About St. Anthony of Padua · Falls Church, Virginia
St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Roman Catholic parish in Falls Church, Virginia, part of the Diocese of Arlington. Located at 3305 Glen Carlyn Road in the Bailey's Crossroads area, it serves approximately 4,854 parishioners with five priests. The parish traces its roots to a 1921 rural mission church and was formally established in 1952, growing rapidly through the post-WWII suburban expansion of Northern Virginia. Today it is a culturally diverse community offering daily Mass, faith formation for children and adults, an elementary school, and a robust Social Ministry that supports the surrounding neighborhoods.
- Established
- 1921 (mission); 1952 (parish)
- Patron
- St. Anthony of Padua
- Rector
- Rev. Matthew H. Zuberbueler
- Diocese
- Diocese of Arlington
Why belong here
St. Anthony of Padua is one of the most culturally diverse parishes in the Diocese of Arlington, with daily Mass in English and Spanish, an on-site elementary school (Pre-K through 8), and faith formation for children, youth, and adults in both languages. A strong Social Ministry operates the parish food pantry and emergency financial assistance, while ministries such as OCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults), the Contigo Youth Club (grades 1–12), the Shekinah Youth Dance ministry, Knights of Columbus, and senior luncheons give parishioners of every age a way to belong. Registered members may enroll their children in the school or religious education programs, receive their sacraments at the parish, and access tuition assistance.
Mass times at St. Anthony of Padua
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 2:30 PM
- Wednesday: 7:30 PM
- Friday: 7:30 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM, 3:30 PM, and 7:00 PM
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 6:45 PM
- Friday: 7:45 PM – 9:00 PM
History of St. Anthony of Padua
St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church traces its roots to 1921, when it served as a rural Mission Church in the Bailey's Crossroads area of Northern Virginia. The original white clapboard mission building still stands on Leesburg Pike across from Skyline Center (now home to Holy Cross Orthodox Church). For its first three decades, the mission was served by priests who traveled from the Basilica of St. Mary and Blessed Sacrament parishes in Alexandria, then from St. Mary's at Fairfax Station and, after World War II, from Blessed Sacrament in Fairlington. The post-war Catholic population boom in Northern Virginia made a permanent parish essential.
- 1921 — Established as a rural Mission Church in Bailey's Crossroads.
- 1950 — Diocese of Richmond purchases 9½-acre site at Leesburg Pike and Glen Carlyn Road.
- 1952 — First Mass celebrated on Easter Sunday in rented Culmore Shopping Center storefront.
- 1953 — Ground broken on the new church-and-school building (Feb 8).
- 1954 — Church and school blessed and dedicated by Bishop Peter Ireton (Jan 19).
- 1968 — Groundbreaking for the $1.2 million church, convent, and rectory (Mar 24).
- 1969 — First regular Spanish-language Mass scheduled (Oct 12).
- 1970 — Current church dedicated by Bishop John Russell of Richmond (Mar 21).
- 1989 — Precious Blood fathers turn the parish over to the Diocese of Arlington.
- 1994 — Father Horace H. 'Tuck' Grinnell becomes pastor; establishes the parish Columbarium.
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by four priests and a substantial lay staff in the parish office, faith formation, music, facilities, social ministry, and advancement.
- Rev. Matthew H. Zuberbueler — Pastor (ordained 1996 by Bishop John R. Keating; previously at Sacred Heart Winchester, St. John Paul the Great H.S., St. Louis Alexandria)
- Rev. Michael Sampson — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Zinjin Iglesia — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Augustine Owusu — Priest in Residence
- Elaine Ventura — Business Manager (ext. 123)
- Edward C. Andercheck, DMin. — Director of Advancement and Development (ext. 108)
- Blanca Portillo — Director of Religious Education (ext. 235)
- Eliza Salome — Coordinator of Religious Education (ext. 235)
- Michelle Jacobeen — Director of Music Ministry ([email protected])
- Ubaldo Cisneros — Social Ministry Coordinator (ext. 137)
- Stephanie Dannemiller — Office Supervisor (ext. 100)
- Victor Rodriguez — Facilities Manager; William Paniagua, Grounds; Juan Aragon, Custodian
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Religious Education program is the parish's largest outreach, offering catechesis in both English and Spanish to a growing number of youth and adult believers. The parish also coordinates the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) for unbaptized adults and those baptized in another Christian tradition seeking full communion with the Catholic Church. Contact: [email protected] or 703-820-7111.
- Religious Education classes for children and youth (English and Spanish)
- OCIA (RCIA) for adults — English and Spanish
- Family Faith Formation events
- Adult formation retreats featuring visiting priests and speakers on kerygma, healing, and Unbound/Liberado ministry
St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School
St. Anthony of Padua School, located next door to the church at 3301 Glen Carlyn Road, has served the parish and surrounding community since 1954. Originally staffed by the Sisters of the Precious Blood, it now enrolls approximately 271 students in Pre-K through Grade 8. The school is accredited and offers a daily afterschool program and summer camp.
- Address: 3301 Glen Carlyn Road, Falls Church, VA 22041
- Principal: Amy Fry
- Phone: (703) 820-7450
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: saintanthonyschoolva.org
- Grades: Pre-K through 8 (current enrollment ~271 students)
- After-school program and summer camp
Youth & Family Ministries
St. Anthony's offers a vibrant slate of programs for children, teens, and families, with particular strength in serving the Hispanic community of the parish.
- Contigo Youth Club — creative service, formation, and prayer for grades 1–12, with emphasis on community and belonging; a new teen center complements the afterschool program
- Shekinah Youth Dance Ministry — multicultural dance ministry helping girls and women encounter their dignity as daughters of God
- Monthly Senior Citizens' Luncheon for fellowship
- Children's catechesis in English and Spanish
Liturgical & Music Ministries
Parishioners serve the liturgy as lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, ushers, and sacristans, while a team of musicians, cantors, and choir members supports sung worship in both English and Spanish.
- Director of Music Ministry: Michelle Jacobeen ([email protected])
- Liturgical volunteers: Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Altar Servers, Ushers, Sacristans
- Music volunteers: Instrumentalists, Cantors, Choir Members
Social Ministry & Outreach
Social Ministry is a central expression of the parish's mission, serving families and individuals from the local area facing poverty, housing instability, and other challenges. A current prayer focus of the parish is the well-being and safety of surrounding neighborhoods facing challenges of poverty, drugs, and gangs; a Eucharistic Procession has been held into the neighborhood to highlight these needs. The parish food pantry and emergency assistance programs are funded in part through capital-campaign upgrades.
- Parish Food Pantry
- Emergency Financial Assistance
- Giving Tree (Christmas outreach)
- Knights of Columbus charitable works
- Senior's Lunch program
- Coordinator: Ubaldo Cisneros (ext. 137, [email protected])
- Annual Good Friday live Stations of the Cross (in Spanish) through the Culmore neighborhood
Becoming a Parishioner
Baptized Catholics who live within parish boundaries are encouraged to register. Members can receive their sacraments at St. Anthony's, enroll children in the school or religious education programs, request tuition assistance when needed, and participate in parish ministries. New members may register at the parish office Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM, or by mail.
- Mail registration to: Attn: Parish Office / Membership, 3305 Glen Carlyn Road, Falls Church, VA 22041
- In-person registration: Parish office, Mon–Fri, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
- OCIA inquiries: [email protected] or 703-820-7111
Visiting & Contact
St. Anthony's is open daily for prayer and meditation from 7:00 AM to 9:30 PM; parishioners and visitors are asked to keep a reverent atmosphere. The parish office follows Fairfax County Public Schools for weather-related closings and delays — though Mass is never cancelled.
- Parish Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Phone: (703) 820-7111 | Fax: (703) 379-9195
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stanthonyparish.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/stanthonyofpaduava
- Instagram: @stanthonychurchva
- Address: 3305 Glen Carlyn Road, Falls Church, VA 22041
- Church open for private prayer: 7:00 AM – 9:30 PM daily
Giving & Capital Campaign
The parish funds its ministries, school subsidies, social outreach, and facility upgrades through regular Sunday collections, online giving, and capital campaigns. A previous 'Project 2000' capital campaign financed the gym and parking upgrades; a subsequent campaign has been planned to install solar panels on parish buildings and further upgrade the food pantry.
- Mail donations to: St. Anthony of Padua Parish, 3305 Glen Carlyn Road, Falls Church, VA 22041 — Attention: Finance Office
- Online giving through stanthonyparish.org/give
- Planned upgrades: solar panel installation on parish buildings; expanded food-pantry facilities
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Isidore A. McCarthy, C.PP.S.1952–1962
Founding pastor; appointed by Bishop Peter L. Ireton; led building of first church and school (1954).
- Rev. Richard Baird, C.PP.S.1962–c.1989
Succeeded Father McCarthy; expanded property, planned the permanent church, rectory, convent, and administration building dedicated in 1970.
- Msgr. Thomas J. Cassidy1989–1994
First diocesan pastor after Precious Blood fathers turned parish over to Diocese of Arlington in 1989; later served the diocesan mission in the Dominican Republic.
- Rev. Horace H. (Tuck) Grinnell1994–
Succeeded Monsignor Cassidy; established the parish Columbarium during his tenure.