By Michael F. Flach
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 12/25/03)

All Saints Parish in Manassas, with a reported 16,735 parishioners, remains the largest parish in the Arlington Diocese, according to statistics published this week in the 2004 Diocesan Directory. All Saints remains in the top spot despite losing several thousand parishioners in recent years thanks to the creation of new parishes in the Manassas area such as Holy Trinity in Gainesville and St. Veronica in Herndon

The total registered Catholic population in the Arlington Diocese now stands at 391,000, an increase of 8,500 from the previous year. In comparison, the Richmond Diocese has 213,368 Catholics. Both marriages (1,600) and baptisms (9,000) remained constant from the previous year.

St. Timothy Parish in Chantilly finished second in size with 15,666 parishioners, with Nativity Parish in Burke (13,205) at third. Rounding out the top 12 are: St. Mary of Sorrows, Fairfax Station (12,513); St. Joseph, Herndon (12,206); St. Mary, Alexandria (12,100); St. Mary, Fredericksburg (12,012); St. Bernadette, Springfield (11,961); Our Lady of Angels, Woodbridge (11,727); St. John Neumann, Reston (10,989); St. Mark, Vienna (10,750); and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Lake Ridge (10,280).

The total Catholic population of the top 12 parishes is 150,000, or a little more than 38.4 percent of the total diocesan Catholic population. Eight of the 12 largest parishes are found in Fairfax County, although St. Mary Church in Old Town is the only one physically located inside the beltway.

The largest parish in Arlington County is now Holy Martyrs of Vietnam with 5,779 parishioners, an increase of nearly 1,300 from the previous year.

St. James School in Falls Church is the largest diocesan elementary school with 740 students. St. Mary School in Alexandria is second with 696.

The 2004 directory contains a complete listing of every parish, school, priest, deacon and Catholic organization located in the diocese. Complete parish boundaries, Mass schedules and Deanery are also included.

The cover design for this year’s directory, created by Caroline Clifford, is derived from the Diocesan Pilgrimage logo. It shows Mary enthroned in heaven. The light radiating from her crown is God’s grace that passes through her to mankind. She is giving the rosary to the Church, which is symbolized by the Cathedral of St. Thomas More. The abundant roses are the prayers of the rosary offered back to Mary by the faithful.

Copies of the 2004 Catholic Directory for the Arlington Diocese are available through the Diocesan Publications Office by calling 703/841-2516, or visiting the diocesan Web site at www.arlingtondiocese.org.