The Basilica of Saint Mary

The Basilica of Saint Mary The official page of the Basilica of Saint Mary in Alexandria, Virginia. Mary’s Cemetery. By 1826, Pastor Fr. Throughout the 1800s, the Church of St.

Founded in 1795, the Basilica of Saint Mary, located in Alexandria, Virginia, is the oldest Catholic parish in the Commonwealth of Virginia and West Virginia, which comprised one state territory until 1863. President George Washington made the first contribution for the creation of a Catholic parish in Virginia in the late 1700s, equivalent to approximately $1,200 today. A chapel was built at the

south end of the city in 1795, on land still used today as St. In 1810, the parish moved to its present location in the heart of the city at 310 South Royal Street. Joseph Fairclough erected the Sanctuary and the major portion of the present day church. Mary played a crucial role in the growth of Catholicism in Virginia. Many mission churches established by Church of St. Mary have gone on to become independent parishes within the Diocese of Arlington. Today, the Basilica of Saint Mary continues to be a vibrant and lively parish community with around 60 apostolate groups and 3 full-time priests. In 2020, the Basilica celebrated 225 years of parish life. The Basilica School of Saint Mary (K-8) celebrated a historic 150th anniversary in 2019.

06/10/2026

Bishop Burbidge seeks your help. Please complete an online survey, which will help him as the diocese prepares to launch a capital campaign with the theme of "One in Christ, Joyful in Mission." The objectives and projects of the proposed campaign will be rooted in the 2022-2026 Diocesan Strategic Plan.

The proposed campaign would support important projects associated with Catholic education, works of mercy, and parish vitality. Please fill out the survey by June 26:

As we discern together how best to advance the mission of the Diocese of Arlington, our Bishop invites every priest, religious, parishioner, and friend of the diocese to share their perspective. This survey consists of 15 questions and takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. Responses are confid...

This Friday, June 12, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, the Basilica will host a Holy Hour at 7 p.m. in reparation to t...
06/10/2026

This Friday, June 12, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, the Basilica will host a Holy Hour at 7 p.m. in reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for the sins of the world. Please come and pray with us and adore the Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Fr. Peter Clem recently was assigned to be a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Hope Parish in Potomac Falls, Virginia. He w...
06/10/2026

Fr. Peter Clem recently was assigned to be a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Hope Parish in Potomac Falls, Virginia. He will start there on June 25 2026. In a podcast, he shares a farewell message to the Basilica community, including breaking down a prayer he wrote that honors the memories and moments he's spent here since he was ordained in 2022. He will be presiding at the noon Mass on June 14, 2026, with his farewell reception to follow in our Lyceum Auditorium, 313 Duke Street.
https://bit.ly/4xj4JRl

Click here to listen to Fr. James Searby give a reflection on the Third Glorious Mystery of the Rosary for Communal Mass...
06/09/2026

Click here to listen to Fr. James Searby give a reflection on the Third Glorious Mystery of the Rosary for Communal Mass.

Father James Searby, a Parochial Vicar, offers a reflection on the Third Glorious Mystery of the Rosary, The Descent of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost), for our Communal First Saturday for June. It was recorded on June 6, 2026  

Gastón Reboredo, a Basilica parishioner, shared a Theology on Tap talk on June 1, 2026, at Murphy's Grand Irish Pub in A...
06/09/2026

Gastón Reboredo, a Basilica parishioner, shared a Theology on Tap talk on June 1, 2026, at Murphy's Grand Irish Pub in Alexandria.

Go here (https://bit.ly/4vybCwd) to watch the talk, during which he discussed his reversion to the Catholic faith after 15 years of atheism and his eventual vocational discernment to the priesthood. He will begin his priestly formation with the Diocese of Arlington at Mount St. Mary's Seminary this fall.

Please pray for him!

All are invited to attend Mass this Sunday, June 14, at noon to a Mass presided by Fr. Peter Clem. Afterward, a farewell...
06/09/2026

All are invited to attend Mass this Sunday, June 14, at noon to a Mass presided by Fr. Peter Clem. Afterward, a farewell reception will be held for him in our Lyceum Auditorium, 313 Duke St., as we wish him well.

As of June 25, his new diocesan assignment is to be the parochial vicar at Our Lady of Hope in Potomac Falls.

The Diocesan Festival will be held on Saturday, June 13, in Berryville, Virginia. Join thousands of Catholics from acros...
06/09/2026

The Diocesan Festival will be held on Saturday, June 13, in Berryville, Virginia.

Join thousands of Catholics from across the Diocese at the Clarke County Fairgrounds for a joyful celebration of faith, freedom and community.

Register for free: https://bit.ly/49RgLHt

Click here to listen to a homily given by Fr. James Searby, for the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)
06/09/2026

Click here to listen to a homily given by Fr. James Searby, for the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)

Father James Searby, a Parochial Vicar at the Basilica, shares a homily during The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). It was given in the Basilica on June 7, 2026.   

Fr. Hathaway, Fr. Zanca, and Fr. Searby hold up toppers that were placed on top of the donuts that were served at Coffee...
06/09/2026

Fr. Hathaway, Fr. Zanca, and Fr. Searby hold up toppers that were placed on top of the donuts that were served at Coffee & Donuts yesterday morning in the Basilica courtyard. Hosted by Catholic Friends, a new apostolate for parishioners over 40, the toppers were created in honor of two Basilica parishioners -- Fr. Aaron Zanca & Fr. Alex Solsma -- who were ordained to the priesthood on Saturday.

Click to watch Fr. Aaron Zanca's First Mass of Thanksgiving: https://youtu.be/ko2SU_R23Y4
06/08/2026

Click to watch Fr. Aaron Zanca's First Mass of Thanksgiving: https://youtu.be/ko2SU_R23Y4

Father Aaron Zanca, a Basilica parishioner, celebrated his first Mass of Thanksgiving — in a beautiful liturgy that included English,...

Address

310 South Royal Street
Alexandria, VA
22314

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 7:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 7:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 7:30pm
Thursday 9am - 7:30pm
Friday 9am - 7:30pm
Saturday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+17038364100

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