About St. Theresa · Ashburn, Virginia
St. Theresa Parish is a thriving Roman Catholic community in Ashburn, Virginia, about 35 miles west of Washington, D.C., in the Diocese of Arlington. Founded in 1991 by Monsignor James W. McMurtrie and named for St. Thérèse of Lisieux — his own mother's patron — the parish grew from 118 founding families celebrated in a high-school gym to a community of roughly 14,693 parishioners today. A permanent church was consecrated by Bishop Paul S. Loverde on November 11, 2009, after 15 years of daily Mass being celebrated in the parish school's multi-purpose room. The parish runs a K-8 school, an extensive Religious Education program, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, and more than 50 active ministries.
- Established
- 1991
- Patron
- St. Thérèse of Lisieux
- Rector
- Rev. James C. Hudgins
- Diocese
- Diocese of Arlington
Why belong here
St. Theresa offers the full sacramental and devotional life of a large, multi-priest parish: daily Mass in the church (with a Monday and Wednesday noon Mass), weekly Confession on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and a perpetual Adoration chapel dedicated to the Martin family where parishioners can sign up for a holy hour. Faith formation runs from Religious Education K-8 and OCIA for adults, through the parish's own K-8 St. Theresa School and Youth Ministry's Upper Room Squad, to dozens of small groups — Walking With Purpose, That Man Is You, Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbus, OCIA, GriefShare, and more. Add in outreach such as Divine Mercy Outreach, Friends in Need, Food Drives, Respect Life and the Gabriel Project, and a family-friendly festival and Lenten tradition lineup, and the parish has room for everyone.
Mass times at St. Theresa
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 9:00 am (until the line ends)
- Wednesday 7:00 pm during Holy Hour (until the line ends)
- Saturday 4:00 pm (until the line ends)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration in the parish Adoration Chapel, dedicated to Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin
- Wednesday Holy Hour with Exposition and Confessions 7:00 pm
- Sign-up for a weekly holy hour at sainttheresa.letusadore.com
History of St. Theresa Parish
Saint Theresa Catholic Church was founded by Monsignor James W. McMurtrie on August 4, 1991 at the request of Bishop John R. Keating, carved out of the boundaries of St. John the Apostle (Leesburg), Christ the Redeemer (Sterling) and St. Joseph (Herndon). The parish was named for St. Thérèse of Lisieux in honor of Msgr. McMurtrie's mother. The first Sunday drew an estimated 600 people to three Masses at Broad Run High School, and 118 families registered as founding parishioners.
- Founded August 4, 1991 by Msgr. James W. McMurtrie
- First Masses celebrated at Broad Run and Park View High Schools (1991-1994)
- Multi-purpose school and parish center ground broken 1993
- St. Theresa School opened September 6, 1994 with 150 K-6 students under founding principal Jacqueline MacKenzie
- Father Richard M. Guest installed as second pastor in 2002
- New church groundbreaking September 30, 2007; construction began April 2008
- Bishop Paul S. Loverde consecrated the new church November 11, 2009
- 2015 school/parish wing added, including the Adoration Chapel
- New rectory completed 2020
- Father James C. Hudgins appointed third pastor July 16, 2020 by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge
Our Patron: St. Thérèse of Lisieux
The parish takes its name from St. Thérèse of Lisieux ("the Little Flower"), Doctor of the Church and patron of missions, whose final words — "All for the love of the good God" — are etched beside the front doors of the 2009 church. Msgr. McMurtrie chose the name because St. Thérèse was the patron of his own mother, who raised him and his three siblings alone after their father's death. The parish observes her feast day on October 1.
- St. Thérèse of Lisieux, d. 1897, canonized 1925, declared Doctor of the Church 1997
- Feast day observed October 1
- Named by Msgr. McMurtrie in honor of his mother
- Her final words inscribed at the church's front doors
Clergy and Staff
St. Theresa is staffed by a pastor, three parochial vicars and two permanent deacons, supported by parish-office and faith-formation staff. The parish also collaborates with Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, and a large lay ministry corps.
- Rev. James C. Hudgins — Pastor
- Rev. Paul L. Dudzinski — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. John F. O'Farrell — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Christopher T. Vaccaro — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Paul C. Konold (USN ret.)
- Deacon Anthony J. Renzette
- Erin O'Malley — Principal, St. Theresa School
- Larry Bayne — Director of Religious Education
- Paul Dwyer — Coordinator of Youth Ministry
Christian Initiation and Sacraments
St. Theresa prepares Catholics of every age for the sacraments: First Penance and First Holy Communion for grade-school children (normally a two-year process beginning in 1st grade, celebrated in 2nd grade), Confirmation for teens, and OCIA (formerly RCIA) for adults on Monday evenings. Sacramental catch-up classes are available for older students grades 3-5 and 6-8.
- OCIA (RCIA) — Mondays 7:00–8:00 pm, Zelie Room, administered by Fr. Hudgins
- First Penance and First Holy Communion — 2-year prep starting in 1st grade
- Confirmation preparation — typically in high school years
- Sacramental catch-up classes for grades 3-5 and 6-8
- Baptism preparation classes
- Matrimony and Anointing of the Sick — contact parish office
Faith Formation and Education
Faith formation at St. Theresa runs from preschool through adulthood. The parish's own K-8 school sits on the same campus, while the Religious Education program serves nearly 1,700 students in addition to the school's roughly 500. Adult Faith Formation, Catholic Education for Adults, Bible studies, and small-discipleship groups round out the lifelong-learning mission.
- St. Theresa School (K-8), 21370 St. Theresa Lane — Principal Erin O'Malley, 703-729-3577
- Religious Education K-8 (Director: Larry Bayne, 703-729-3714)
- Adult Faith Formation
- Catholic Education for Adults Program
- Men's Bible Study
- Women's Bible Study — Walking With Purpose
- RCIA / OCIA
- Natural Family Planning
St. Theresa School
St. Theresa School is the first Catholic school in Loudoun County, having opened in 1994 and expanded to grade 8 by 1997. Its 2015 addition created an enclosed courtyard and new offices. The school day includes Religion class as part of the regular curriculum, in contrast with parish RE students.
- Opened September 6, 1994 with 150 K-6 students
- First 8th-grade class graduated June 1997
- K-8 currently enrolling nearly 500 students
- Principal Erin O'Malley
- Website: www.stsashburn.com
Parish Life, Groups and Outreach
St. Theresa's more than 50 active groups span spiritual life, fellowship, formation, service and recreation. From the Knights of Columbus Council 15256 and Legion of Mary to Young at Heart (55+), Walking With Purpose, That Man Is You, and the Ashburn Catholic Young Adults, every demographic has a community. Outreach includes Divine Mercy Outreach, Friends in Need, Food Drives, Gabriel Project, Respect Life, WorkCamp mission trips, and You(th) vs. Hunger. Signature parish events include the Festival of Trees, Lenten Soup Suppers, Pancake Breakfasts, Donut Sundays, and Vacation Bible School.
- Knights of Columbus — Saint Louis Martin Council 15256
- Legion of Mary, Padre Pio Prayer Group, Divine Mercy Prayer & Study Group, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus and Holy Face Prayer Group
- Women: Walking With Purpose, Women's Discipleship Group, Women's Council, Mom's Group
- Men: That Man Is You, Men's Bible Study, Men's Discipleship Group
- Young adults: Ashburn Catholic Young Adults
- Young at Heart Club (55+), Trinity House Community Gatherings
- Outreach: Divine Mercy Outreach, Friends in Need, Food Drive, Gabriel Project, Respect Life, WorkCamp, You(th) vs. Hunger, Visitation Ministry
- Youth: Upper Room Squad, Altar Boys, Vacation Bible School
- Fellowship: Donut Sunday, Festival of Trees, Pancake Breakfast, Dinner Club
Music and Liturgical Ministries
Music Ministry under Choir Director Anne Miller and Music Director Matthew Ho welcomes new members at any time. Liturgical roles are filled by a robust corps of Extraordinary Ministers, Lectors and Commentators, Mass Greeters, Ushers, and Altar Servers (Altar Boys).
- Choir and Music Ministry
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Lectors and Commentators
- Mass Greeters and Ushers
- Altar Boys / Altar Servers
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. James W. McMurtrie1991–2002
Founding pastor; began the parish with Masses at Broad Run High School and oversaw the building of the multi-purpose school (1994).
- Rev. Richard M. Guest2002–2020
Second pastor; led the construction of the permanent church dedicated November 11, 2009; oversaw the 2015 school/parish wing and adoration chapel.
- Rev. James C. Hudgins2020–present
Appointed third pastor by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge on July 16, 2020; ordained 1998 for the Arlington Diocese.