St. Ambrose (Diocese of Arlington)
| Saint Ambrose Catholic Church | |
 | |
| Dedication: | Saint Ambrose |
| Venerated Saints: | Our Lady, Saint Joseph |
| Diocese: | Diocese of Arlington |
| Deanery: | Deanery 2 |
| Address: | 3901 Woodburn Road, Annandale VA 22003 |
| Coordinates: | 38.84102, -77.2431 |
| City: | Annandale, VA |
| Subdivision: | Virginia |
| Country: | United States |
| County: | Fairfax County |
| Website: | https://stambroseva.org/ |
| Founded: | 1966 |
| School: | Yes |
| Email: | dvasilakos@stambroseva.org, information@stambroseva.org, information@stambroseva.org |
Saint Ambrose Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic territorial parish in the Diocese of Arlington, located in Annandale, Virginia. Dedicated to Saint Ambrose, the fourth-century Bishop of Milan, Doctor of the Church, and patron of beekeepers and learners—renowned for his eloquent preaching, defense of orthodoxy, and conversion of Saint Augustine—the parish emphasizes service, outreach to the sick and elderly, lay leadership, and humanitarian care. It is home to the diocesan chapter of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and serves a diverse community with strong military ties, bilingual programs, and extensive ministries.
Established on June 4, 1966, amid population growth in Fairfax County, the parish initially comprised about 400 families and held Masses in local schools before building permanent structures. The church was dedicated in 1977, the parochial school opened in the 1980s (later becoming a recognized dual-language institution), and a new church building replaced the previous structure, with groundbreaking in 2021 and dedication on July 15, 2023, by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge. As of December 14, 2025, Saint Ambrose continues to foster vibrant faith formation, youth programs, Eucharistic Adoration, community outreach, and digital engagement through livestreamed Masses.
The parish operates Saint Ambrose Catholic School (pre-K through grade 8), offering a Spanish immersion dual-language program with STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts, and Math) emphasis, and supports ministries reflecting its patron's charitable legacy.
History
Saint Ambrose Parish was established on June 4, 1966, by Bishop John J. Russell of the Diocese of Richmond, carved from surrounding parishes to serve growing Catholic families in Annandale and Fairfax areas, with about 400 initial families under first pastor Fr. Vincent Sikora.[1] Initial Masses were held in schools, followed by construction of a parish center (dedicated 1968, now part of the school) and a church (groundbreaking 1976, dedicated December 7, 1977, by Bishop Thomas J. Welsh after the Diocese of Arlington was erected in 1974).[1]
Subsequent pastors oversaw growth: renovations and school opening under Fr. Mark Pilon; new activities building in 2001 under Fr. Richard Ley; evangelization focus under Fr. Dominic Irace; and continued expansion under Fr. Andrew Fisher (installed 2011).[1][2]
Population growth necessitated a new church; the 1977 building was demolished, groundbreaking occurred in 2021, and the current structure was dedicated on July 15, 2023.[3][2]
Special features
- Home to the Arlington Diocese chapter of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, supporting humanitarian, medical, and social care[2]
- Extensive outreach to the sick and elderly, including ministries in six nursing homes and a mental health institute within parish boundaries, plus service at Christ House in Alexandria[2]
- Dual-language (English-Spanish) program in the parochial school, with sacraments and faith formation in multiple languages[2]
- Strong lay leadership and volunteerism, particularly among military families; active Knights of Columbus and Women of St. Ambrose[2]
- Youth ministries: God Squad (high school), Kolbe’s Kids (grades 5-8), religious education, and summer camp[4]
- Monthly Eucharistic Adoration (first Fridays) and various Bible studies/Lectio Divina[5]
- Digital engagement: Livestreamed Masses and active social media presence
Relics
The main altar, dedicated in 2023, contains a stone from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem embedded in its posterior, along with 14 first-class relics of saints (deposited by parishioners) and a first-class relic of St. Ambrose (gifted from Milan, placed in the narthex with a brick from his tomb).[3][2]
Architecture
The current church (dedicated 2023) features traditional elements blended with modernity: vaulted Marian blue ceiling with gold leaf, cherry wood furnishings, marble altar with altar rail, full accessibility, and stones from holy sites in Israel (Bethlehem, Nazareth, Holy Sepulchre) embedded in the main aisle floor to evoke a pilgrimage.[3][2]
Art and devotional features
The interior guides worshippers in a pilgrimage experience with devotional artwork, including antique stained-glass windows (circa 1890, Munich, Germany, from a closed Philadelphia church), featuring a prominent rose window depicting Mary and the child Jesus.[3][2]
Related parishes
No specific related parishes are documented.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "History of St. Ambrose Church". Saint Ambrose Catholic Church. https://stambroseva.org/history.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 "St. Ambrose Church". Arlington Catholic Herald. October 19, 2023. https://www.catholicherald.com/article/local/parishes/st-ambrose/.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "A walk through Annandale’s newest Catholic church is a pilgrimage". Arlington Catholic Herald. August 15, 2023. https://www.catholicherald.com/article/local/parishes/a-walk-through-annandales-newest-catholic-church-is-a-pilgrimage/.
- ↑ "St. Ambrose Catholic Church". Saint Ambrose Catholic Church. https://stambroseva.org/.
- ↑ "St. Ambrose Catholic Church". Saint Ambrose Catholic Church. https://stambroseva.org/.