bringing Holy Communion to the homebound, parishioners have many ways to put faith into action.
- Brother Dennis Program (est. 1965 — collection portion to global charities/missions)
- Christ House Homeless Shelter Team (monthly dinner service in Alexandria)
- Cherrydale Health and Rehab Prayer Group (weekly visits and Communion)
- Sunrise Nursing Home (Glebe Road) weekly prayer and Communion
- Legion of Mary — door-to-door evangelization, nursing home visits, Pilgrim Virgin
- St. Raphael Homebound Visitation League
Music & Liturgy
The parish Music Ministry, directed by Don Cotton, supports the full schedule of Masses, the First Friday Latin Mass in the Ordinary Form, and special liturgies throughout the year. Live-streamed Sunday Masses continue to be broadcast from the church, allowing shut-ins and those traveling to participate.
- Music Director: Don Cotton ([email protected])
- Weekly Sunday Masses: 7:30, 9:00, 11:00 a.m., 5:00 p.m.
- First Friday Latin Mass (Ordinary Form)
- Sunday Masses live-streamed via saintagnes.org
Parish Staff
St. Agnes is served by a pastor, parochial vicars, priests in residence, and a full complement of lay staff in faith formation, music, business, facilities, and child protection.
- Rev. Msgr. William P. Saunders — Pastor (ordained 1984; BBA William & Mary; MA Sacred Theology, St. Charles Borromeo Seminary; PhD Education Admin., Catholic University of America)
- Rev. Andrew Haissig — Parochial Vicar; oversees Youth and Young Adult Ministry
- Rev. Steven Oetjen — Priest in Residence (since July 2021; degree in Canon Law from CUA; works for the diocesan Tribunal)
- Rev. John Kist — Priest in Residence
- Vitoria Vargas — Business Manager
- Armelle Tallec — Office Manager
- Marijo Galvin — Administrative Assistant
- Brian Sherry — Operations and Facilities Manager
- John Dolata — Maintenance Technician
- Lisa Orosa — Director of Faith Formation
- Charles Palmer — Assistant Director of Faith Formation
- Isabella Grado — Director of Evangelization and Adult Faith Formation
- Don Cotton — Director of Music
- Jennifer Carpenter — Coordinator of the Protection of Children
- Greg King — Adoration Chapel Volunteer Coordinator
Visit, Connect & Get Involved
Visitors and newcomers are welcomed at the parish office Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The parish calendar, weekly bulletins, live-streamed Masses, and registration for parish religious education, RCIA, youth ministry, and the many service ministries are all accessible through saintagnes.org.
- Parish Office: 1914 N. Randolph St., Arlington, VA 22207
- Phone: (703) 525-1166 • Fax: (703) 243-2840
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri, 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
- Sunday Masses live-streamed at saintagnes.org/st-agnes-live-stream
- Weekly bulletins posted at saintagnes.org/bulletins
- Parish calendar at saintagnes.org/st-agnes-parish-calendar
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Edward W. Johnston1936–1942
Founding pastor; called to active duty in WWII; built rectory and basement.
- Fr. R. Emmet Hannon1942–1960
Previously of Sacred Heart, Winchester; built the school and convent.
- Fr. Bernard Moore1960–1967
Third pastor; built the current rectory (1961), started the Brother Dennis charity program (1965), and began construction of the present fan-shaped church.
- Msgr. Harold Nott1967–1976
Fourth pastor; influential in the creation of the Diocese of Arlington in 1974.
- Fr. Frank Hendrick1976–1981
- Fr. Joseph Loftus1981–1987
- Fr. Alan Lee1987–1992
- Fr. James Gould1992–2001
Founded the Our Lady of the Eucharist Adoration Chapel (1999) and added the stained-glass windows and perimeter statues.
- Fr. Robert Ruskamp2001–2002
- Msgr. James McMurtrie2002–2003
- Fr. Lee Roos2003–2014
- Fr. Frederick Edlefsen2014–~2023
Wrote the interactive parish history; oversaw a major renovation of the former convent (2021) into a school library and classrooms, plus a new church narthex.
- Rev. Msgr. William P. SaundersPresent
Ordained 1984; previously founding pastor of Our Lady of Hope, Potomac Falls.