Our Lady of Lourdes (Diocese of Arlington)
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish is in Virginia (United States) and is part of the Diocese of Arlington.
It is dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes.
| Our Lady of Lourdes Parish | |
| Dedication: | Our Lady of Lourdes |
| Venerated Saints: | |
| Diocese: | Diocese of Arlington |
| Deanery: | Arlington Deanery |
| 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: | No |
| Email: | olol@ololcc.net |
History
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Arlington, Virginia, began in 1927 as a mission of St. Rita’s Parish in Alexandria under the Diocese of Richmond, which then encompassed Northern Virginia. Father Leonard Koster, pastor of St. Rita’s, celebrated the first Mass on September 11, 1927, in a parishioner’s home with 24 attendees. Masses later moved to a fire hall at 23rd Street S. and S. Eads Street, then to the Mount Vernon Theater. On July 18, 1939, a mission church was built near 23rd Street S. and S. Hayes Street, dedicated that year. The parish was formally established in 1946 with Father Robert Beattie as its first pastor. Father Charles Comaskey, appointed in the 1940s, paid off a $100,000 debt by 1958 and oversaw construction of the current church, dedicated by Bishop John Russell on March 7, 1964, with its first Mass on Christmas 1963. The parish transitioned to the Diocese of Arlington upon its creation in 1974. Under pastors like Monsignor Richard Burke (1983) and Father Robert Avella (2006-2020), it adapted to Crystal City’s growth, welcoming Vietnamese refugees in 1975 and expanding ministries. Father Frederick Edlefsen, appointed in 2020, guided it through COVID-19 recovery, fully reopening by May 2021.
Special features
- The church features mid-century architecture and stained-glass windows along the nave depicting the Annunciation, Nativity, and Resurrection, offering a visual narrative of faith.
- Two outdoor grottos—a Marian pro-life memorial and one depicting Our Lady’s apparition to St. Bernadette—provide peaceful spaces for prayer and reflection, honoring the parish’s namesake.
- A daily Noon Mass, started by Father John O’Connell in 1975 for Crystal City workers, remains popular, complemented by a robust confession schedule (e.g., Tuesday and Thursday post-Noon Mass, Saturday 4:00-5:00 pm).
- The Helping Hands ministry, launched over two years ago, supports Catholic Charities’ Migration and Refugee Services with drives like the 2022 coat collection and a $10,000 household items donation, reflecting a strong outreach commitment.
Related parishes
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish is part of the Diocese of Arlington, serving Northern Virginia’s 21 counties. It has historical ties to St. Rita’s Parish in Alexandria, its founding mission, and connects to Arlington Deanery parishes like Our Lady Queen of Peace, St. Charles Borromeo, and the Cathedral of St. Thomas More, sharing resources and diocesan initiatives.
References
| Our Lady of Lourdes Parish | |
| Dedication: | Our Lady of Lourdes |
| Venerated Saints: | |
| Diocese: | Diocese of Arlington |
| Deanery: | Arlington Deanery |
| 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: | No |
| Email: | olol@ololcc.net |
History
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Arlington, Virginia, began in 1927 as a mission of St. Rita’s Parish in Alexandria under the Diocese of Richmond, which then encompassed Northern Virginia. Father Leonard Koster, pastor of St. Rita’s, celebrated the first Mass on September 11, 1927, in a parishioner’s home with 24 attendees. Masses later moved to a fire hall at 23rd Street S. and S. Eads Street, then to the Mount Vernon Theater. On July 18, 1939, a mission church was built near 23rd Street S. and S. Hayes Street, dedicated that year. The parish was formally established in 1946 with Father Robert Beattie as its first pastor. Father Charles Comaskey, appointed in the 1940s, paid off a $100,000 debt by 1958 and oversaw construction of the current church, dedicated by Bishop John Russell on March 7, 1964, with its first Mass on Christmas 1963. The parish transitioned to the Diocese of Arlington upon its creation in 1974. Under pastors like Monsignor Richard Burke (1983) and Father Robert Avella (2006-2020), it adapted to Crystal City’s growth, welcoming Vietnamese refugees in 1975 and expanding ministries. Father Frederick Edlefsen, appointed in 2020, guided it through COVID-19 recovery, fully reopening by May 2021.
Special features
- The church features mid-century architecture and stained-glass windows along the nave depicting the Annunciation, Nativity, and Resurrection, offering a visual narrative of faith.
- Two outdoor grottos—a Marian pro-life memorial and one depicting Our Lady’s apparition to St. Bernadette—provide peaceful spaces for prayer and reflection, honoring the parish’s namesake.
- A daily Noon Mass, started by Father John O’Connell in 1975 for Crystal City workers, remains popular, complemented by a robust confession schedule (e.g., Tuesday and Thursday post-Noon Mass, Saturday 4:00-5:00 pm).
- The Helping Hands ministry, launched over two years ago, supports Catholic Charities’ Migration and Refugee Services with drives like the 2022 coat collection and a $10,000 household items donation, reflecting a strong outreach commitment.
Related parishes
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish is part of the Diocese of Arlington, serving Northern Virginia’s 21 counties. It has historical ties to St. Rita’s Parish in Alexandria, its founding mission, and connects to Arlington Deanery parishes like Our Lady Queen of Peace, St. Charles Borromeo, and the Cathedral of St. Thomas More, sharing resources and diocesan initiatives.
References
| Our Lady of Lourdes Parish | |
| Dedication: | Our Lady of Lourdes |
| Venerated Saints: | |
| Diocese: | Diocese of Arlington |
| Deanery: | Arlington Deanery |
| 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: | No |
| Email: | olol@ololcc.net |
History
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Arlington, Virginia, began in 1927 as a mission of St. Rita’s Parish in Alexandria under the Diocese of Richmond, which then encompassed Northern Virginia. Father Leonard Koster, pastor of St. Rita’s, celebrated the first Mass on September 11, 1927, in a parishioner’s home with 24 attendees. Masses later moved to a fire hall at 23rd Street S. and S. Eads Street, then to the Mount Vernon Theater. On July 18, 1939, a mission church was built near 23rd Street S. and S. Hayes Street, dedicated that year. The parish was formally established in 1946 with Father Robert Beattie as its first pastor. Father Charles Comaskey, appointed in the 1940s, paid off a $100,000 debt by 1958 and oversaw construction of the current church, dedicated by Bishop John Russell on March 7, 1964, with its first Mass on Christmas 1963. The parish transitioned to the Diocese of Arlington upon its creation in 1974. Under pastors like Monsignor Richard Burke (1983) and Father Robert Avella (2006-2020), it adapted to Crystal City’s growth, welcoming Vietnamese refugees in 1975 and expanding ministries. Father Frederick Edlefsen, appointed in 2020, guided it through COVID-19 recovery, fully reopening by May 2021.
Special features
- The church features mid-century architecture and stained-glass windows along the nave depicting the Annunciation, Nativity, and Resurrection, offering a visual narrative of faith.
- Two outdoor grottos—a Marian pro-life memorial and one depicting Our Lady’s apparition to St. Bernadette—provide peaceful spaces for prayer and reflection, honoring the parish’s namesake.
- A daily Noon Mass, started by Father John O’Connell in 1975 for Crystal City workers, remains popular, complemented by a robust confession schedule (e.g., Tuesday and Thursday post-Noon Mass, Saturday 4:00-5:00 pm).
- The Helping Hands ministry, launched over two years ago, supports Catholic Charities’ Migration and Refugee Services with drives like the 2022 coat collection and a $10,000 household items donation, reflecting a strong outreach commitment.
Related parishes
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish is part of the Diocese of Arlington, serving Northern Virginia’s 21 counties. It has historical ties to St. Rita’s Parish in Alexandria, its founding mission, and connects to Arlington Deanery parishes like Our Lady Queen of Peace, St. Charles Borromeo, and the Cathedral of St. Thomas More, sharing resources and diocesan initiatives.