St. Leo the Great (Diocese of Arlington)

Saint Leo the Great Catholic Church
Dedication:	Saint Leo the Great
Venerated Saints:	Saint Joseph, Our Lady
Diocese:	Diocese of Arlington
Deanery:	Deanery 4
Address:	3700 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22030
Coordinates:	38.8278, -77.1972
City:	Fairfax, VA
Subdivision:	Virginia
Country:	United States
County:	Fairfax County
Website:	https://stleoparish.org/
Founded:	1961
School:	Yes
Email:	office@stleoparish.org

Saint Leo the Great Catholic Church is a territorial parish in the Diocese of Arlington, located in Fairfax, Virginia. Dedicated to Saint Leo the Great, the fifth-century Pope and Doctor of the Church renowned for his Christological teaching at the Council of Chalcedon (451) and his diplomatic intervention with Attila the Hun (452), the parish operates a parochial school and emphasizes faith formation, charitable outreach, and liturgical life.

Established in 1961 amid postwar growth in Fairfax County, the parish began with Masses in local schools before dedicating its church in 1964. Saint Leo Catholic School opened in 1966. The current church building was dedicated in 2003. As of December 17, 2025, Saint Leo the Great serves a large community with extensive ministries, including religious education and support for local charities.

The parish community fosters devotion to its patron through study of his writings and celebration of his feast on November 10.

History

Saint Leo the Great Parish was established on September 1, 1961, by Bishop Thomas J. Welsh of the Diocese of Arlington (then part of the Diocese of Richmond until 1974), to serve the rapidly growing Catholic population in central Fairfax County.

Initial Masses were celebrated in local public schools. The first church building was dedicated in 1964. Saint Leo Catholic School opened in 1966 under the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.

Growth necessitated a larger facility; the current church was dedicated in 2003. The parish has long emphasized education, charity, and evangelization.

School

Saint Leo Catholic School (pre-K through grade 8) opened in 1966, initially staffed by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.

The school provides faith-integrated education and has received recognition for academic excellence within the diocese.

Special features

• Strong emphasis on charitable outreach, including support for local food banks and community assistance programs
• Active religious education and youth ministries
• Celebration of the feast of Saint Leo the Great on November 10

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.

Architecture

The current church, dedicated in 2003, features contemporary design with spacious sanctuary suited to large congregations.

Associated buildings include the school and parish facilities.

Art and devotional features

Specific details on stained glass windows, statues, sculptures, or other interior artwork are limited in publicly available sources. Devotional elements likely include representations of the patron Saint Leo the Great, often portraying him in papal vestments or teaching.