What’s distinctive about your parish? What is your parish’s charism? While true of all parishes, we place special emphasis on helping people live both in vertical union with God and horizontal union with each other.
We have beautiful liturgy and adoration. The spiritual life is well-developed and strong, only strengthened by having the monastery of the cloistered Poor Clare Sisters down the road.
On the horizontal side, we have three things that drive fellowship: The Little Way Café here serves coffee and breakfast six days each week and is a place of constant fellowship; a bi-monthly “Wine, Cheese and Jazz” event features our pastor on saxophone accompanied by a professional band, which also plays upbeat music for dancing; and our God is Good, or GIG, block party events, where music, face painting, games and a potluck takes over much of the parking lot three to four times per year in lieu of an annual parish picnic. Combined, they help address one of the pandemic’s lessons, that loneliness is bad and fellowship is good.
What are some of your parish ministries? The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is very important. These men and women offer personal services to the needy along the Route 1 corridor, and provide prayer and spiritual support as well as material assistance. We also have large food drives, which collect 3,000 pounds of food monthly for local neighbors. Our parish patron, St. Louis, is also the co-patron of the Third Order Franciscans, so it all relates to loving the poor.
Our active Legion of Mary includes multiple groups. A Spanish-language prayer group meets on Sunday nights.
Is there a special way your parish encourages and supports faith formation? We bring a no parent left behind approach to religious education. We do not provide RE classes to students without their parent sitting next to them. We begin together in the church before breaking off into separate discussions for parents and students. It has increased Mass attendance dramatically.
Additionally, we have incorporated The Evangelical Catholic program. More than 50 parishioners have completed training in living an apostolic life. They lead small groups of faith and fellowship, ranging from Bible study to a rosary prayer ministry. During Lent, approximately 25 different groups were active at the same time.
What’s something we should know about your clergy? Father Mark Mullaney, parochial vicar, loves to teach and provides great adult education. Father Gregory Thompson, parochial vicar, has a passion for youth ministry, having worked for seven years as chaplain at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington. Our pastor, Father Keith O’Hare, plays saxophone, guitar and is a fan of jazz, which reflects his personality as an improviser.
Is there a standout or longtime staff member or volunteer you’d like to tell us about? Jim McCracken, a parishioner for more than 50 years, comes to all our events, and is active in the Knights of Columbus and our charitable works. He loves to pray, serve and embrace the social and spiritual elements of the church.
Would you like to share anything else about your parish? We have an excellent parish school for pre-K through eighth grade. Every year there’s a waiting list.
In 2025, we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the parish community, which started as a mission of what is now the Basilica of St. Mary in Alexandria.
Quick facts
St. Louis Church
2907 Popkins Lane
Alexandria, VA 22806
703/765-4421
Website: saintlouisparish.org
Social media: Facebook: Saint Louis Catholic Church, Flocknote: saintlouiscatholicchurch.flocknote.com, YouTube: St Louis Catholic Church Alexandria VA Mass
Mass schedule:
Saturday vigil: 5:30 p.m.
Sunday: 7:30 a.m., 8:45 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 3 p.m. (Spanish)
Monday-Saturday: 8:45 a.m.
Monday-Sunday: 7 a.m. at Poor Clare Monastery of Mary, Mother of the Church
Confession:
Sunday: 8:30-9 a.m. and 2:15-3 p.m. (Spanish)
Monday-Saturday: 7:45-8:15 a.m.
Wednesday: 6 p.m.
Saturday: 5 p.m.
Pastor: Fr. Keith O’Hare
Parochial vicars: Fr. Mark Mullaney, Fr. Gregory Thompson
Year established: 1925
Total parishioners: 4,884
St. Louis Catholic School
2901 Popkins Lane
Alexandria, VA 22306
703/768-7732
stlouisschool.org
Pre-K through eighth grade
Principal: Anne Dyke
