About St. Bernadette · Springfield, Virginia
St. Bernadette Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Arlington located in Springfield, Virginia, on a 27-acre campus along Old Keene Mill Road. Established in 1959 as a mission of the Diocese of Richmond, it has grown into one of the largest parishes in northern Virginia, with thousands of registered families worshiping in English, Spanish, and Filipino. The parish combines a parish school, religious education, and a wide array of ministries — and is notably the home of the natural-wood altar on which Pope Saint John Paul II celebrated Mass on the National Mall in 1979.
- Established
- 1959
- Patron
- St. Bernadette Soubirous (of Lourdes)
- Rector
- Rev. Donald (Don) Rooney
- Diocese
- Diocese of Arlington
Why belong here
St. Bernadette is a large, multilingual Catholic parish that takes seriously the call to serve across cultures and generations. Worship is offered in English, Spanish (a weekly Sunday Mass and ongoing formation in Spanish), and Filipino (every third Saturday), with weekday and Sunday Masses, Friday Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction, Saturday Confessions, and Taizé Prayer on third Mondays. Families can enroll children in the parish school (Pre-K through grade 8) or the Religious Education program, and the parish runs Youth Ministry for grades 6–12, OCIA / RICA in both English and Spanish, the Knights of Columbus, the Legion of Mary, a Refugee Assistance ministry, ECHO food drives, and a long tradition of supporting the Diocese of Arlington's charitable works.
Mass times at St. Bernadette
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30–4:30 PM (English and Spanish) in the church
- By appointment — call the parish office
- Advent and Lent: special Parish Penance Services on a weekday evening with visiting priests
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration & Benediction: Fridays 7:00–8:00 PM in the church
Parish History
St. Bernadette Parish was established in April 1959 as a mission of the Diocese of Richmond, carved from the territory of St. Michael Parish in Annandale to serve the rapidly growing post-war suburbs of northern Virginia. More than 500 families were already within its boundaries when Rev. Francis L. Bradican was appointed founding pastor. The community first worshipped in improvised spaces — including a residential garage fitted with extra chairs — before moving to Lee High School on Franconia Road. By the fall of 1959, the parish was already planning a permanent school-with-temporary-church and a convent on a 27-acre tract along Old Keene Mill Road. The Daughters of Wisdom arrived in September 1960 to staff the school, which had opened at a temporary Fort Belvoir site; students and sisters moved into the newly built school and convent in early 1961. Bishop John J. Russell of Richmond celebrated the Dedication Mass in the school's temporary worship space in April 1961, and the rectory/parish office was completed in 1966. A School of Religion (CCD) was organized in February 1961 and grew to roughly 1,500 children by the mid-1970s. In 1972 Rev. (later Msgr.) Edward P. Brown became the second pastor; in 1974 St. Bernadette became a parish of the newly created Diocese of Arlington. Father Brown launched the drive for a permanent church, and construction began in 1980. Bishop Thomas J. Welsh dedicated the new church on October 14, 1981. The parish was chosen to receive the altar used by Pope John Paul II at the Mass on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., in October 1979, and a 26-rank pipe organ was installed in 1983. Bells were added to the bell tower in a later campaign.
- Founded: April 1959, by the Diocese of Richmond
- Founding pastor: Rev. Francis L. Bradican
- Permanent church dedicated: October 14, 1981 by Bishop Thomas J. Welsh
- Altar of Pope John Paul II's 1979 Mall Mass installed in the sanctuary
- 26-rank pipe organ installed: 1983
- Joined the Diocese of Arlington in 1974
Parish School (St. Bernadette Catholic School)
St. Bernadette Catholic School has been in continuous operation since 1960, when the Daughters of Wisdom religious sisters arrived to teach its first pupils. Today the school educates children from Pre-K through grade 8 on the parish campus and is led by Principal Dr. Kathleen Burgess and Assistant Principal Jennifer Spencer.
- Opened: 1960 (staffed by the Daughters of Wisdom)
- First principal/superior: Mother Mary Daniel, D.W.
- Current principal: Dr. Kathleen Burgess
- Assistant principal: Jennifer Spencer
- Registrar: Heidi Thomes
- School phone: 703-451-8696
Religious Education and Youth Ministry
The parish runs Religious Education (CCD), Adult Faith Formation, OCIA/RCIA in English and Spanish, and a Youth Ministry program for grades 6–12. Religious Education has been part of parish life since 1961, when the School of Religion was first organized; it now serves hundreds of children each year alongside the school families.
- Director of Religious Education / Faith Formation: Lynn Jones
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Arlyn Agasen
- Administrative Assistant: Victor Mendez
- Youth Ministry Director: Grace Mee
- OCIA / RCIA English: Mondays 7:00–8:30 PM, led by Fr. Don Rooney
- OCIA / RICA Spanish: led by Fr. Jeb Donelan
- Adult Faith Formation programs: bible studies, parish missions, retreats, days of reflection
Outreach and Social Justice
St. Bernadette maintains an active outreach apostolate organized around the Parish Council's Outreach Committee. The parish is a board congregation of ECHO (Ecumenical Community Helping Others), supports refugee resettlement through Catholic Charities and the diocese's Migration and Refugee Services, participates in the annual Catholic Advocacy Day in Richmond, and joins the Fairfax Prison Aftercare Ministry at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.
- ECHO — Ecumenical Community Helping Others (parish is an ECHO board congregation)
- ECHO Can-A-Week food drive (goal: 1,000 cans per week)
- Refugee Assistance — furnishings and household supplies for new arrivals
- Fairfax Prison Aftercare Ministry
- Catholic Advocacy Committee — attends Catholic Advocacy Day in Richmond
- Ecumenical / Interreligious Commission
- Catholic Charities volunteer initiatives
- Outreach Committee Chair: Kathleen Moyer
Parish Life and Faith Communities
Parish life is supported by a Parish Council with five standing committees — Education, Liturgy, Operations, Outreach, and Parish Life — that advise the pastor and coordinate the work of dozens of ministries. Hospitality, prayer, and cultural communities all gather under the Parish Life umbrella.
- Knights of Columbus
- Legion of Mary
- Arimatheans (funeral ministry)
- Called and Gifted Program (discernment of charisms)
- Coffee and Donuts after the first three Sunday Masses
- Filipino Community (hosts the 3rd-Saturday Mass and cultural activities)
- Spanish-speaking community (weekly 1 PM Mass, formation, and baptisms)
- Parish Life Committee Chair: Gina Soriano
Liturgy and Music
Music ministry at St. Bernadette is led by David Mathers, Director of Sacred Music, and supports a full program of congregational and choral music at weekend and weekday liturgies. The church's pipe organ — a 26-rank instrument installed in 1983 — anchors the music program. Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction are offered every Friday evening, and Taizé Prayer is held on the third Monday of each month.
- Director of Sacred Music: David Mathers
- 26-rank pipe organ installed in 1983
- Eucharistic Adoration & Benediction: Fridays 7:00–8:00 PM
- Taizé Prayer Service: third Mondays, 8:00–8:45 PM
- Rosary after the 9:00 AM weekday Mass and 8:00 AM Saturday Mass
Sacraments at St. Bernadette
The parish prepares members for the sacraments of initiation, marriage, and anointing, and offers ongoing formation for children and adults. Baptisms are celebrated on Saturdays — 1st and 2nd Saturdays in English, 3rd Saturday in Spanish — with required pre-baptism classes for parents. Weddings are celebrated Saturdays at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM, and arrangements must begin at least six months in advance. The parish also visits and brings Communion to the sick and homebound, with emergency sacramental care available around the clock.
- Baptism: Saturdays at 10 AM (English: 1st & 2nd Saturdays; Spanish: 3rd Saturday)
- Marriage: Saturdays at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM (six months' preparation required)
- Anointing of the Sick: arranged through the parish office
- Anointing emergency line: 703-451-8576 (forwarded to answering service after hours)
- OCIA / RICA for adults in English and Spanish
- First Communion and Confirmation preparation through Religious Education and the school
Distinctive Features
The defining physical feature of St. Bernadette is the altar in the sanctuary: the 4,900-pound natural-wood altar used by Pope Saint John Paul II at the Mass on the National Mall in October 1979, donated to the parish that same month. The church itself — finally built after 22 years of parish life in borrowed spaces — was designed and constructed in the early 1980s and dedicated by Bishop Thomas J. Welsh on October 14, 1981. It was further enhanced by a 26-rank pipe organ in 1983 and by bells added in a subsequent campaign.
- Altar of the 1979 Pope John Paul II Mall Mass — sanctuary centerpiece
- Church dedicated October 14, 1981 by Bishop Thomas J. Welsh
- 26-rank pipe organ installed 1983
- Bells installed in the bell tower in a later fundraising campaign
- 27-acre parish campus on Old Keene Mill Road
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Francis L. Bradican1959–1972
Founding pastor. Established parish from territory of St. Michael, Annandale; began the school, convent, and 27-acre Old Keene Mill Road campus. The parish's Bradican Room is named in his honor.
- Rev. (later Msgr.) Edward P. Brown1972–
Second pastor. Led the fundraising and construction of the permanent church, dedicated October 14, 1981 by Bishop Thomas J. Welsh.
- Rev. Tom Fergusonadministrator prior to 2004
Served as parish administrator before Fr. Kevin Larsen.
- Rev. Kevin J. Larsen2004–
Took over as pastor in 2004; expanded Spanish-language ministry among other growth.
- Rev. Don Rooneycurrent
Current pastor and ecumenical officer for the Diocese of Arlington; hosted the 2026 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity service.