St. Rita (Diocese of Arlington)
St. Rita Catholic Church is in Virginia (United States) and is part of the Diocese of Arlington.
It is dedicated to St. Rita.
| St. Rita Catholic Church | |
| [[File:|150px|center]] | |
| Dedication: | St. Rita |
| Venerated Saints: | None specified |
| Diocese: | Diocese of Arlington |
| Deanery: | Alexandria |
| Address: | 3815 Russell Rd, Alexandria, VA 22305, USA |
| Coordinates: | 38.83895, -77.06355 |
| City: | Alexandria, VA |
| Subdivision: | Virginia |
| Country: | United States |
| County: | Fairfax County |
| Website: | http://stritaalexandria.com |
| Founded: | 1924 |
| School: | Yes |
| Email: | info@stritaalexandria.com |
History
St. Rita Catholic Church in Alexandria, Virginia, was founded in 1924. The first Mass for the mission was held on July 16, 1913, in a local cobbler's shop by Fr. A. J. Van Ingelgem of St. James Church. The parish started as a mission for the Catholic families in the area then known as Saint Elmo-Abington-Del Ray. The original church was built on Hickory Street in Mt. Ida in 1914, dedicated to St. Rita of Cascia. The current church, noted for its Gothic architecture made of Virginia fieldstone and Indiana limestone, was dedicated on December 18, 1949. Over the decades, St. Rita's has seen numerous renovations and expansions, including the establishment of St. Rita Catholic School in 1952. The parish has thrived under various pastors, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 1974 and its 100th in 2024, with significant community involvement in spiritual and social activities.[](https://stritaalexandria.com/history/)[](https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/jubilee/our-diocese/our-history/parish-history-profiles/saint-rita/)
Special features
- Traditional Latin Mass (TLM): St. Rita offers the Traditional Latin Mass, both Missa Cantata on Sundays and Missa Lecta on weekdays, fostering a connection to historical Catholic liturgy.[](https://www.latinmassdir.org/venue/saint-rita-church-alexandria-united-states/)
- Miraculous Medal Novena: The parish holds a Miraculous Medal novena every Monday evening, a tradition since the early 1940s.[](https://www.catholicherald.com/article/local/parishes/st-rita-church/)
- Hispanic Community: There's a vibrant Hispanic community with Spanish language Masses and cultural events, reflecting the diversity of the parish.[](https://www.catholicherald.com/article/local/parishes/st-rita-church/)
- Historical Architecture: The church's architecture, particularly the Gothic style and interior decoration, including the stone arches and oriental rugs in the sanctuary, adds to its historical and aesthetic value.[](https://stritaalexandria.com/history/)
- Pro-Life Activities: St. Rita is noted for its numerous pro-life activities and devotions, engaging the community in social justice issues.[](https://www.yelp.com/biz/st-ritas-church-alexandria)
Related parishes
- [List any related parishes here, if known]