About St. James · Falls Church, Virginia
St. James Catholic Church is a parish of over 2,800 families in Falls Church, Virginia, part of the Diocese of Arlington. Founded in 1906 as a Catholic school and led since 1923 by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM), the parish runs a Blue Ribbon-designated elementary school (recognized in 1998-99, 2014, and 2020) serving roughly 900 children in both the school and the Parish Religious Education Program (PREP). It is a vibrant, diverse community of over 400 volunteers offering three daily Masses, seven Sunday Masses (including a Spanish Mass), a robust Eucharistic Adoration schedule, scripture studies, youth ministry, and decades-long outreach to the wider Falls Church area.
- Established
- 1892
- Patron
- Saint James
- Rector
- Very Reverend Paul D. Scalia
- Diocese
- Diocese of Arlington
Why belong here
St. James offers the full rhythm of Catholic life in one place: three daily Masses, a busy Sunday schedule with a livestreamed English Mass and a Spanish Mass, confession six days a week, daily and all-night Eucharistic Adoration, Bible studies, days of reflection, youth ministry, and a century-strong school led by the IHM Sisters. With more than 400 volunteers supporting ministries ranging from liturgical service to Hispanic outreach, social events (Fall Parish Picnic, Lenten Fish Fries, Annual Bazaar) and St. Vincent de Paul-style charity work, the parish welcomes families, students, and visitors into a stable, long-standing Northern Virginia Catholic community.
Mass times at St. James
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesdays: 7:00pm–8:00pm
- Thursdays: 7:00pm–8:00pm
- Fridays: 11:00am–11:45am (ends before the noon Mass)
- Saturdays: 3:30pm–4:30pm and 6:30pm–7:30pm
Adoration times
- Wednesdays: 12:30pm–8:00pm (begins after the noon Mass)
- Thursdays: 12:30pm–8:00pm (begins after the noon Mass)
- First Friday: 10:00am–11:45am (Exposition and Benediction, ends before Noon Mass)
- First Friday All-Night Adoration: 7:30pm Friday through 8:30am Saturday
- Sundays: 5:00pm Holy Hour (with Vespers)
- Third Thursdays: 7:00pm Holy Hour
About St. James Parish
St. James Catholic Church is a parish of more than 2,800 families in Falls Church, Virginia, in the Diocese of Arlington. Founded as a mission in 1873 and formally established as a parish in 1892, it is the spiritual home of a diverse, multi-generational Catholic community that includes a Blue Ribbon K-8 school, a Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) serving roughly 900 children, and more than 400 volunteers serving in liturgical and outreach ministries. The parish offers three daily Masses, a full Sunday schedule of seven Masses (including a Spanish Mass and a livestreamed English Mass), daily Eucharistic Adoration, scripture studies, and events such as the Fall Parish Picnic, Lenten Fish Fries, and the Annual Bazaar.
- Parish of 2,800+ families
- Three-time National Blue Ribbon School (1998-99, 2014, 2020)
- Diocese of Arlington
- Founded as a mission in 1873; parish since 1892
History
Long before there was a parish, Falls Church Catholics traveled to Alexandria or Georgetown for Mass, with rare Sunday visits from a Jesuit priest to the Sewall home. Bishop James Gibbons established St. James as a mission of St. Mary's in Alexandria in 1873, and parishioners built a white clapboard mission church with a 66-foot steeple in 1874. In 1892 the mission was formally erected as a parish with Father Edward M. Tierney (Tearney) as first pastor. Father Tierney oversaw the 1902 Gothic sandstone church, the 1905-06 school, and the 1907 Convent for the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration from New Orleans. In 1923 the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) took over the school — a ministry they have sustained for over a century. The mid-20th century brought rapid growth: by 1950 there were six Sunday Masses, and the 1952 church expansion under Father Edward V. Mullarkey added transepts, stained glass, and a marble altar. The parish celebrated its 75th (1977), 100th (1992), and 125th (2017) anniversaries, and in 2019 Father Paul D. Scalia became the 12th pastor.
- 1873 — Established as a mission of St. Mary's, Alexandria by Bishop James Gibbons
- 1874 — White clapboard mission church built with 66-foot steeple
- 1892 — Formally erected as a parish; Fr. Edward M. Tierney, first pastor
- 1902 — Gothic sandstone church built at Park Avenue and Spring Street
- 1905-06 — Original parochial school built
- 1907 — Convent and chapel built for the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration
- 1923 — IHM Sisters take over the school
- 1930-1952 — IHM Villa Maria Academy (girls' boarding school) on property
- 1948 — New school building with 10 classrooms, library, cafeteria, auditorium
- 1952 — Church enlarged with new transepts, stained glass, marble altar
- 1977 — Bell carillon installed in honor of Msgr. Paul V. Heller
- 1999 — Joseph B. Knecht gymnasium complex dedicated
- 2017 — 125th anniversary celebrated
- 2019 — Fr. Paul D. Scalia installed as 12th pastor
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by a pastor, two parochial vicars, three priests in residence, and a deacon, supported by a rectory staff and a school staff. The pastor also serves the wider diocese as Episcopal Vicar for Clergy and Director of the Permanent Diaconate Formation Program.
- Very Rev. Paul D. Scalia — Pastor
- Rev. Charles Pavlick — Parochial Vicar (oversees Altar Servers)
- Rev. Timothy D. Banach — Parochial Vicar (Youth Ministry)
- Rev. Mauricio Pineda — In Residence
- Rev. Daniel Reuwer — In Residence (Bishop O'Connell High School Chaplain)
- Rev. Raymond Emedo — In Residence
- Deacon Marvin Muhat
- Susan Ramsel — Assistant to the Pastor & Office Manager (funerals, weddings, appointments)
- Rich Blickendorfer — Business Manager
- Kathleen Anderson — Director of Development
- Kara Rider — Accounting Specialist; Child Protection & Safety Coordinator
- Tina Doak — Communications Specialist
- Ginny Beauchamp — Records Manager (sacramental records, baptisms, registrations)
- Sonia Grebogi — Receptionist (Mass Intentions)
Faith Formation & School
St. James School is a K-8 Catholic elementary school administered by the IHM Sisters since 1923. It has been recognized three times as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence (1998-99, 2014, 2020). The Parish Religious Education Program (PREP), led by Sr. Regina Rosarii McLallen, IHM, serves about 900 children in sacramental preparation and ongoing faith formation. Adult formation opportunities include Bible studies and days of reflection.
- St. James School, 830 W. Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046 — 703-533-1182
- Principal: Sr. Kathryn Teresa Clemmer, IHM
- Three-time National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence (1998-99, 2014, 2020)
- PREP Director: Sr. Regina Rosarii McLallen, IHM
- Adult formation: Bible studies, days of reflection, speaker series
Youth & Family Ministry
Youth ministry is coordinated by Fr. Tim Banach with Amy Bigart as Youth Ministry Coordinator. Altar Servers are coordinated by Fr. Charles Pavlick. The parish serves a large and growing young Catholic community through school, PREP, and youth activities.
- Fr. Tim Banach — Youth Ministry
- Amy Bigart — Youth Ministry Coordinator
- Fr. Charles Pavlick — Altar Servers
Hispanic Apostolate
St. James maintains a Hispanic Apostolate that ministers to Spanish-speaking parishioners, anchored by the 2:30pm Sunday Spanish Mass (livestreamed) and an outreach office in Arlington.
- Sunday Spanish Mass: 2:30pm (livestream)
- Hispanic Apostolate office: 200 N. Glebe Road, Arlington, VA 22203
- Phone: 703-841-3883
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, First Communion, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick. Baptisms are celebrated every Sunday after required parental preparation and parish registration.
- Baptism: every Sunday; contact Rectory before the child's birth; pre-baptismal program required
- Marriage preparation through Susan Ramsel
- Funerals coordinated through Susan Ramsel
- Anointing of the Sick / emergency sacraments: 703-532-8815 (priests' emergency line)
Parish Life & Community Events
Parish life extends well beyond Sunday Mass. The Knights of Columbus, Boy Scouts, and various ministries collaborate on the Fall Parish Picnic that opens the year. Lenten Fish Fries bring the parish together during Lent, and the Annual Bazaar (now in its 92nd year) is a long-standing tradition. Bible studies, youth activities, Hispanic outreach, and speaker series meet the needs of a large and diverse population.
- Fall Parish Picnic (Knights of Columbus, Boy Scouts, ministries)
- Lenten Fish Fries
- Annual Bazaar (in its 92nd year)
- Bible Studies
- Speaker series and days of reflection
- Knights of Columbus, Boy Scouts
Outreach & Charity
Beyond the parish walls, St. James serves the greater Falls Church community through the IHM Sisters' educational charism, Hispanic outreach, and lay-led ministries. The parish's commitment to a 'diverse faith community' was a hallmark of Father Patrick Posey's capital campaign and continues under Father Scalia.
- Hispanic Apostolate / outreach
- St. James Disability Inclusion Committee (Anne Rohall-Andrade, Liaison)
- Child Protection & Safety program
- IHM Sisters' educational and faith-formation mission
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical music is led by Don Carolina, Director of Music. The parish supports a full program of liturgical ministries including altar servers, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and ushers, in service of three daily Masses and seven Sunday Masses.
- Don Carolina — Director of Music (703-532-8815 x225)
- Altar Servers coordinated by Fr. Charles Pavlick
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Edward M. Tierney (Tearney)1892–1910
First pastor; built the Gothic sandstone church (1902), original school (1905-06), and first Convent (1907).
- Rev. Amadeus Joseph Van Ingelgem ('Fr. Van')1910–c.1931
Invited the IHM Sisters to take over the school in 1923; improved parish grounds and cemetery.
- Rev. Edward V. Mullarkey1931–c.1958
Native of Ireland; oversaw major school expansion (1948 new building, 1950 wing) and 1952 enlargement of the stone church with transepts, stained glass, and marble altar.
- Rev. Joseph B. Knecht
Past pastor; Joseph B. Knecht gymnasium complex dedicated in his honor in 1999.
- Msgr. Paul V. Heller24 years
Beloved for kindness and dedication; bell carillon installed in the bell tower in 1977 to honor him on his retirement.
- Rev. Patrick Posey2006–2019
Reinvigorated evangelization, established Finance Councils for parish and school, spearheaded a capital campaign.
- Very Rev. Paul D. Scalia2019–present
12th pastor; also serves as Episcopal Vicar for Clergy and Director of the Permanent Diaconate Formation Program for the Diocese of Arlington.