About St. Paul Chung · Fairfax, Virginia
St. Paul Chung Catholic Church (성 정 바오로 성당) is a Korean Catholic national parish located at 4712 Rippling Pond Dr. in Fairfax, Virginia, established on February 1, 1996 as the 61st parish of the Diocese of Arlington by Bishop John R. Keating. Founded by Korean-American families who first gathered in the mid-1980s, it is one of the largest Korean Catholic parishes in the United States, today serving approximately 7,500 parishioners in about 2,400 households. Almost all Masses are celebrated in Korean with traditional music, and the parish maintains a vibrant cultural life — including the Hasang Cultural Center, Korean and adult schools, Sunday school, a Cursillo movement, Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbus, and a youth ministry. The Sunday 2:00 PM Mass is celebrated in English to welcome second- and third-generation Korean Americans and other English-speaking visitors.
- Established
- 1986 (first Mass); 1996 (established as a parish)
- Patron
- St. Paul Chung Hasang (also rendered Ha-sang), the 19th-century Korean Catholic lay apostle martyred in 1839 alongside 103 Korean martyrs.
- Rector
- Rev. Daniel Bae Ha-jeong (배하정 다니엘) — installed as pastor on October 15 by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, following his transfer from the Diocese of Wonju in South Korea. A 2000 ordinand, he is the youngest of his parents' seven sons, four of whom are also priests.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Arlington (the 61st parish of the diocese, erected February 1, 1996).
Why belong here
St. Paul Chung is one of the largest Korean Catholic parishes in the United States — a true home for Korean-American Catholics that puts equal weight on liturgy, language and culture. Most Masses are celebrated in Korean with traditional music; there is also an English Mass every Sunday at 2:00 PM and a vibrant CYO youth ministry (grades 9–12) that meets in English. Faith formation here reaches well beyond Sunday school: the Hasang Cultural Center hosts a Korean School and an Adult School (with English and citizenship classes), the parish runs the Cursillo movement, Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbus, Health & Welfare ministry, and the Sunday 10:00 AM Mass is even livestreamed on YouTube for those who cannot attend in person. If you are a Korean Catholic in the Washington, D.C. area, an English-speaking spouse or second-generation Korean American, or simply a visitor drawn by the Korean Catholic tradition, you will find a deeply faithful, multi-generational community here.
Mass times at St. Paul Chung
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday — 30 minutes before Mass
- Tuesday — 30 minutes before the 7:30 PM Mass
- Wednesday — 30 minutes before the 11:00 AM Mass
- Friday — 30 minutes before the 7:30 PM Mass
- Saturday — 30 minutes before Mass
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
History of St. Paul Chung Catholic Church
St. Paul Chung traces its origin to October 13, 1985, when Korean Catholic families moved from St. Andrew Kim Catholic Church in Maryland to Northern Virginia. They celebrated their first Mass on September 28, 1986 at St. Bernadette Church in Springfield, VA, with Fr. Simon Yongsik Park of the Diocese of Wonju. Bishop John R. Keating formally approved the name 'St. Paul Chung Korean Catholic Missionary Church' on October 7, 1986. A decade later, on February 1, 1996, Bishop Keating dedicated the present church on Rippling Pond Drive in Fairfax and erected it as the 61st parish of the Diocese of Arlington. The parish celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2021 with Fr. Benedicto Taejin Kim and Bishop Michael F. Burbidge.
- 1985 (Oct 13) — founding Korean families arrive from St. Andrew Kim parish in Maryland
- 1986 (Sept 28) — first Mass at St. Bernadette Church, Springfield, with Fr. Simon Yongsik Park
- 1986 (Oct 7) — name 'St. Paul Chung Korean Catholic Missionary Church' approved by Bishop Keating
- 1995 (Oct) — construction begins at current Fairfax location
- 1996 (Feb 1) — established as the 61st parish of the Diocese of Arlington
- 2021 — 25th anniversary celebrated with Fr. Benedicto Taejin Kim and Bishop Burbidge
- Today — ~7,500 parishioners in ~2,400 households, one of the largest Korean Catholic parishes in the United States
Hasang Cultural Center (하상 문화센터)
The Hasang Cultural Center, named after the parish's patron, is the educational and cultural arm of St. Paul Chung. Conceived under Fr. Peter Hoin Kwak and directed by Bong Lee — one of the founding parishioners — it hosts a Korean School (Sister Anna Nam, principal) for the younger generation and an Adult School (Juliana Kim, director) offering yoga, recreational activities, and basic English and citizenship classes for older parishioners adapting to U.S. life. The center also includes the Hasang Youth Center, with 13 classrooms and a gym, and a multipurpose hall with ten additional rooms used on weekends for youth and on weekdays for adults.
- Korean School — music, art, language and cultural classes (Principal: Sister Anna Nam)
- Adult School — yoga, recreation, English, citizenship (Director: Juliana Kim)
- Hasang Youth Center — 13 classrooms + gym
- Multipurpose hall — 10 additional rooms
- Center Director: Bong Lee, founding parishioner
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Paul Chung spans cradle-to-adult learning. The Korean School (under Sister Anna Nam) teaches language, music, art and Korean culture. The parish runs CCD for school-age children and Sunday School, plus CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) for grades 9–12, which meets in English and offers retreats, March for Life trips, ski and summer camps, an annual Senior Banquet, an Outdoor Mass, Work Camp, and the Diocese Rally.
- Korean School (Sister Anna Nam)
- Adult School (Juliana Kim)
- Sunday School
- CCD — religious education for school-age children
- CYO High School Ministry (grades 9–12, taught in English)
- CYO activities: March for Life, Retreats, Ski/Summer Camp, Work Camp, Diocese Rally, Senior Banquet, Outdoor Mass
Youth Ministry (CYO 고등부)
CYO is the parish's high-school youth ministry for grades 9 through 12. Each grade has a head teacher and assistant teacher, and classes are taught in English. The parochial vicar serves as principal; lay vice-principals and faculty support the program. CYO programs are designed to foster spiritual growth alongside fellowship.
- CYO 고등부 (9–12)
- 교감 (Vice Principal): 구아름 데레사
- 교무 (Faculty): 한성은 모니카
Parish Ministries & Community Groups
Beyond education, St. Paul Chung runs a wide network of lay-led ministries. The Cursillo movement involves more than 350 parishioners in 13 teams working together in prayer, fellowship and service. Other active groups include the Legion of Mary, the Knights of Columbus, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The Liturgical ministries draw on traditional Korean music, while a parish team produces the weekly bulletin and the YouTube livestream.
- Cursillo (350+ parishioners in 13 teams)
- Legion of Mary
- Knights of Columbus
- Health and Welfare Ministry
- Liturgical Music (Korean traditional)
- Bulletin / Livestream Production
Sisters Serving the Parish
Two Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres from the Seoul Province assist the parish community. Sister Anna Nam serves as principal of the Korean School, and Sister Gratia assists with religious education, the Legion of Mary, and the senior group, among other ministries.
- Sister Anna Nam — Principal, Korean School
- Sister Gratia — Religious Education, Legion of Mary, Senior Group
Sacraments
Infant Baptism is celebrated at 2:00 PM on the 2nd Sunday of each month (preparation required). Confession is offered 30 minutes before Mass on most days and by appointment. A First Saturday Marian Devotion Mass is celebrated monthly. Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and other sacramental preparations are arranged through the parish office.
- Infant Baptism — 2:00 PM, 2nd Sunday of the month
- First Saturday Marian Devotion Mass — 10:30 AM
- Confession — before Mass and by appointment
- Marriage / Anointing of the Sick — by arrangement with the parish office
Livestream & Online Presence
Every Sunday morning the 10:00 AM Parish Mass is livestreamed on YouTube from the parish website. The parish notes that watching the broadcast no longer fulfills the Sunday obligation but is offered in the spirit of 'spiritual communion' (대송) for those unable to attend in person. Past livestreams remain available on the parish's YouTube channel and on the website's Mass livestream page. The weekly bulletin and most parish communications are published in Korean on stpaulchung.org.
- Sunday 10:00 AM Mass livestreamed on YouTube
- Past livestreams archived on YouTube and stpaulchung.org
- Weekly bulletin published in Korean
- Parish primary website: https://stpaulchung.org/
Visit & Contact
St. Paul Chung Catholic Church is located at 4712 Rippling Pond Dr., Fairfax, VA 22033. Parish office: 703-968-3010, fax 703-968-3013, email [email protected]. The parish shares the Diocese of Arlington's recognition as a national parish serving the Korean Catholic Community in Northern Virginia. Visitors are invited to walk the exterior of the church, which is lined with statues of St. Paul Chung Hasang and the 103 other Korean martyrs.
- Address: 4712 Rippling Pond Dr., Fairfax, VA 22033
- Phone: 703-968-3010
- Fax: 703-968-3013
- Email: [email protected]
- Diocese: Diocese of Arlington (national parish for Korean Catholics)
- Notable exterior: statues of St. Paul Chung Hasang and the Korean martyrs
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Simon Yongsik Park (Diocese of Wonju, Korea)1985 (mission founding) – circa 1986+
First priest of the Korean Catholic mission community in Virginia; offered the inaugural Mass on September 28, 1986 at St. Bernadette Church in Springfield.
- Rev. Peter Hoin Kwak
Identified in the Arlington Catholic Herald as the parish's fourth pastor; credited as the visionary behind the Hasang Cultural Center and its schools.
- Rev. Benedicto Taejin Kimthrough 2021
Pastor during the parish's 25th anniversary in 2021; celebrated the milestone Mass with Bishop Michael F. Burbidge.
- Rev. Daniel Bae Ha-jeong2022 – present
Installed October 15 by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge; transferred from the Diocese of Wonju, South Korea; ordained 2000.