St. Mary of Sorrows (Diocese of Arlington)
| Saint Mary of Sorrows Catholic Church | |
 | |
| Dedication: | Our Lady of Sorrows |
| Venerated Saints: | Saint Joseph |
| Diocese: | Diocese of Arlington |
| Deanery: | Deanery 4 |
| Address: | 5222 Sideburn Road, Fairfax, VA 22032 |
| Coordinates: | 38.8056, -77.2994 |
| City: | Fairfax, VA |
| Subdivision: | Virginia |
| Country: | United States |
| County: | Fairfax County |
| Website: | https://stmaryofsorrows.org/ |
| Founded: | 1858 |
| School: | Yes |
| Email: | office@stmaryofsorrows.org |
Saint Mary of Sorrows Catholic Church is a territorial parish in the Diocese of Arlington, located in Fairfax, Virginia. Dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under her title of Our Lady of Sorrows (Maria Addolorata)—commemorating the Seven Sorrows of Mary as she shared in the suffering of her Son—the parish is the oldest in Fairfax County and maintains the historic church building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Established in 1858 to serve Catholic families in the Fairfax Court House area, the parish grew from a mission served by Jesuit priests from St. Mary's in Alexandria. The historic Gothic Revival church was dedicated in 1860. The parish operates from both the historic site and a modern facility built in the 1980s. As of December 17, 2025, Saint Mary of Sorrows serves a community with traditional and contemporary liturgies, emphasizing Marian devotion and historical continuity.
The parish community fosters faith through prayer, education, and service, preserving its historic roots while meeting contemporary pastoral needs.
History
Saint Mary of Sorrows originated as a mission in the mid-nineteenth century, with land purchased in 1858 for a church to serve Catholics in Fairfax County.[1][2]
The Gothic Revival church, designed by Baltimore architect George A. Frederick, was dedicated in 1860. During the Civil War, it served as a hospital and stable for Union troops.[1] The parish was formally established in the Diocese of Richmond and became part of the newly erected Diocese of Arlington in 1974.
Growth in the twentieth century led to construction of a larger modern church adjacent to the historic building in the 1980s, allowing preservation of the original structure.[1] The historic church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Special features
- Historic Gothic Revival church (1860) listed on the National Register of Historic Places, used for special liturgies and events
- Dual worship sites: historic church for traditional celebrations and modern church for regular Masses
- Strong emphasis on Marian devotion, particularly to Our Lady of Sorrows
Relics
According to established Catholic tradition, the main altars contain 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 historic church (dedicated 1860) is a fine example of Gothic Revival architecture, featuring pointed arches, ribbed vaulting, and stained glass.[1]
The modern church, built in the 1980s, provides larger capacity for contemporary parish life while preserving the historic structure.
Art and devotional features
The historic church interior includes original stained glass windows and devotional elements focused on the sorrows of Mary.
Specific details on particular artworks or sculptures are limited in publicly available sources beyond the Gothic Revival features.
Related parishes
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "History". Saint Mary of Sorrows Catholic Church. https://stmaryofsorrows.org/history.
- ↑ "Saint Mary of Sorrows". Catholic Diocese of Arlington. https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/jubilee/our-diocese/our-history/parish-history-profiles/saint-mary-of-sorrows/.