St. Luke

About the Parish

Saint Luke Parish is a vibrant community of faith in McLean, Virginia that holds social outreach and religious education among its top priorities. From its small beginnings of just 200 families in 1961, the parish has grown to include over 1,500 registered families, the renowned Music in McLean concert series, an amphitheater-style sanctuary, one of the largest pipe organs in Northern Virginia, and Saint Luke School. Whether a registered parishioner or a guest, all are welcomed to participate in Mass, to serve alongside the parish in reaching out to those in need, and to receive the blessings of an active parish community.

Parish History

Founded in 1961 by Monsignor J. Louis Flaherty, the parish was carved out of the northeast portion of St. John the Beloved Parish and originally spanned a roughly three-by-ten mile area from Chain Bridge Road to the Loudoun County line, including McLean and Great Falls. The first Mass was offered on May 27, 1961, and the parish school opened its doors in September 1962 staffed by the Felician Sisters of Lodi, New Jersey. Because of the parish's commitment to serving the poor, plans for a dedicated church were postponed for more than two decades, and Mass was celebrated in the school gymnasium. The current church was finally dedicated on February 10, 1983 by Bishop Thomas Welsh.

• 1961 – Parish founded by Msgr. J. Louis Flaherty; first Mass May 27
• 1962 – Saint Luke School opens, staffed by the Felician Sisters
• 1963 – First parish Confirmation and First Holy Communion
• 1979 – Great Falls area split off to form Saint Catherine of Siena
• 1983 – Church dedicated by Bishop Thomas Welsh
• 1998 – Steiner-Reck Opus 104 pipe organ installed and dedicated
• 2020 – Fr. Richard M. Guest installed as eighth pastor by Bishop Michael Burbidge

Pastoral Leadership & Staff

The parish is led by Father Richard M. Guest, who was installed as the eighth pastor in July 2020, with Father Carroll Oubre serving as Parochial Vicar. A dedicated lay staff oversees music, religious education, youth ministry, business, and facilities. Saint Luke School is led by Principal Mrs. Anne Ryan Craig, M.Ed.

• Pastor – Rev. Richard M. Guest
• Parochial Vicar – Rev. Carroll Oubre
• Music Director – Michael Cedrone (703-356-0670)
• Children's Choir Director – Andrea Knepper
• Director of Religious Education – Emily Teter (703-356-8419)
• Director of Youth Ministry – Benj Emrich (703-356-3092)
• Parish Business Manager – David Kranking
• Parish Office Manager – Judy Werner
• Parish Facilities Manager – Rick Thier
• School Principal – Mrs. Anne Ryan Craig, M.Ed. (703-356-1508)

Devotions & Prayer Life

Beyond the Mass schedule, Saint Luke nurtures a rich devotional life rooted in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Parishioners gather daily to pray the Rosary after the 9:00 AM Mass, and the chapel is open for private prayer before the tabernacle. Lent brings a communal Stations of the Cross service with the wooden crosses hung throughout the church.

• Daily Rosary after the 9:00 AM Mass (weekdays and Saturday)
• Eucharistic Adoration & Benediction every Friday morning
• First Saturday Holy Hour (except summer)
• Way of the Cross — private devotion year-round; communal services in Lent
• Annual Mass on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe with mariachis

Music & Liturgy

Liturgical music is a defining charism of Saint Luke, anchored by the Steiner-Reck Opus 104 pipe organ in the sanctuary. The parish supports an adult choir, a children's choir, and a Cherub Music Program for ages 4-6 begun by Music Director Dan Catalanotto to give young children a genuine music education. The parish also hosts the renowned Music in McLean concert series, which draws audiences from across the region.

• Steiner-Reck Opus 104 pipe organ (1998, 60 ranks, 3,097 pipes) — largest in Northern Virginia
• Adult Choir
• Children's Choir — Andrea Knepper, director
• Cherub Music Program (ages 4-6)
• Music in McLean concert series

Faith Formation & Religious Education

The mission of Saint Luke Religious Education is to help children and parents deepen their understanding of the Catholic faith and their relationship with God, the Church, and one another. Weekly sessions are offered for children in Kindergarten through Grade 8 along with their parents, providing a foundation of knowledge and a love of religious study that lasts a lifetime. When Fairfax County Public Schools close or delay due to inclement weather, Faith Formation classes follow suit.

• Weekly sessions for K-Grade 8 with parents
• Office located in the Religious Education Wing of Saint Luke School, Entrance 11
• Director of Religious Education: Emily Teter (703-356-8419 Ext. 41)
• Administrative Assistant: Page Slusser (703-356-8419 Ext. 40)
• Inclement weather policy aligned with Fairfax County Public Schools

Youth Ministry

St. Luke Youth Ministry exists to lead young people to a Christ-like life by fostering personal and spiritual growth. Programming helps young people encounter Christ, build intentional communities centered on Christ, support parents and families, and encourages involvement in parish life — all while having fun. Separate tracks serve middle school and high school youth, and families can sign up for Flocknote notifications by texting LukeYouth to 84576.

• Middle School and High School ministries
• Director of Youth Ministry: Benjamin Emrich (703-356-3092)
• Flocknote alerts: text LukeYouth to 84576
• Youth Ministry office located at Saint Luke Catholic School

Outreach & Charity

From its founding, Saint Luke has been dedicated to outreach to the less fortunate both locally and globally — a commitment so strong that it delayed construction of a dedicated church building for more than twenty years. The parish's outreach committee receives funding requests from around the world and meets semiannually to disperse grants. Long-standing partnerships include the St. Patrick's Foundation in Kingston, Jamaica, and the Archdiocese of Mandeville, Jamaica.

• Outreach committee meets twice yearly to award grants worldwide
• Long-standing partnership with St. Patrick's Foundation, Kingston, Jamaica
• Recent partnership with the Archdiocese of Mandeville, Jamaica
• Annual Ministry Fair for newcomers to find their place in service

Saint Luke School

Saint Luke School sits adjacent to the church campus and offers a faith-based education from Preschool through 8th grade. The school, which celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2022-2023, was the first parish building completed — built through a tithing program and opened in September 1962 staffed by the Felician Sisters. Today lay faculty staff the school, which serves about 250 students under the leadership of Principal Mrs. Anne Ryan Craig.

• Preschool through Grade 8
• Approximately 250 students
• Principal: Mrs. Anne Ryan Craig, M.Ed. — 703-356-1508
• Website: stlukeschool.com
• 60th anniversary celebrated in 2022-2023

Architecture & The Pipe Organ

The current church was designed under the supervision of Father John J. Hughes and parish architect Frank Kacmar to be faithful to the architectural and liturgical principles of the Second Vatican Council. Its amphitheater-style sanctuary places the altar where everyone can see and participate. A striking bell tower crowns the narthex, and a mosaic of the Second Coming and a statue of Christ the High Priest were later added to the sanctuary. The Steiner-Reck Opus 104 pipe organ, installed in 1998, has been called "architecturally stunning" by The Washington Post.

• Church dedicated February 10, 1983 by Bishop Thomas Welsh
• Amphitheater-style sanctuary designed by Frank Kacmar per Vatican II principles
• Bell tower crowning the narthex
• Second Coming mosaic and Christ the High Priest statue
• Steiner-Reck Opus 104 organ (1998) — 60 ranks, 3,097 pipes, tracker console plus movable electric console