Welcome to St. John the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, a growing and diverse parish within the Catholic Diocese of Arlington.
Our Church of St. John the Apostle has a rich and special history that spans the centuries. From the small, centenarian chapel on King Street to the new towering church across the street, St. John the Apostle blends the antique with the modern in a growing, but still small-town atmosphere.
"When we started formulating our church design requirements, we identified 4 guiding principles:
With a fervent devotion to Our Lady and the tireless efforts of the many dedicated, construction of the new church was completed in August of 2012. The Dedication Mass was held on August 3, 2012 with hundreds of parishoners in attendance. On that joyful day, according to eyewitness Karen Graham, "a procession arrived outside the closed church doors where the keys and legal ownership documents were formally passed to the Bishop" [Loverde], "the principal celebrant. The bishop called for the doors to be opened and led the congregation inside a darkened, bare sanctuary. For the next three hours in a beautiful and ancient tradition, the furnishings were anointed, incensed and consecrated to their sacred purpose as part of the dedication mass."2
According to francklohsen.com:
"Building upon the rich tradition of Catholic architecture, this new church, with a Latin cross plan, seats 1,100 people and serves as the center of this established community. The architectural style is an American Vernacular with Gothic and Romanesque inspirations. Located on a former prominent estate, this new building faces the grand lawn and the town as well. A soaring tower contributes to the traditional skyline of this historic Virginia town."3 View the pristine photos of our new church on the Franck & Lohsen website by clicking on the camera icon.
Today, St. John the Apostle Catholic Church has grown to about 3,300 families and is faithfully served by our Pastor, Fr. Kevin Larsen, and our Parochial Vicars, Fr. Michael Kelly and Fr. Ed Guilloux. Read about our Clergy.
Weekly, St. John the Apostle celebrates six Sunday Masses and a Saturday night vigil. Every effort is made to serve the diverse needs of our community through our Liturgy. Those who relish the Latin Tradition can attend a Sunday Latin Mass. A Spanish Mass is offered at the Main Church each Sunday.
Parish Ministries provide a wide range of home-based as well as outreach services that include an active Knights of Columbus council and a Ladies Auxiliary. The parish has a Religious Education program that welcomes more than 1,000 students each school year under Ms. Diana Solomon, the Director of Religious Education, and Ms. Sara Ginther (CYM).
Dr. Michael Langlois heads a robust music program with multiple choirs.
A giving tree stands in the lobby of the parish center, encouraging parishioners to support crisis pregnancy centers and food pantries. And a monthly food drive for a local food bank is part of the fabric of the parish.
We hope you will explore our ministries through this website and join with us in service!