About St. Charles Catholic Church · Arlington, Virginia
St. Charles Catholic Church (officially St. Charles Borromeo) is a historic Catholic parish in the heart of Arlington, Virginia, serving the Rosslyn–Ballston corridor neighborhoods and the George Mason University Arlington Campus. Founded in 1909 as a mission of the Diocese of Richmond, it became a parish of the Diocese of Arlington when the diocese was erected in 1974. Today the parish serves more than 5,000 registered parishioners across roughly 3,000 families and operates St. Charles Early Childhood Education Center. The parish's mission is to proclaim, celebrate, and live the more abundant life of Jesus Christ through comprehensive faith formation, a rich sacramental and prayer life, and fellowship in love.
- Established
- 1909
- Patron
- St. Charles Borromeo
- Rector
- Rev. Donald J. Planty, Jr., J.C.D.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Arlington
Why belong here
St. Charles is the most urban and one of the youngest parishes in the Diocese of Arlington, with five Metro stops within its boundaries and a community of active young adults. It offers a daily Mass schedule (Mon–Fri at 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.), a full Vigil and seven Sunday Masses including a 12 p.m. Mass in Spanish, confession six days a week, an OCIA (RCIA) program on Monday evenings, and a robust early-childhood education center. The parish grounds also include a Cemetery that serves the broader community, and the parish is in the midst of an ambitious campus redevelopment plan to build a new church, parish center, offices, and rectory — an uncommon opportunity for parishioners to help shape the next chapter of an Arlington institution that has served the area since 1909.
Mass times at St. Charles Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 6:30–7:00 p.m.
- Wednesday: 6:30–8:00 p.m.
- Friday: 6:30–7:00 p.m.
- Saturday: 3:30–4:30 p.m.
- Sunday: 11:30 a.m.–12:00 noon (in Spanish)
Adoration times
- Chapel open Monday–Friday: 6:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
- Chapel open Saturday–Sunday: 7:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
Our Mission & History
St. Charles Borromeo Parish was founded in 1909 by Bishop Augustine van de Vyver of the Diocese of Richmond and became a parish of the Diocese of Arlington when the diocese was erected in 1974. Today the parish serves over 5,000 registered parishioners across roughly 3,000 families and pursues a mission of proclaiming, celebrating, and living the more abundant life of Jesus Christ through comprehensive faith formation, a rich sacramental and prayer life, and fellowship in love.
- Founded 1909 by Bishop Augustine van de Vyver (Diocese of Richmond)
- First church dedicated in 1911; current church built 1960, renovated 1990
- Parish Center built 2005
- Joined Diocese of Arlington when the diocese was erected in 1974
- Five Metro stops within parish boundaries (most urban parish in the diocese)
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Fr. Donald J. Planty, Jr., J.C.D., as Pastor, with Fr. David A. Dufresne serving as Parochial Vicar. A lay staff supports parish operations, faith formation, sacred liturgy, Hispanic ministry, and facilities. The preschool has its own director.
- Pastor: Rev. Donald J. Planty, Jr., J.C.D. — [email protected]
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. David A. Dufresne — [email protected]
- Director of Evangelization & Faith Formation: Justin Woodbury
- Assistant Director of Evangelization and Faith Formation: Brian Duong
- Director of Hispanic Ministry: Teresa Reyes
- Director of Sacred Liturgy & Music: Ben-David Warner
- Director of Parish Operations: Nicole Rizzolo
- Director of Early Childhood Education Center: Robin Baney
- Director of Facilities: Max Braun
- Administrative Assistant: Eugenia Gentry
- Receptionist: Kevin Flynn
- Maintenance Inquiries: [email protected]
Daily Devotions & Chapel
The parish prays the Daily Rosary every weekday morning after the 9:00 a.m. Mass, and the chapel stays open throughout the day for personal prayer. The parish also publishes a full schedule of confessions and access hours on its website.
- Daily Rosary: Monday–Friday at 9:30 a.m.
- Chapel hours Mon–Fri: 6:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
- Chapel hours Sat–Sun: 7:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
Faith Formation & OCIA (RCIA)
St. Charles runs a full spectrum of formation programs — adult faith formation with regular talks and a Catholic Institute lecture series, OCIA (formerly RCIA) for those entering the Church, an Adult Confirmation Crash Course for adults already Catholic, and K–12 catechesis through its Youth Ministry. The OCIA program meets Monday evenings and uses a 9-month discernment format, and the parish encourages attendees to be registered members who reside within parish boundaries.
- OCIA (formerly RCIA): Mondays 7:00–9:00 p.m. in Room 105
- 9-month preparation for entering the Catholic Church
- Volunteer roles: table leaders, mentors, presenters
- Adult Confirmation Crash Course
- Small Communities (groups of 6–12) for ongoing formation
- Catholic Institute guest-lecture series
Youth Ministry & Religious Education
The parish's Catechesis & Youth Ministry program serves K–12 with catechists and youth volunteers. Parents are invited to enroll children in parish religious education regardless of school affiliation.
- K–12 catechesis under Director of Evangelization & Faith Formation
- Youth volunteers and catechist roles open each year
- Coordinator contact through parish office
Hispanic Ministry
Hispanic Ministry at St. Charles is led by Director Teresa Reyes ([email protected]). The parish offers a weekly Sunday Mass in Spanish at 12:00 p.m. and Spanish-language confessions at 11:30 a.m. on Sundays.
- Spanish Sunday Mass at 12:00 p.m.
- Spanish confessions: Sundays 11:30 a.m.–12:00 noon
- Director: Teresa Reyes
Sacred Liturgy & Music
Ben-David Warner serves as Director of Sacred Liturgy & Music, overseeing the music program for the parish's daily, Sunday, Vigil, and Spanish Masses — including the 10:30 a.m. Solemn Mass.
- Director: Ben-David Warner ([email protected])
- Provides music for Solemn 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass
- Coordinates music ministry across all Masses
St. Charles Early Childhood Education Center
The parish's preschool grew out of the original parish school — which was founded in 1922 and staffed by the Benedictine Sisters of Virginia — and transitioned to its current preschool form in 2014. Located at 3299 N. Fairfax Dr., it serves children ages 2–5 and is licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
- Address: 3299 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA
- Phone: 703-527-0608
- Web: www.stcharlesarlington.org
- Email: [email protected]
- Director: Robin Baney
- Ages 2–5 (preschool)
- Succeeds the parish school staffed by the Benedictine Sisters of Virginia (1922–2008)
Campus Redevelopment Project
St. Charles is undertaking a comprehensive site redevelopment in partnership with a developer whose ground lease of a portion of the parish campus will help finance the construction of a new church, parish center, offices, and rectory. The parish, finance council, and diocese project approximately two more years of planning followed by about two years of construction — described by the parish as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rebuild its home in the heart of Arlington.
- New church, parish center, offices, and rectory planned
- Financed in part via ground lease of a portion of the campus
- Estimated ~2 years planning + ~2 years construction
- Led by parish staff and finance council in coordination with the Diocese of Arlington
Getting Involved & Volunteering
Opportunities to serve range from OCIA team members (table leaders, mentors) to catechists for K–12 programs, Adult Faith Formation presenters, and Small Communities group leaders. The parish notes training and support are provided for those stepping into formation roles. Maintenance inquiries go to [email protected].
- OCIA team: table leaders, mentors
- Catechesis & Youth Ministry volunteers
- Adult Faith Formation presenters
- Small Communities leaders (with training and support)
- Maintenance: [email protected]
Pastor Biography — Fr. Donald J. Planty, Jr.
Fr. Planty grew up in a U.S. Foreign Service family and lived in Latin America and Western Europe before settling in Reston, Virginia for school. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the College of William and Mary (Government and French), earned an M.A. in Theology at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Arlington in 1993. He served as a Parochial Vicar at St. Charles and at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More, then studied in Rome, earning a Doctor of Canon Law from the Pontifical Gregorian University while serving in the Holy See's Secretariat of State in Vatican City, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Eritrea. Returning to the diocese in 2003, he pastored Holy Family (Dale City), served as Head Chaplain of Christendem College, and became pastor of St. Charles in 2014. He is fluent in Spanish, French, and Italian.
- Ordained 1993 for the Diocese of Arlington
- Doctor of Canon Law, Pontifical Gregorian University (Rome)
- Pastor of St. Charles since 2014
Parochial Vicar Biography — Fr. David A. Dufresne
Fr. David A. Dufresne grew up in Denver, Colorado and was baptized Catholic at twenty, after a faith journey that included significant adversity in his teens. He moved to Virginia in 2003 to work in the pro-life movement, was sent by the bishop to the Josephinum seminary in Columbus, Ohio (B.A. in philosophy and classics), then completed theological studies in Rome. He was ordained June 7, 2014 and served as Parochial Vicar at St. Leo the Great in Fairfax (2014–2018) and at the Basilica of St. Mary in Alexandria (2018–2022) before joining St. Charles Borromeo.
- Baptized Catholic at twenty after a conversion journey
- Ordained June 7, 2014
- Previously served at St. Leo the Great (Fairfax) and Basilica of St. Mary (Alexandria)
Visit Us & Contact
Parishioners and visitors are welcome at St. Charles Borromeo, located in the heart of Arlington on Washington Boulevard. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed on Federal Holidays).
- Address: 3304 Washington Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201
- Phone: 703-527-5500
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
- Website: stcharleschurch.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Msgr. Frederick P. Lackey1909–1927
Founding pastor; also celebrated weekly Mass at Fort Myer and established a mission in Cherrydale.
- Rev. Msgr. Thomas A. Rankin1927–1930
- Rev. John A. Curran1930–1947
- Rev. Msgr. Leonard J. Koster1947–1968
- Rev. Msgr. Gabriel T. Maioriello1968–1975
- Rev. Edmund V. Kollar1975–1976
- Rev. Msgr. Thomas A. Casey1976–1981
- Rev. J. Stewart Culkin1981–1986
- Rev. Horace H. "Tuck" Grinnell1986–1994
Returned for a second term as pastor 2010–2014.
- Rev. Donald C. Greenhalgh1994–1996
- Rev. Gerard Creedon1996–2010
- Rev. Donald J. Planty, Jr.2014–present
Current pastor; previously served as parochial vicar at St. Charles (after his 1993 ordination).