About St. Mark · Vienna, Virginia
St. Mark Catholic Church is a vibrant, mid-sized Catholic parish in Vienna, Virginia, in the Diocese of Arlington, founded in 1965 to serve the growing Catholic community in northern Fairfax County. Today the parish serves roughly 10,000 registered parishioners and nearly 400 students at its parish school, organized around a mission to Worship God, Invite all with love, Nurture faith, and Serve others. Liturgical life includes daily Mass, multiple Sunday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration every Sunday afternoon, and a vibrant music program that spans traditional choirs, handbells, a children's choir, and a contemporary Youth Mass Choir. St. Mark operates on a 20-acre campus on Vale Road that includes the 1984 sanctuary, the converted Msgr. Cassidy Activities Center, the 2003 Christian Formation Center housing the school, and extensive grounds for community life.
- Established
- 1965
- Patron
- St. Mark the Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. Peter W. Nassetta, Y.A.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Arlington
Why belong here
St. Mark welcomes newcomers with an in-person registration process, a new-member packet, a personal welcome letter from the pastor, and newcomer luncheons each fall and spring — a 60-year-old parish rooted in the spirit of Vatican II that takes lay involvement and tithing seriously. The parish offers the full sacramental life (daily Mass, weekly Adoration, confession six days a week, and a vibrant music program with traditional, contemporary, youth, handbell, children's, funeral, and festival choirs), an active RCIA and full sacramental-preparation track for children, family-friendly faith formation and youth ministry (grades 6–12 plus college-age), and outreach through five Commissions of Worship, Religious Education, Community Growth, Service, and Youth Ministry.
Mass times at St. Mark
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 8:45 am–9:30 am
- Saturday 4:00 pm–5:00 pm (Saturday Vigil)
- By appointment — call 703-281-9100
Adoration times
- Every Sunday: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 12:00 pm–5:00 pm, followed by Evening Prayer and Benediction
- First Friday: 10:00 am–5:00 pm
Parish History
St. Mark was established in May 1965 at the request of Bishop John J. Russell of Richmond, in the immediate aftermath of the Second Vatican Council. Founding pastor Fr. Robert J. Walsh organized 400 families, celebrated the first Mass on August 1, 1965 at James Madison High School, and over seven years established the CCD religious-education program, the Neighborhood Group Structure for small-group community life, and a parish tithing model. He also renovated a farmhouse for the rectory and built the original church and School of Religion. Since then six pastors — Walsh, Msgr. Thomas Cassidy, Fr. Anthony Justs, Fr. Stewart Culkin, Fr. Patrick Holroyd, and the current Fr. Peter Nassetta, Y.A. — have guided the parish through growth on its 20-acre Vale Road campus. Milestones include the move onto the Vale Road property in 1968, the construction and dedication of the current sanctuary in 1984, completion of the Christian Formation Center in 2003, and the 50th anniversary celebration in 2015.
- First Mass: August 1, 1965 at James Madison High School
- Moved to present 20-acre Vale Road campus: August 1968
- Current sanctuary completed and dedicated: 1984
- Christian Formation Center completed: 2003
- 50th anniversary: 2015
- Pastors to date: Walsh, Msgr. Cassidy, Justs, Culkin, Holroyd, Nassetta
Mass & Sacraments
The parish offers a full schedule of daily and Sunday Masses on the Vale Road campus, complemented by weekly Eucharistic Adoration every Sunday afternoon and on First Friday, and by Saturday confession before the Vigil Mass. The sacramental life — Baptism, First Penance, First Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick — is administered through the parish office; preparation for First Sacraments typically takes place in Grade 2 and for Confirmation in Grade 8, in line with Diocese of Arlington norms. Adult initiation and reception into the Church is handled through the RCIA program under the Director of Religious Education.
- Sunday Masses: Saturday Vigil 5:30 pm; Sunday 9:00 am and 11:00 am
- Daily Mass: Mon–Fri 9:15 am; also Mon 7:30 pm, Fri 6:15 am, Sat 8:00 am
- Confession: Sat 8:45–9:30 am and 4:00–5:00 pm; by appointment
- Adoration: Sun 12:00–5:00 pm with Evening Prayer and Benediction; First Fri 10:00 am–5:00 pm
- First Penance/Eucharest typically in Grade 2; Confirmation typically in Grade 8
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Mark runs a comprehensive faith-formation program from PreK through Grade 12 under the leadership of Director of Religious Education Tiffany Lambert ([email protected]). Sacramental preparation for First Penance and First Eucharist normally takes place in Grade 2, and Confirmation preparation spans Grades 7 and 8 with a Spirit Team, retreat, parent sessions, an interview, and a letter to the pastor. Older youth in grades 9–12 prepare for Confirmation through Sunday afternoon classes held 1–2 times per month, and a self-paced online option ('My Catholic Faith Delivered') is also offered. Adult formation includes RCIA, online and in-person Bible study (with Zoom allowing distant parishioners to participate), Sunday-morning parent programs, and the parish Alpha Team — an 11-week small-group experience of film and conversation about the Christian faith.
- Children's Faith Formation (PreK–Grade 8) — fees: First Penance/Eucharist $35, Confirmation $270
- Sunday evening in-person classes for Grades 1–8
- Grades 9–12 Confirmation classes 1–2 times/month
- Self-paced online curriculum 'My Catholic Faith Delivered'
- Adult Bible study via Zoom and in-person
- Alpha Team 11-week retreat program
St. Mark Catholic School
St. Mark Catholic School (9972 Vale Road, 703-281-9103) serves children age 3 through Grade 8 on the parish campus and shares the 2003 Christian Formation Center with parish religious-education programs. Recognized as a 2015 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education and as a 2025 Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the Council for American Private Education, the school enrolls close to 400 students with small class sizes, a rigorous faith-rooted curriculum, and the evangelist-themed 'lion' mascot. Cross-curricular traditions include First Penance and Communion in Grade 2, States study in Grade 3, Colonial Days in Grade 4, World Geography in Grade 5, Ancient Civilizations in Grade 6, a Science Fair in Grade 7, and Confirmation in Grade 8.
- Address: 9972 Vale Road, Vienna, VA 22181
- Phone: (703) 281-9103
- Enrollment: ~400 students (PreK–Grade 8)
- 2015 National Blue Ribbon School (U.S. DOE); 2025 Blue Ribbon School of Excellence
- Admissions contact: Mrs. Rosetta DiMaria; Business/Financial Aid contact: Mrs. Crystal Sheehan
- Parishioner 2026–27 K–8 tuition: $10,300 first child / $9,900 second / $9,500 third
- Extended Day Care available (Full Day and Half Day options)
Youth Ministry
The parish offers year-round programming for Middle School (grades 6–8), High School (grades 9–12), and College-aged (18–22) youth, along with a Youth Mass Choir that sings the 11:00 am Mass on the last Sunday of each month with contemporary praise-and-worship music (Matt Maher, Chris Tomlin, Hillsong-style), supported by piano, guitar, bass, percussion and various strings and woodwinds. Annual faith-building experiences include WorkCamp service trips and summer events at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio. Youth Ministry updates are posted on Instagram at @saintmarkyouthministry.
- Middle School (grades 6–8) — Annual Registration Form
- High School (grades 9–12) — Annual Registration Form, includes Confirmation and Steubenville trips
- College-aged program (ages 18–22)
- Youth Mass Choir (last Sunday of each month, 11 am)
- Instagram: @saintmarkyouthministry
Music & Liturgical Ministries
St. Mark's liturgical life is supported by Director of Music and Worship Laura Cooman and a wide network of musicians, lectors, ushers, Eucharistic Ministers, altar servers, liturgy coordinators, and the Liturgical Arts Committee. Choirs span a wide range of styles and ages — a children's choir, a traditional choir, two contemporary/folk choirs, a handbell choir, a funeral choir, a festival choir for large parish events, and the Youth Mass Choir. The parish's commitment to liturgical beauty was visible at the July 2024 Installation Mass for Fr. Peter Nassetta, when the Handbell Choir, full Choir, and a packed sanctuary gathered with Bishop Michael F. Burbidge.
- Traditional Choir
- Two Contemporary/Folk Choirs
- Children's Choir
- Handbell Choir
- Funeral Choir
- Festival Choir (large parish events)
- Youth Mass Choir (last Sunday of each month at 11 am)
- Director of Music and Worship: Laura Cooman
Pastoral & Finance Councils
The Pastoral Council serves as an advisory body to the pastor — its 'eyes and ears' — and operates by consensus. It includes the heads of the five Parish Commissions (Worship, Religious Education, Community Growth, Service, and Youth Ministry) as ex-officio members, the Chair, Vice-Chairs, Secretary, Recording Secretary, Finance Council Chair, PTPO Liaison, School Liaison, Business Manager, and Parish Staff Liaison, along with eight at-large elected members serving two-year terms and up to two pastor-appointed members. The Finance Council, chaired by Sean Moynihan, oversees parish financial stewardship. Past chair Greg Ulses led the council into the parish's strategic-planning phase with Fr. Peter Nassetta.
- Five Parish Commissions: Worship, Religious Education, Community Growth, Service, Youth Ministry
- Chair: Greg Ulses (recent); 1st Vice Chair Stephen Rosenlund; 2nd Vice Chair (open in recent filings)
- Finance Council Chair: Sean Moynihan
- School Liaison: Kimberly Parker; PTPO Liaison: Karli Nickerson
- Stafish Liaison: Crystal Sheehan (Business Manager)
Getting Involved & Outreach
St. Mark lists dozens of ministries with 'How to Join' links on its Get Involved page, spanning liturgical, formation, outreach, and community-life work. The Service Commission is central to the parish's outreach identity, joining the parish's continuing emphasis on tithing and caring for the materially poor that began with founding pastor Fr. Walsh. Newcomers can call or stop by the parish office to register; they receive a new-member packet with the bulletin, bimonthly newsletter, and ministry information, a welcome email, and a personal letter from the pastor, and are invited to fall and spring newcomer luncheons.
- How to Join entries for each ministry on stmark.org/get-involved/
- Parish Strategic Plan — recent initiative with the new pastor
- Newcomer luncheons in fall and spring
- Service Commission and Outreach ministries
- Funeral Ministry / SMAC Team (longtime volunteer Claire Fountaine)
Contact, Directions & Clergy Notes
The parish office is at 9970 Vale Road, Vienna, VA 22181; phone (703) 281-9100, fax (703) 281-0675. Stacey Ashman in the Parish Office is the first point of contact for many inquiries. Scam-alert text on the site reminds parishioners that Fr. Peter, Fr. Ignatius, Deacon John, and parish staff will never solicit donations by email or text. The parish warns against an unfulfilled assignment of Fr. Robert Brooks in its history, and notes Pastor Emeritus Fr. Patrick Holroyd's retirement in 2024.
- Address: 9970 Vale Road, Vienna, VA 22181
- Phone: (703) 281-9100; Fax: (703) 281-0675
- Parish Office contact: Stacey Ashman
- Clergy note: Frs. Peter and Ignatius, Deacon John, and parish staff never solicit donations via email or text
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Robert J. Walsh1965–1972 (7 years)
Founding pastor; led 400 families; established CCD, Neighborhood Groups, and Parish Council; built original church/school.
- Rev. Robert Brooks
Assignment unfulfilled.
- Msgr. Thomas J. Cassidyapprox. 16 years as pastor, plus 8 years in retirement
Organized five Commissions; oversaw 1984 sanctuary and refurbishment of original church (now Msgr. Cassidy Activities Center); named Honorary Prelate of the Pontifical Household by Bishop Welsh.
- Fr. Anthony Justs
Succeeded Msgr. Cassidy.
- Fr. Stewart Culkin
Had been an associate pastor at St. Mark in the mid-1970s; led construction of the 2003 Christian Formation Center.
- Fr. Patrick Holroyd2001–2024
Celebrated 50th anniversary (2015), paid off mortgage, debt-free parish; oversaw growth to roughly 10,000 parishioners.
- Fr. Peter W. Nassetta, Y.A.2024–
Youth Apostles priest; previously chaplain at George Mason University (16 years) and James Madison University.