St. Catherine of Siena (Diocese of Arlington)
| Saint Catherine of Siena Catholic Church | |
 | |
| Dedication: | Saint Catherine of Siena |
| Venerated Saints: | None specified |
| Diocese: | Diocese of Arlington |
| Deanery: | Deanery 3 |
| Address: | 1020 Springvale Road, Great Falls, VA 22066 |
| Coordinates: | 38.9350, -77.3628 |
| City: | Great Falls, VA |
| Subdivision: | Virginia |
| Country: | United States |
| County: | Fairfax County |
| Website: | https://saintcatherineschurch.org/ |
| Founded: | 1966 |
| School: | Yes |
| Email: | office@saintcatherineschurch.org, office@stcatherinesiena.org, office@stcatherinesiena.org |
Saint Catherine of Siena Catholic Church is a territorial parish in the Diocese of Arlington, located in Great Falls, Virginia. Dedicated to Saint Catherine of Siena, the fourteenth-century Dominican tertiary, mystic, and Doctor of the Church—canonized in 1461 and proclaimed Doctor in 1970 for her theological writings and diplomatic efforts in Church affairs—the parish operates Siena Academy, a Montessori-based Catholic school (pre-K through grade 8).
Established in 1966 amid suburban growth in northern Fairfax County, the parish initially celebrated Masses in local facilities before dedicating its current church building. As of December 19, 2025, Saint Catherine of Siena serves a community emphasizing traditional Catholic worship, Eucharistic adoration, and faithful adherence to Church teaching.
The parish community fosters devotion to its patroness through study of her life and writings, reflecting her charism of contemplative prayer and active service.
History
Saint Catherine of Siena Parish was established in 1966 by the Diocese of Arlington (then part of the Diocese of Richmond until 1974) to serve Catholics in the Great Falls area.[1][2]
The current church building was constructed in subsequent years. Siena Academy, using a Montessori approach integrated with Catholic faith formation, serves the parish educational needs.
The parish maintains a focus on reverent liturgy and orthodox teaching.
School
Siena Academy (pre-K through grade 8) employs the Montessori method, emphasizing self-directed learning while incorporating daily opportunities for Mass and religious education.[3]
The academy aims to form students in faith and academics.
Special features
- Extended Eucharistic adoration on Wednesdays and First Fridays
- Emphasis on traditional Catholic worship and inquiry classes for deepening faith
- Montessori-based parish academy with daily Mass opportunities
Architecture
The church building reflects mid-to-late twentieth-century design, providing a prayerful space for the community.
Art and devotional features
Specific details on stained glass windows, statues, sculptures, or other interior artwork are limited in publicly available sources as of December 19, 2025. Devotional elements typically include representations of Saint Catherine of Siena, often portraying her in Dominican habit with symbols such as a lily, book, or crucifix, drawn from hagiographic tradition.
Relics
According to established Catholic tradition, the main altar contains deposited relics, as is customary in dedicated churches. Specific details regarding the saints associated with these relics are not publicly documented in available sources. This follows common practice where first-class relics, often of martyrs, are sealed within the altar.
Related parishes
References
- ↑ "Home". Saint Catherine of Siena Catholic Church. https://saintcatherineschurch.org/.
- ↑ "Saint Catherine of Siena (Great Falls)". Catholic Diocese of Arlington. https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/jubilee/our-diocese/our-history/parish-history-profiles/saint-catherine-of-siena-great-falls/.
- ↑ "Home". Saint Catherine of Siena Catholic Church. https://saintcatherineschurch.org/.