Our Lady of Lourdes (Diocese of Arlington)
| Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church | |
 | |
| Dedication: | Our Lady of Lourdes |
| Venerated Saints: | None specified |
| Diocese: | Diocese of Arlington |
| Deanery: | Deanery 1 |
| Address: | 830 23rd Street South, Arlington, VA 22202 |
| Coordinates: | 38.8523, -77.0588 |
| City: | Arlington, VA |
| Subdivision: | Virginia |
| Country: | United States |
| County: | Arlington County |
| Website: | https://ololcc.net/ |
| Founded: | 1946 |
| School: | Yes |
| Email: | olol@ololcc.net |
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church is a territorial parish in the Diocese of Arlington, located in Arlington, Virginia. Dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under her title of Our Lady of Lourdes—commemorating the 1858 apparitions to Saint Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, France, where Mary identified herself as the Immaculate Conception—the parish serves an urban community in the Crystal City area. It emphasizes Eucharistic devotion, frequent confession, and charitable outreach.
The parish began as a mission in 1927 and was formally established in 1946. The current church was dedicated in 1964. As of December 20, 2025, Our Lady of Lourdes offers a daily Noon Mass, robust confession schedule, and ministries such as Helping Hands supporting Catholic Charities' migration services.
The parish community fosters faith through prayer, sacraments, and service, honoring Mary's Lourdes message of penance and healing.
History
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish began in 1927 as a mission of St. Rita’s Parish in Alexandria under the Diocese of Richmond. Father Leonard Koster celebrated the first Mass on September 11, 1927, in a parishioner’s home with 24 attendees. Masses later moved to a fire hall and then the Mount Vernon Theater. A mission church was built and dedicated in 1939.
The parish was formally established in 1946 with Father Robert Beattie as first pastor. Father Charles Comaskey paid off debt by 1958 and oversaw construction of the current church, with first Mass on Christmas 1963 and dedication by Bishop John Russell on March 7, 1964.
The parish transitioned to the Diocese of Arlington in 1974. It welcomed Vietnamese refugees in 1975 and adapted to Crystal City growth under pastors including Monsignor Richard Burke (1983) and Father Robert Avella (2006–2020). Father Frederick Edlefsen, appointed in 2020, guided recovery from COVID-19 restrictions, fully reopening by May 2021.
Special features
- Daily Noon Mass, initiated in 1975 for Crystal City workers
- Extensive confession schedule, including after weekday Noon Masses and Saturdays
- Two outdoor grottos: one depicting the Lourdes apparition to Saint Bernadette, another as a Marian pro-life memorial
- Helping Hands ministry supporting Catholic Charities Migration and Refugee Services through collections and donations
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 1964, features mid-century design with stained-glass windows along the nave depicting key events: the Annunciation, Nativity, and Resurrection.
Art and devotional features
Stained-glass windows along the nave illustrate the Annunciation, Nativity, and Resurrection, providing a visual catechesis.
Two outdoor grottos honor the Lourdes apparitions and pro-life devotion to Mary.
Related parishes
- Saint Rita Catholic Church (Alexandria, Virginia) (founding mother parish)