About United States Marine Memorial Chapel Quantico · Quantico, Virginia
The United States Marine Corps Memorial Chapel is the Roman Catholic chapel of Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, serving the active duty Marines, sailors, retirees, civilian employees, and family members of the installation. Run as part of the Command Religious Program by Navy chaplains and Religious Program Specialists, the chapel community gathers for daily and Sunday Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Catholic religious education, and a wide ecumenical program of Protestant, Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, and Latter-day Saint services on the base. The chapel itself is designated as a memorial to all Marines and Navy comrades who have died in service of their country.
- Diocese
- Served geographically within the Diocese of Arlington; as a U.S. military installation chapel, the Roman Catholic community is also under the pastoral care of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, with Catholic ministry provided by Navy chaplains assigned to Marine Corps Base Quantico.
Why belong here
The Marine Memorial Chapel is the spiritual home for Roman Catholic Marines, sailors, families, and civilians stationed or working aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico. Daily and Sunday Mass, regular Reconciliation, Catholic religious education for children and adults, the Catholic Women of the Chapel, and the Knights of Columbus men's fellowship all give Catholics a ready-made community. The chapel is also the place where Marines mark the most important moments of military life — promotions, retirements, weddings, and funerals — under the vaulted memory of every Marine and Navy comrade who has died in service.
Mass times at United States Marine Memorial Chapel Quantico
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 8:15 AM – 8:45 AM
- Sunday 11:45 AM – 12:00 PM
- Wednesday 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM
- Following 11:30 AM Mass on Monday, Thursday, and Friday
History of the Marine Memorial Chapel
The chapel was rebuilt in the mid-1950s to replace an earlier, smaller building that could no longer serve the post. In 1956, while the rebuild was underway, General Randolph McCall Pate, the 21st Commandant of the Marine Corps, formally designated the building as The United States Marine Corps Memorial Chapel and dedicated it to the memory of all Marines and their Navy comrades who have died in the service of their country. For decades the chapel served as the principal Catholic and ecumenical worship space on Marine Corps Base Quantico.
2010–2011 Renovation and Rededication
The chapel closed for renovation in July 2010. With the building unavailable, Mass, Protestant worship, weddings, funerals, and memorial services moved to Little Hall, the Base Theater. The $1.65 million project installed new carpet and tile throughout, refurbished the wooden pews (which were shipped to New York and back), shortened the front pews for wheelchair seating, widened door frames and added a ramp for accessibility, and replaced the fire suppression, alarm, and notification systems along with lighting and wall finishes. Navy Captain Robert Keane, then-command chaplain, and Rick Drake of the Resident Officer in Charge of Construction office oversaw the work. The chapel was officially rededicated at a Post-Renovation Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on September 21, 2011, and the first official post-renovation service was celebrated Sunday, October 2, 2011.
Worship Schedule
The chapel is the home of the base's Roman Catholic and Protestant communities and also facilitates Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, and Latter-day Saint services on the installation.
- Roman Catholic Mass — Sunday 9:00 AM and 12:15 PM
- Roman Catholic Mass — Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday at 11:30 AM
- No Tuesday Mass is scheduled
- Protestant Worship — Sunday, 10:30 AM
- Protestant Adult Sunday School — Sunday, 9:00–10:00 AM, Chapel Annex #137
- Islamic Dhuhr prayer — Monday–Thursday, 12:30 PM
- Islamic Jummah prayer — Friday, 1:15 PM
- Islamic Prayer Center open daily, 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Buddhist Sunday Service — 11:00 AM, Capodanno Chapel at The Basic School
- Jewish and LDS services facilitated by contact representatives
Catholic Faith Formation & Ministries
The Chaplain's Office runs Catholic religious education programs for adults and children aboard the base, and supports a number of parish-level fellowships.
- Catholic Religious Education — contact [email protected]
- Women of the Chapel — Bible study with childcare, Thursdays 9:00 AM ([email protected])
- Catholic Women of the Chapel — Bible study with childcare, Wednesdays 9:00 AM and 6:30 PM ([email protected])
- Knights of Columbus — Roman Catholic men's gathering ([email protected])
- Protestant Men's Fellowship ([email protected])
- CREDO — Navy chaplain-led marriage, family, and personal growth retreats ([email protected])
Ecumenical & Externally Supported Ministries
Several civilian faith-based ministries partner with the chapel to provide Bible studies, mentorship, and fellowship for service members and families.
- Cadence (cadence.org) — Bible studies, fellowship, Adopt-a-Marine (David and Jennie Osborne, 850-933-8511)
- Cru Military (crumilitary.org) — Bible studies and mentorship (Jim & Kim Rennie, 571-237-9854)
- Navigators (navigators.org) — Bible studies and mentorship (Michael & Velma Jacobs, 760-583-2233)
- Tun Tavern Fellowship (tuntavernfellowship.org) — Bible studies and mentorship (Mark Harrington, 703-507-6936)
Chaplain Staff (Our Team)
The chapel is staffed by Navy chaplains and Religious Program Specialists as part of the Command Religious Program. Catholic ministry is led by the Division Officer designated for Roman Catholic duties.
- CDR Paul Rodgers (Episcopal) — Command Chaplain ([email protected])
- LT Weston Body (Full Gospel) — Deputy Command Chaplain ([email protected])
- LT Patrick Costello (Roman Catholic) — Division Officer ([email protected])
- RP1 Joseph Wright — Leading Petty Officer ([email protected])
- RP2 Elijah Smith — Assistant Leading Petty Officer
- RPSN Ilvin Bing — Staff Religious Program Specialist
- Mr. Mitchell Krauss — Financial Manager
- Mr. Robert Duquette — Musician
Religious Ministry Team Support
The Religious Ministry Team (RMT) supports Marine Corps commands across the base with chaplain coverage and program coordination, in keeping with MCO 1730.6G.
- Force Preservation
- Readiness Integration — Spiritual Fitness, Character Development, Ethics, Just War
- Family Readiness
- Command Team support
- Behavioral Health Integration
- Religious Impact to Operations
- Casualty Care and Decedent Affairs
- Remote Religious Support
- Command Ceremonies
Spiritual Fitness
Spiritual Fitness is one of the four pillars of the USMC Total Fitness Program, alongside physical, mental, and social fitness. The Chaplain's Office frames spiritual fitness as 'inner strength from higher purpose,' tying the strength of will to act rightly to a greater sense of meaning and purpose beyond oneself.
- Chaplain counseling — 100% confidential, available 24/7
- Visitation, advocacy, and referral
- Advice up and down the chain of command on religious impact to operations, ethics, morale, and individual readiness
Sacraments, Weddings, Funerals & Memorials
The Marine Memorial Chapel is available for weddings, funerals, and memorial services, in addition to regular worship. Arrangements are coordinated through the Religious & Family Service Center.
- Weddings — reserve the chapel through the Chaplain's Office
- Funerals and memorial services — coordinate with the command chaplain
- Baptism, marriage preparation, and other sacramental needs — contact [email protected]
- Honor Guard requests coordinated through the base
Request Forms & Additional Contacts
Request forms for chaplain support, counseling, and facility reservation are available on the base website. Additional chaplain offices serve specific tenant organizations aboard Quantico.
- Chaplain Request Form
- Chaplain Counseling Request Form
- Facilities Request Form
- Command Duty Office — 703-784-2707
- MCCDC/TECOM Chaplain — 703-784-4067
- Command Chaplain — 703-784-3632
- Religious & Family Services — 703-784-2518
- H&S Bn Chaplain — 703-784-2784
- OCS Chaplain — 703-784-0372
- Marine Corps University Chaplain — 703-784-6900
- TBS / WTBN Chaplain — 703-784-5210
- Wounded Warrior Regiment — 703-432-1878
- MCAF & HMX-1 Chaplain — 202-814-8416
- Marine & Family Programs — 703-432-9435
Not to Be Confused With: Semper Fidelis Memorial Chapel
The base chapel program explicitly distinguishes the Marine Memorial Chapel from the Semper Fidelis Memorial Chapel at the National Museum of the Marine Corps. The Semper Fidelis chapel is operated by the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, has no regularly scheduled religious services, is open to visitors daily, and is available for private reservations through [email protected] or (703) 649-2350.
- Marine Memorial Chapel — run by the MCBQ Chaplain's Office for active worship, weddings, and funerals
- Semper Fidelis Memorial Chapel — at the National Museum of the Marine Corps; museum-operated; no regular services; available for private reservations