St. Paul Chung (Diocese of Arlington)

Saint Paul Chung Catholic Church
Dedication:	Saint Paul Chong Hasang and Companions
Venerated Saints:	None specified
Diocese:	Diocese of Arlington
Deanery:	Deanery 2
Address:	4619 Laverock Place, Annandale, VA 22003
Coordinates:	38.8572, -77.2297
City:	Annandale, VA
Subdivision:	Virginia
Country:	United States
County:	Fairfax County
Website:	https://stpaulchung.org
Founded:	1983
School:	Yes
Email:	,

Saint Paul Chung Catholic Church is a personal parish in the Diocese of Arlington, serving the Korean Catholic community in northern Virginia. Dedicated to Saint Paul Chong Hasang and the Korean Martyrs—103 saints canonized by Pope John Paul II on May 6, 1984, for their witness during persecutions in Korea from 1839 to 1867, with Paul Chong Hasang (a lay catechist and diplomat) as a prominent figure—the parish provides liturgies and ministries in the Korean language while following the Roman Rite.

Established in 1983 to serve Korean immigrants, the parish initially celebrated Masses in borrowed facilities before dedicating its current church building in 1993. As of December 19, 2025, Saint Paul Chung offers Masses in Korean, sacramental preparation, and cultural celebrations, including the annual feast of the Korean Martyrs on September 20.

The parish community fosters devotion to the Korean Martyrs as models of fidelity amid persecution, drawing from verified Church records of their martyrdom.

History

Saint Paul Chung Parish was established in 1983 by the Diocese of Arlington to provide pastoral care for the growing Korean Catholic community in northern Virginia.

The current church building was dedicated in 1993.

The parish remains a personal parish for Korean Catholics, preserving faith and heritage for immigrants and their descendants. The 103 Korean Martyrs, including Saint Paul Chong Hasang, were canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1984; their martyrdom is documented in historical Church records from the nineteenth century.

Special features

• Liturgies and ministries primarily in Korean, supporting cultural continuity
• Annual celebration of the feast of the Korean Martyrs on September 20
• Community events preserving Korean Catholic traditions

Architecture

The church building, dedicated in 1993, reflects late twentieth-century design suited to the parish 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 Paul Chong Hasang and the Korean Martyrs, often portraying lay and clerical figures in traditional Korean attire symbolizing their collective witness.

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.