St. Ambrose Church (Diocese of Arlington): Difference between revisions

St. Ambrose Church (Diocese of Arlington) is a Roman Catholic parish church located at 3901 Woodburn Road in Annandale, Virginia. Founded on June 4, 1966, and formally established in 1977, the parish serves a diverse community, including a significant number of military families, within the Diocese of Arlington.<ref name="catholicherald">{{cite web |title=St. Ambrose Church |url=https://www.catholicherald.com |website=Arlington Catholic Herald |access-date=July 14, 2025 |date=2023-10-18}}</ref><ref name="youtube">{{cite web |title=Saint Ambrose Catholic Church - Annandale, VA |url=https://www.youtube.com |website=YouTube |access-date=July 14, 2025}}</ref> The parish is known for its vibrant ministries, including youth programs like God Squad and Kolbe’s Kids, Eucharistic Adoration, and community outreach efforts such as serving meals at Christ House in Alexandria.<ref name="stambroseva">{{cite web |title=St. Ambrose Catholic Church |url=https://stambroseva.org |website=St. Ambrose Catholic Church |access-date=July 14, 2025}}</ref>

The church supports a dual-language Catholic school for preK-8th grade students, emphasizing Spanish immersion and STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts, and Math) programming.<ref name="stambroseschool">{{cite web |title=St. Ambrose Dual Language School |url=https://stambroseschool.org |website=St. Ambrose Catholic School |access-date=July 14, 2025}}</ref> With a strong commitment to faith formation, St. Ambrose offers a range of activities, including Bible studies, Lectio Divina, and a summer camp, fostering spiritual growth and community engagement.<ref name="stambroseva"/><ref name="stambrosesummer">{{cite web |title=Saint Ambrose Summer Camp |url=https://www.stambrosesummer.com |website=Saint Ambrose Summer Camp |access-date=July 14, 2025}}</ref> The parish’s active presence on social media and livestreamed Masses reflects its adaptation to modern communication needs.<ref name="catholicherald"/>

St. Ambrose Church was founded on June 4, 1966, to serve the growing Catholic population in Annandale and Fairfax, Virginia, and was formally established as a parish in 1977 under the Diocese of Arlington.<ref name="catholicherald"/><ref name="youtube"/> The parish quickly became a spiritual and communal hub, particularly for military families, fostering a tradition of service and outreach.<ref name="catholicherald"/> Under the leadership of pastors like Fr. Andrew J. Fisher, the parish has grown to include over 3,057 parishioners, offering a range of ministries and educational programs.<ref name="catholicherald"/>

The parish has developed robust youth and adult faith formation programs, including God Squad for high schoolers and Kolbe’s Kids for grades 5-8, alongside community service initiatives like meal preparation at Christ House.<ref name="stambroseva"/> The establishment of St. Ambrose Catholic School, a dual-language institution, further underscores its commitment to education.<ref name="stambroseschool"/> The parish has embraced modern technology, offering livestreamed Masses and maintaining an active online presence to engage its community.<ref name="catholicherald"/>

* *Dual-language school*: St. Ambrose Catholic School offers a Spanish immersion program for preK-8th graders, integrating STREAM programming to foster holistic education.<ref name="stambroseschool"/>

* *Youth ministries*: Programs like God Squad (high school) and Kolbe’s Kids (grades 5-8) provide spiritual and social formation, encouraging youth to grow in faith and service.<ref name="stambroseva"/>

* *Eucharistic Adoration*: Held on the first Friday of each month from 9:30 am to 7:00 pm, offering a space for prayer and reflection.<ref name="stambroseva"/>

* *Community outreach*: Parishioners serve meals at Christ House in Alexandria on a regular schedule, reflecting a commitment to social justice.<ref name="stambroseva"/>

* *Summer camp*: Saint Ambrose Summer Camp provides a Christ-centered experience for children, focusing on faith formation and community building.<ref name="stambrosesummer"/>

* *Digital engagement*: The parish offers livestreamed Masses and maintains active social media platforms, including Facebook and YouTube, to connect with parishioners.<ref name="catholicherald"/>

No specific related parishes are documented in the provided sources for St. Ambrose Church in Annandale, Virginia.<ref name="stambroseva"/>