About St. Joseph · Alexandria, Virginia
St. Joseph Catholic Church in Alexandria, Virginia, is a historically Black Catholic parish founded in 1915 and dedicated under its patron saint on May 14, 1916. It was the first Black Catholic parish in Northern Virginia, born from the Black Catholic community's petition to the Diocese of Richmond for their own worship space after years of segregation at St. Mary's Church in Alexandria. Since its founding the parish has been served continuously by the Josephite Fathers and Brothers (the Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart), and it remains known for its African American liturgical style and its warm welcome to people of every race and nationality. Today the parish, now part of the Diocese of Arlington, continues to draw families — including descendants of the founding community — and serves roughly 425 registered parishioners.
- Established
- 1915
- Patron
- Saint Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Donald M. Fest, S.S.J.
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Arlington
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a small, historically Black Catholic parish that has welcomed people of every race and nationality since 1915 and treasures its African American liturgical heritage. Parishioners find a tight-knit community with active music ministry — Gospel Choir, Children's Choir and Chorale — plus Bible study, OCIA, youth, young adult and 55+ groups, a Knights of Columbus council with Ladies and Junior auxiliaries, and outreach through ALIVE!, Christ House, Meals-on-Wheels, VOICE, and prison ministry. If you are looking for a parish where you are known by name, where music and hospitality matter, and where Black Catholic history is alive every Sunday, St. Joseph is the place.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 8:00 AM
- Sunday: 10:30 AM
- And upon request
Adoration times
- Monday 7:00 PM — Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament (in chapel, as part of the Holy Hour)
History & Founding
St. Joseph traces its roots to 1913, when Mr. Thomas Blair — a sexton at St. Mary's Church often called the "Father of Saint Joseph's Church" — organized Alexandria's Black Catholics to petition for their own parish under Bishop Denis J. O'Connell of the Diocese of Richmond. The community raised funds through bake sales, dinners and dances; received support from the Indian and Negro Mission Collection Fund; and received the bulk of its building money from Mother Katharine Drexel, founder of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, whose signature appears on the deed. Father Joseph J. Kelly, SSJ, was appointed first pastor on June 11, 1915; ground was broken October 8, 1915; and the English Gothic-style church was dedicated on May 14, 1916 under the patronage of Saint Joseph. The parish became part of the (then-new) Diocese of Arlington in 1974 and was re-designated in 1967 from an ethnic parish to one with territorial boundaries, while retaining its African American liturgical identity.
- Black Catholic community organized by Mr. Thomas Blair in 1913
- Property purchased at N. Columbus and Wythe Streets in 1914
- Father Joseph J. Kelly, SSJ appointed first pastor June 11, 1915
- Ground broken October 8, 1915
- Bishop O'Connell laid the cornerstone six weeks later
- Church dedicated under Saint Joseph on May 14, 1916
- Oblate Sisters of Providence staffed the school 1916–1969
- Permanent four-classroom school dedicated October 23, 1931
- Rectory built in 1921 (Father Kelly had lived in the work sacristy)
- Re-designated from ethnic to territorial parish in 1967
Parish Identity & Heritage
St. Joseph is an historically Black Catholic parish that maintains its Black identity and African American liturgical style and is open to all people of any racial group or nationality. Since its founding it has been a welcoming and warm community of faith that treasures both its Catholic and its African American traditions. The parish is unique in the Diocese of Arlington as the first Black parish in Northern Virginia, and it has been served without interruption since 1915 by the Josephite Fathers and Brothers — the Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart.
- Historically Black Catholic parish, open to all
- African American liturgical style
- Served continuously by the Josephite Fathers and Brothers since 1915
- First Black Catholic parish in Northern Virginia
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Josephite Father Donald M. Fest, S.S.J., pastor and Finance Chair, with Permanent Deacon Albert A. Anderson Jr. Beverly Anderson serves as Business Manager. Eugene Harper is Director of Music, with Tracy Boyd-Vega as Chorale Director and Rhonda Allen leading both the Gospel Choir and Children's Choir. Princess McEvilley is Director of Religious Education and Mike McCormick is OCIA Coordinator. Nate Grauvogel is Director of Communications and Technology/Livestreaming Chair.
- Rev. Donald M. Fest, S.S.J. — Pastor / Finance Chair
- Deacon Albert A. Anderson Jr.
- Beverly Anderson — Business Manager
- Eugene Harper — Director of Music
- Tracy Boyd-Vega — Chorale Director
- Rhonda Allen — Gospel Choir Director & Children's Choir Director
- Princess McEvilley — Director of Religious Education
- Mike McCormick — OCIA Coordinator
- Shawn Pressley — Young Adults Coordinator
- Janelle Cline — Youth Council Chair
- Donna Reuss — 55+ Group Chair
- Ann Liddle — Welcome Committee Chair
- Nate Grauvogel — Director of Communications / Technology & Livestreaming Chair
- Desiree Brooks — Virtual Faith Formation and Bible Study Lead
- David Leapheart — Parish Pastoral Council Chair
- Maceo Webster — Social Justice Committee Chair & Repast Committee Chair
- Rose Kary — ALIVE! Liaison
- Phyllis Johnson — Christ House Rep.
- Pat English — Meals-on-Wheels Rep.
- James Lightfoot — VOICE Rep.
- Vancine Washington — Ministries to the Incarcerated Chair
- Anthony Johnson — Grounds Keeper / Altar Server Lead / Rosary Chair
- DeMia Pressley — Child Protection Compliance Officer
- Jeff Corry — Ministers of Hospitality Lead
- Dora Jones — Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist Lead
- Elizabeth Phillips — Lector Lead
- Christian Bentley — Sacristan
Worship & Liturgy
Weekend Masses are celebrated Sunday at 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM (the 11:00 AM Mass is live-streamed). Daily Masses are held in the chapel: Monday and Tuesday at 7:00 PM, and Wednesday through Friday at 8:30 AM. The parish's rich music program pairs the African American Gospel Choir with a separate Children's Choir and an adult Chorale. Confessions are heard Sunday at 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM, and upon request.
- Sunday Mass: 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM (live stream available)
- Weekday Masses in the chapel: Mon 7 PM, Tue 7 PM, Wed–Fri 8:30 AM
- Confession: Sunday 8:00 AM, 10:30 AM, and upon request
- Gospel Choir, Children's Choir, and adult Chorale
- 11:00 AM Sunday Mass live-streamed
Devotions & Holy Hour
Monday evenings at 7:00 PM, the parish gathers in the chapel for a Holy Hour that includes a Communion Service, Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, the Rosary, and the Novena to St. Joseph. It is one of the parish's signature weekly devotions.
- Monday 7:00 PM Holy Hour in the chapel
- Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
- Rosary
- Novena to St. Joseph
Faith Formation & OCIA
Religious Education for children is coordinated by Director of Religious Education Princess McEvilley, while adults preparing for full initiation enter through OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) under Coordinator Mike McCormick. Virtual Faith Formation and Bible Study, led by Desiree Brooks, extends learning beyond in-person gatherings.
- Director of Religious Education: Princess McEvilley
- OCIA (RCIA) Coordinator: Mike McCormick
- Virtual Faith Formation and Bible Study — Desiree Brooks
- Child Protection Compliance Officer: DeMia Pressley
Music & Liturgical Arts
Music is a hallmark of St. Joseph, reflecting the parish's African American liturgical tradition. The Music Ministry is led by Director of Music Eugene Harper, with three distinct ensembles: the Gospel Choir (Rhonda Allen), the Children's Choir (also Rhonda Allen), and the adult Chorale (Tracy Boyd-Vega).
- Director of Music: Eugene Harper
- Gospel Choir Director & Children's Choir Director: Rhonda Allen
- Chorale Director: Tracy Boyd-Vega
Parish Life & Community Groups
Beyond worship, parishioners build community through age-based groups — Youth Council (Janelle Cline), Young Adults (Shawn Pressley), and the 55+ Group (Donna Reuss) — plus a Knights of Columbus council with Ladies Auxiliary (Lady Knights), Junior Knights, and Junior Lady Knights. The Welcome Committee (Ann Liddle) helps newcomers feel at home.
- Youth Council — Janelle Cline
- Young Adults — Shawn Pressley
- 55+ Group — Donna Reuss
- Knights of Columbus and Ladies Auxiliary
- Junior Knights and Junior Lady Knights
- Welcome Committee — Ann Liddle
- Parish Pastoral Council — David Leapheart
Outreach & Social Concerns
St. Joseph is known for going beyond its walls. The Social Justice Committee (Rose Kary) coordinates several parish ministries that serve the wider Alexandria community and beyond, including ALIVE! (the ecumenical food and shelter program), Christ House, Meals-on-Wheels, VOICE (Virginia Organizing), and Ministries to the Incarcerated. The Repast Committee (Maceo Webster) supports families with funeral hospitality.
- Social Justice Committee — Rose Kary
- ALIVE! Liaison — Rose Kary
- Christ House — Phyllis Johnson
- Meals-on-Wheels — Pat English
- VOICE — James Lightfoot
- Ministries to the Incarcerated — Vancine Washington
- Repast Committee — Maceo Webster
Get Involved
Anyone interested in volunteering with youth at St. Joseph must first contact the Child Protection Compliance Officer to learn about the diocesan requirements. Many other ministries — hospitality, lectors, music, outreach, and parish council — are open to new members; the parish encourages parishioners to reach out to ministry leads directly or to attend a Parish Pastoral Council meeting.
- Contact Child Protection Compliance Officer before volunteering with youth
- Reach ministry leads through the parish Staff page
- Parish Pastoral Council meetings are open to parishioners
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph J. Kelly, SSJ1915–1936
Founding pastor; appointed by the Josephite Superior General on June 11, 1915. Served 21 years; lived in the work sacristy until the rectory was built in 1921.
- Rev. Donald M. Fest, SSJ2012–present
Josephite priest from Pittsburgh; previously pastor of St. Veronica, Baltimore (1993) and St. Benedict the Moor, Washington (2002); ordained May 1, 1976; 50-year jubilarian in 2026.