Our Lady, Queen of Peace (Diocese of Arlington)
| Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church | |
 | |
| Dedication: | Our Lady Queen of Peace |
| Venerated Saints: | None specified |
| Diocese: | Diocese of Arlington |
| Deanery: | Deanery 1 |
| Address: | 2700 South 19th Street, Arlington, VA 22204 |
| Coordinates: | 38.8522, -77.0839 |
| City: | Arlington, VA |
| Subdivision: | Virginia |
| Country: | United States |
| County: | Arlington County |
| Website: | https://www.ourladyqueenofpeace.org/ |
| Founded: | 1945 |
| School: | Yes |
| Email: | office@ourladyqueenofpeace.org |
Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church is a territorial parish in the Diocese of Arlington, located in the Nauck neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia. Dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under her title "Queen of Peace" (from the Litany of Loreto), the parish was originally established as a mission for African American Catholics during a period of racial segregation. Staffed by priests of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans), it maintains a strong commitment to social justice, racial equality, and service to the marginalized, inspired by Matthew 25:31–46.
Founded in 1945 at the request of 16 Black Catholics seeking a place to worship with dignity, the parish has evolved into a vibrant, multicultural community of over 2,400 families representing diverse races, cultures, and nationalities. The church was dedicated in 1947, and the parish has since expanded its ministries to include refugee assistance, food pantries, and international outreach, including a twinning relationship with a parish in Haiti.
As of December 14, 2025, Our Lady Queen of Peace continues to offer Masses in English and Spanish, bilingual holy hours, and extensive charitable programs, reflecting its historic roots and ongoing mission of welcoming strangers and feeding the hungry.
History
Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish was established in 1945 by Bishop Peter L. Ireton of the Diocese of Richmond in response to a petition from 16 African American Catholics who sought a church in Arlington County where they could worship with dignity amid prevailing segregation.[1][2]
Groundbreaking occurred on September 20, 1946, and the church was dedicated on Pentecost Sunday, June 15, 1947, by Bishop Ireton.[3] The parish has been ministered to by Spiritan priests since its founding, aligning with their charism of service to the poor and immigrants.[4]
Over the decades, the parish expanded ministries addressing social justice, including the Catholic Interracial Council of Northern Virginia in the 1960s, a Refugee Office in 1986 for Latin American communities, and ongoing Haiti ministry since 1997. The parish joined the newly erected Diocese of Arlington in 1974 and celebrated the 75th anniversary of its church dedication in 2022.[5]
Special features
- Strong tradition of social justice ministries, including a weekly food pantry and Matthew 25 thrift shop
- Outreach to immigrants and refugees, with historical support for Salvadoran and Latin American communities
- Twinning relationship with a sister parish in Haiti
- Bilingual (English-Spanish) liturgies and holy hours, reflecting the parish's multicultural composition
- Commitment to racial equality and welcoming environment, rooted in its African American origins
Relics
According to established Catholic tradition, the main altar, dedicated in 1947, contains deposited relics as is customary in consecrated 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 church building, dedicated in 1947, reflects mid-twentieth-century design with later adaptations to serve its growing multicultural community. Associated facilities include Fr. Ray Hall (multipurpose center) and spaces for daycare and thrift shop operations.
Art and Devotional Features
Specific details on stained glass windows, statues, sculptures, or other interior artwork are limited in publicly available sources. The church interior supports a vibrant liturgical life with devotional elements emphasizing service and peace, in keeping with the parish's Marian dedication and social justice focus.
Related parishes
References
- ↑ "Our Lady Queen of Peace". Catholic Diocese of Arlington. https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/jubilee/get-involved/marian-mini-pilgrimages/our-lady-queen-of-peace/.
- ↑ "Our Lady Queen of Peace Church". Arlington Catholic Herald. https://www.catholicherald.com/article/local/parishes/our-lady-queen-of-peace-church/.
- ↑ "Our History". Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church. https://www.ourladyqueenofpeace.org/our-history.html.
- ↑ "U.S. Spiritan Parish History: Our Lady Queen of Peace". Congregation of the Holy Spirit. https://spiritans.org/news/us-spiritan-parish-history-our-lady-queen-of-peace-arlington-va.
- ↑ "Our Lady Queen of Peace Church celebrates 75 years". Arlington Catholic Herald. https://www.catholicherald.com/article/local/parishes/our-lady-queen-of-peace-church-celebrates-75-years/.