About St. Elizabeth Ann Seton · Lake Ridge, Virginia
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is a Roman Catholic parish in the Lake Ridge community of Prince William County, Virginia, belonging to the Diocese of Arlington. Founded in 1976 by Bishop Thomas J. Welsh with Father Philip Majka as its first pastor, it has grown into one of the larger parishes in the diocese with roughly 7,700 registered parishioners. The main church on Valleywood Drive was dedicated on August 28, 1994 — fittingly the birthday of its patroness, the first native-born American saint — and today the parish is served by a team of priests, a permanent deacon, and a full lay staff that supports daily Mass, all-day Eucharistic adoration, OCIA (formerly RCIA), family faith formation, food pantry ministry, and the parish school St. Thomas Aquinas Regional School in nearby Woodbridge.
- Established
- 1976
- Patron
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton)
- Rector
- Rev. Brian G. Bashista
- Diocese
- Diocese of Arlington
Why belong here
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Lake Ridge is a large, active parish rooted in the spiritual legacy of the first American-born saint and committed to forming intentional missionary disciples. Daily Mass, multiple Sunday Masses, and a rich schedule of all-day Eucharistic adoration on Tuesdays and Thursdays give ample room for a prayerful life — while a wide range of faith formation programs (OCIA, family catechesis, Bible studies, small groups, vacation Bible school, Ember Day reflections, and parish missions) equip parishioners of every age to live the liturgical seasons and pass the faith along. A vibrant outreach arm — including the Mother Seton Food Pantry, Help Network, Respect Life, Homebound Ministry, and support of parish school St. Thomas Aquinas Regional School — means newcomers can plug into service right away within a community of about 7,700 registered families.
Mass times at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 7:00 PM – 7:45 PM
- Friday: 9:30 AM – 10:15 AM
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
- Wednesdays during Lent ('The Light Is On For You'): 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
- Other times by appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday — All-Day Adoration: 9:30 AM – 8:30 PM (with Children's Adoration 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM)
- Thursday — All-Day Adoration: 9:30 AM – 8:30 PM
- First Friday — All-Night Adoration: 7:30 PM – 8:30 AM Saturday
Parish History
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish was established in 1976 on a green-field site in the Lake Ridge area of Prince William County, Virginia, one of seven new parishes created under Bishop Thomas J. Welsh, the founding Bishop of the Diocese of Arlington. With Father Philip Majka as its first pastor, the parish first gathered for Mass at Rockledge Elementary School on October 16, 1976. A two-level interim church and activity center was dedicated November 30, 1981, and the present main church was dedicated August 28, 1994 by Bishop Keating — a date chosen because it is the birthday of the patroness. The Sisters of Charity from Emmitsburg brought soil to the groundbreaking ceremony in 1993, symbolically uniting the parish building with the soil of the home of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Today the parish serves roughly 7,700 registered families and operates a wide network of formation, outreach, and devotional programs.
- 1975 – Bishop Welsh asks for a building site in Lake Ridge
- September 27, 1976 – Father Philip Majka assigned as founding pastor
- October 16, 1976 – First Mass celebrated at Rockledge Elementary School (~200 attendees)
- July 8, 1977 – First Parish Building Committee meeting at rectory
- November 30, 1981 – Dedication of interim two-level church and activity center
- March 21, 1993 – Groundbreaking for the main church; Sisters of Charity bring soil from Emmitsburg
- August 28, 1994 – Main church dedicated by Bishop Keating on St. Elizabeth Ann Seton's birthday
Patron Saint: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774–1821), born Elizabeth Ann Bayley in New York City, was the first native-born American to be canonized as a Roman Catholic saint (by Pope Paul VI on September 14, 1975). A convert from Episcopalianism, she founded the Sisters of Charity in Emmitsburg, Maryland in 1809 — the first American religious society — and is the patron saint of Catholic schools, teachers, widows, orphans, and those persecuted for their faith. Her feast day is January 4, the anniversary of her death, when her last words to her sisters were 'Be children of the Church, be children of the Church.' The parish's commitment to Catholic education — embodied in its partnership with St. Thomas Aquinas Regional School — reflects her legacy.
- Born: August 28, 1774, New York City
- Died: January 4, 1821, Emmitsburg, Maryland (feast day)
- Canonized: September 14, 1975 by Pope Paul VI
- Founded: Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph (1809), first American religious society
- Patronage: Catholic schools, teachers, widows, orphans, the persecuted
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently led by Pastor Rev. Brian G. Bashista, who is supported by two parochial vicars — Rev. Charles Merkle III and Rev. John Fimmuchime — and permanent deacon Rev. Mr. Rob Warner. Fr. Bashista is also a trained architect and is overseeing a major renovation of the church building. A broad staff team of directors, coordinators, office personnel, and facilities workers supports the parish's formation, outreach, liturgy, and communication ministries.
- Rev. Brian G. Bashista — Pastor
- Rev. Charles Merkle III — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. John Fimmuchime — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Mr. Rob Warner — Deacon
- Raychel Namiotka — Director of Disciple Formation
- Casandra Arvizu — Coordinator of Family Faith Formation
- Kris Fischer — Director of Mission Outreach
- Tris & Rich Miserendino — Co-Coordinators of Human Concerns
- Stephanie Hanley — Coordinator of Community Assistance
- Jane Moreno — Coordinator of Liturgy and Sacrament Preparation
- Carter Stevens — Coordinator of Music Ministry
- Christine O'Hearn — Office Manager & Pastor's Assistant
- Lesley Ward — Business Manager
- Katya de Leon — Communications Manager
- Walter Purdy — Facilities Manager
- Violet LaVille — Database Manager and Financial Assistant
- Karen Kiesner — Gift Shop Manager
- Jenny Jones & Tracy Grubbs — Receptionists
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for the full sacramental life of the Church. Baptisms are celebrated on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month following a required Baptism Workshop. OCIA (formerly RCIA), directed by Catherine Mays, accompanies those seeking to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church. Couples preparing for marriage should contact the parish office upon engagement, and First Communion, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, and funeral arrangements are coordinated through the parish staff and Deacon Rob Warner.
- Baptism — 2nd & 4th Sunday; Baptism Workshop required
- OCIA (Becoming Catholic) — Catherine Mays, [email protected]
- First Communion / Confirmation — through Family Faith Formation
- Matrimony — contact the Parish Office after engagement
- Anointing of the Sick / Homebound Communion — EMHC for the Homebound serves 22192-area parishioners weekly
- Funerals — coordinated with Deacon Rob Warner and the Parish Office
Faith Formation & Discipleship
Faith formation at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton permeates every ministry, with parish offerings aimed at forming intentional missionary disciples — a charism the parish credits directly to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton's example. The new 'Build With Us' framework organizes the parish's work along the 'Clear Path' of discipleship, helping parishioners discern their charisms and step into service.
- Family Faith Formation (children, teens, adults)
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (new preschool program)
- OCIA (adults entering the Church)
- Vacation Bible School and summer programs
- Ember Days reflections and seasonal parish missions
- Bible studies, small groups, and family faith retreats
- Charisms Discernment Ministry and Disciple Formation
- RCIA accompaniment team and Eucharistic processions for children
Human Concerns & Outreach
The parish runs an extensive outreach ministry through its Human Concerns Office under Co-Coordinators Tris and Rich Miserendino and Coordinator of Community Assistance Stephanie Hanley. The Mother Seton Food Pantry distributes to parishioners and non-parishioners in need, the Seton Lake Ridge Help Network enables parishioners to assist one another with practical needs like rides to Mass and meals after a hospitalization, and Human Concerns volunteers shop for groceries and pharmacy items for those at high medical risk.
- Mother Seton Food Pantry — Thursdays 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
- Seton Lake Ridge Help Network (rides, meals, errands)
- Community Assistance / Respect Life
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) and EMHC for the Homebound
- Birthright benefit events (Trivia Night proceeds)
Liturgy and Music
Liturgical preparation is coordinated by Jane Moreno, Coordinator of Liturgy and Sacrament Preparation, and the music ministry is led by Carter Stevens, Coordinator of Music Ministry, with a principal organist position currently being filled. Sunday Masses are livestreamed (links are posted on the parish Mass Schedule page) and YouTube is one of the parish's official channels.
- Music Ministry — Carter Stevens, Coordinator; Principal Organist position open
- Coordinator of Liturgy and Sacrament Preparation — Jane Moreno
- Children's Adoration (Tuesdays 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM)
- Eucharistic Processions and Holy Hours for children and families
- Livestreamed Sunday Masses via YouTube
Parish School: St. Thomas Aquinas Regional School
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton partners with St. Thomas Aquinas Regional School, a regional Catholic elementary school located at 13750 Mary's Way, Woodbridge, VA 22191 (phone 703-491-4447; website www.aquinastars.org). The school is led by Principal Sister Mary Sabina, O.P., of the Dominican Sisters, continuing the tradition of religious women's leadership in Catholic education that traces back to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton's founding of the Sisters of Charity.
- Address: 13750 Mary's Way, Woodbridge, VA 22191
- Phone: 703-491-4447 | Fax: 703-492-8828
- Website: www.aquinastars.org
- Principal: Sister Mary Sabina, O.P. (Dominican Sisters)
Visiting & Getting Involved
Visitors and newcomers are warmly welcomed. The parish office (lower level of the church) is open extended hours, and Parish Registration cards are available at the office or online. Returning Catholics are welcomed home, and a parish finder tool helps newcomers confirm that their home falls within parish boundaries (primarily the 22192 zip code) before registration. The parish provides nursery service at the 9:00 AM and 10:45 AM Sunday Masses, except during the summer months of June through August. Email signups via the Church Center platform (setonlakeridge.churchcenter.com) keep parishioners connected to news, prayer requests, and ministry opportunities.
- Parish Office Hours: Mon/Wed 9 AM–8 PM, Tue 9 AM–7 PM, Thu/Fri 9 AM–4 PM, Sun 7 AM–2 PM
- Registration: Parish Registration Card in the office or online at setonlakeridge.org/parish-registration
- Parish Finder for boundary confirmation
- Nursery at the 9:00 AM and 10:45 AM Sunday Masses (closed June–August)
- Online portal: setonlakeridge.churchcenter.com
Pastoral Identity & Charism
The parish describes its charism as following St. Elizabeth Ann Seton's exhortation to 'do the will of God … in the manner he wills it … because it is his will.' The parish mission is to grow with and accompany those within parish boundaries, fostering a community that journeys together in faith in a way that is personal, purposeful, and prayerful. Under Pastor Fr. Brian Bashista — also a trained architect — the church is currently undergoing a major renovation, which the parish undertook while continuing to live out its baptismal call to 'make disciples of all nations' through programs like Reach More, Ember Days, Advent/Lenten Missions, and saint feast day celebrations.
- Parish Mission: to grow with and accompany those within parish boundaries in a personal, purposeful, and prayerful way
- Charism rooted in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton's exhortation to do God's will
- Reach More evangelization program
- Ember Days, Advent/Lenten Missions, and saint feast day celebrations
- Church-wide renovation under Fr. Bashista's architectural leadership
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Philip S. Majka1976–1984
Founding pastor, appointed by Bishop Thomas J. Welsh; first Mass celebrated October 16, 1976 at Rockledge Elementary School. Later named pastor of St. John the Evangelist, Warrenton (1984), then pastor of St. Patrick, Fredericksburg (1996). Ordained May 1, 1965; now retired.