About St. Francis of Assisi · Triangle, Virginia
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church is a large, multicultural Franciscan parish in Triangle, Virginia, just outside Marine Corps Base Quantico in eastern Prince William County. Founded in 1957 and entrusted from the start to the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans) of Holy Name Province, it serves roughly 6,800–8,000 registered families and a steady stream of military families, immigrants and local residents drawn from the Triangle–Dumfries–Quantico corridor. Known by its street-side banner — "All are Welcome, A Franciscan Community" — the parish runs St. Francis of Assisi School (Pre-K through 8) and a celebrated outreach center, St. Francis House, that has been called one of the top community outreach ministries in Northern Virginia.
- Established
- 1957
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Fr. James Scullion, O.F.M. (former pastor on record: Fr. John F. O'Connor, O.F.M., a former Minister Provincial of Holy Name Province)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Arlington
Why belong here
Parishioners come to St. Francis of Assisi for its warm, explicitly Franciscan welcome — the street sign in front of the church reads "All are Welcome, A Franciscan Community" — and for a schedule that fits a busy life: daily morning Mass Monday through Friday, five Sunday Masses including a 12:30 p.m. Mass in Español, Saturday confessions, and a thriving Catholic school (Pre-K–8). The parish is also known for its outreach: St. Francis House has served low-income families of Eastern Prince William County since 1992, providing food, utility and rent help, refugee resettlement, Stephen Ministry for the homebound, and weekly meals for local homeless shelters.
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (English and Spanish)
- By appointment (call the parish office)
Adoration times
- Periodic Forty Hours Devotion: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament daily from after the 8:45 AM Mass until approximately 7:00–7:30 PM, closing with solemn Benediction on the final evening (typically held in Lent)
Parish Identity & Franciscan Charism
St. Francis of Assisi is one of the larger parishes of the Diocese of Arlington, located on Fuller Heights Road just outside Marine Corps Base Quantico. From its founding in 1957 it has been staffed by the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans) of Holy Name Province. The parish's stated mission is to 'Live the Gospel, celebrating our Franciscan spirituality in the midst of a diverse and ever-changing global culture.' The Franciscans' hallmark emphases — humble service, fraternity, respect for creation and following in the footsteps of Jesus — are visible in the parish's street-side sign: 'All are Welcome, A Franciscan Community.'
- Founded 1957 under Bishop Peter L. Ireton (then Diocese of Richmond)
- Staffed continuously by Franciscan friars (Holy Name Province)
- Parish mission: 'Live the Gospel, celebrating our Franciscan spirituality in the midst of a diverse and ever-changing global culture.'
Franciscan Friars & Staff
The pastoral team is rooted in the Order of Friars Minor. Father James Scullion, O.F.M., a Scripture scholar who taught graduate theology in Washington, has served as pastor. Father John F. O'Connor, O.F.M., a former Minister Provincial of Holy Name Province, has served the parish in pastoral leadership. The parochial vicars include Father George Corrigan, O.F.M. (a former U.S. Navy nuclear engineer officer and lay missionary in Africa) and Father Chris Dunn, O.F.M. (fluent in Spanish, formerly a missionary in Peru). Permanent Deacon Michael Gomes assists the parish. Lay staff include Samuel Blakeney (Business Manager), Chanel Marquis (Compliance Officer), Sheila Noble (Director of Faith Formation), Colleen Wells (Director of Music Ministry), Angelica Silva (Pastoral Associate for Hispanic Ministry) and Francia Salguero (Director, St. Francis House).
- Fr. James Scullion, O.F.M. — Pastor
- Fr. John F. O'Connor, O.F.M. — Pastor (former Minister Provincial, Holy Name Province)
- Fr. George Corrigan, O.F.M. — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Chris Dunn, O.F.M. — Parochial Vicar
- Dcn. Michael Gomes — Permanent Deacon
Worship Schedule & Sacraments
Daily Mass is celebrated Monday through Friday at 8:45 AM. The Sunday schedule includes four English Masses (8:00, 9:30, 11:00 AM, 5:30 PM) and a 12:30 PM Mass in Spanish, with a Saturday Vigil at 5:30 PM. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered Saturday afternoons from 4:00 to 5:00 PM in both English and Spanish, and by appointment. A Sacramental Emergency line (703-468-1180) is available for those in need of Anointing of the Sick outside regular hours. The parish also runs a Forty Hours Devotion each Lent, with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after the morning Mass and closing solemn Benediction on the final evening.
- Weekend Masses: Sat Vigil 5:30 PM; Sun 8:00, 9:30, 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM (Español), 5:30 PM
- Weekday Mass: Mon.–Fri. 8:45 AM
- Confession: Sat 4:00–5:00 PM (English and Spanish), and by appointment
- Periodic Lenten Forty Hours Devotion with Exposition and Benediction
Faith Formation & Youth
Faith Formation at St. Francis is led by Director Sheila Noble and spans the whole arc of Christian initiation. Children and teens are served through the parish religious-education program and the parish school; adults preparing for Baptism, Confirmation or full reception into the Catholic Church are served through Becoming Catholic (OCIA). A Youth Ministry and a separate Young-Adults ministry reach older teens and college-aged parishioners. Other formation programs include ChristLife, Come Home and 'Many Members, One Body,' a small-group faith-sharing experience.
- Faith Formation (Sheila Noble, Director)
- Becoming Catholic / OCIA
- Children's Faith Formation
- Youth Ministry
- Young Adults
- ChristLife
- Come Home Program
- Many Members, One Body
Liturgical Ministries & Music
Parishioners serve the liturgy as Altar Servers, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers and Ushers. The music ministry, under Director of Music Ministry Colleen Wells, includes an Adult Choir and a Children's Choir that sing at Sunday and seasonal liturgies. Special attention is given to multicultural celebrations: Holy Week, Christmas, and Hispanic feasts such as Our Lady of Guadalupe, Cristo de los Milagros, Las Posadas and Pastorelas are marked with bilingual liturgical elements.
- Altar Servers
- Lectors
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Ushers
- Adult Choir (Colleen Wells, Director)
- Children's Choir
St. Francis House — Outreach Center
St. Francis House is the parish's outreach ministry for low-income and disadvantaged families of Eastern Prince William County. Established in 1992 and based in a rented townhouse at 2606 Heth Court, Dumfries, it provides emergency financial assistance (utility disconnections, rent, prescriptions, transportation and funeral assistance), a weekly food pantry, school-supply drives, an 'Un-trim a Tree' Christmas gift program, Thanksgiving baskets, and weekly meals for Prince William County homeless shelters (breakfast April–September, dinner November–March). The center has been named one of the top 10 community outreach ministries in Northern Virginia and is often a first referral for callers to the 211 social services hotline. Director Francia Salguero can be reached at 703-221-6344.
- Utility, rent, prescription and funeral assistance
- Food pantry (weekly)
- Turkey Program (Thanksgiving) and Christmas Program with the Knights of Columbus
- Weekly meals for PWC homeless shelters (breakfast in warm months, dinner in cold months)
- Director: Francia Salguero — 703-221-6344
St. Francis of Assisi School
St. Francis of Assisi School is a parish elementary school serving Pre-K through Grade 8 under Principal Dr. Tricia Barber, with Office Coordinator/Admissions Elizabeth Orille. The school has been part of the parish since the original school/auditorium building opened in September 1957 with 143 students in grades 1–3. The school closed from 1969–1980 (during which time, in part, it housed Christendom College) and reopened in 1980; today it serves several hundred students and is recognized as one of the visible 'charisms' of the parish alongside its social-ministry work.
- Pre-K through Grade 8
- Principal: Dr. Tricia Barber
- Office Coordinator / Admissions: Elizabeth Orille
- School Office: 703-221-3868
Hispanic Ministry
Since the parish added its first weekly Sunday Mass in Spanish in 2004, Hispanic Ministry has been a central part of parish life. The Spanish-language Mass remains at 12:30 PM on Sundays, and confessions are heard in Spanish as well (Saturdays 4:00–5:00 PM). Father Chris Dunn, O.F.M., serves as the friar overseeing Hispanic Ministry, with Angelica Silva as Pastoral Associate. Cultural celebrations — including Cristo de los Milagros (Perú), Our Lady of Guadalupe, Las Posadas, Pastorelas and bilingual Stations of the Cross — are intentionally incorporated into the parish calendar, and the parish describes itself as working toward being 'one parish' rather than two language communities sharing one building.
- Sunday Mass in Español — 12:30 PM
- Confessions in Spanish — Saturdays 4:00–5:00 PM
- Fr. Chris Dunn, O.F.M. (oversight)
- Angelica Silva, Pastoral Associate — 703-221-6344
Parish Life, Vocations & Prayer Groups
Beyond Sunday worship, the parish sustains a wide network of prayer, fellowship and service groups. There is an active fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order (OFS), a Filipino Ministry, a Prison Ministry, a Respect Life Committee, a Care for Creation ministry and a Men's Fellowship Ministry. A Stephen Ministry pairs trained lay caregivers with parishioners who are homebound or going through difficulties. The parish also has a Craft Ministry, a Catering Ministry and active Knights of Columbus Potomac Council No. 9259, which partners with St. Francis House on the Christmas gift program.
- Secular Franciscan Order (OFS)
- Filipino Ministry
- Prison Ministry
- Respect Life Committee
- Care for Creation
- Men's Fellowship Ministry
- Stephen Ministry (care for the homebound)
- Knights of Columbus — Potomac Council No. 9259
Visit, Register & Contact
New parishioners are welcomed and can register online or in the church vestibule using a paper form (also available from the parish office). Office hours are Monday through Thursday 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Friday 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The parish can be reached by phone at 703-221-4044 (fax 703-221-3246), with a Sacramental Emergency line at 703-468-1180.
- Address: 18825 Fuller Heights Road, Triangle, VA 22172
- Phone: 703-221-4044
- Office hours: Mon.–Thurs. 9 AM–3 PM; Fri. 9 AM–12 PM
- Sacramental Emergency: 703-468-1180
Pastors & rectors through the years
- First pastor of St. Francis of Assisi (1957)1957
Appointed after Bishop Peter L. Ireton invited the Franciscans of Holy Name Province to staff the new parish.
- Pastor who died during the church-building campaignearly 1980s
Plans to build the new church were announced in October 1981; the construction was carried forward by parishioners after his serious illness and death.
- Fr. John F. O'Connor, O.F.M.listed in 2023 parish bulletin
Former Minister Provincial of Holy Name Province; president of the English-speaking Conference of the Order of Friars Minor; former executive assistant to the Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor in Rome.
- Fr. James Scullion, O.F.M.current (parish staff directory)
Ordained 1980; Scripture scholar; taught graduate theology in Washington for many years.