What’s distinctive about your parish?
Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Arlington is home to a rich history and welcoming community.
Richmond Bishop Peter L. Ireton established the parish in 1945 in response to the request of 16 Black Catholics to establish a Black Catholic parish in Arlington County where they could worship in dignity. He called upon the Spiritans to provide the pastoral leadership and they still minister to its diverse parishioners today, sharing and handing on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
During the 79-year history of Our Lady Queen of Peace, a commitment to social justice and racial equality has been its hallmark. The dedication of parishioners is embedded in Matthew 25:35, “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me.”
What’s one unique thing visitors to your parish should do or see?
The Matthew 25 Bazaar is a volunteer-run clothing and thrift store administered by the parish, where those in need can receive gently used clothes and household goods free of charge. Its hours of operations are Wednesday and Saturday 9 a.m.-noon. Donations are accepted Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m.-noon and Wednesday 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Tell us about some of your other parish ministries.
Our weekly bulletins are bursting with opportunities to serve one another and grow deeper in faith.
The parish food pantry serves more than 850 families in need each week and is open Wednesdays 9-11:30 a.m. Non-perishable food donations can be dropped off in bins outside at the back of Father Ray Hall Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; and Sunday 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. We renovated and expanded the production capacity of the St. Isidore’s Garden earlier this year, to grow more produce on the parish grounds to support the food pantry. Monetary donation instructions and more information about the food pantry is on the parish website.
Our annual Thanksgiving build-a-basket program is gearing up. We expect to produce more than 900 family Thanksgiving dinners, packaged in bags containing one frozen turkey, side dishes and vegetables to prepare, cranberry sauce, gravy and pie. Find donation and volunteer opportunities in the bulletin or email [email protected].
Throughout this past month, we hosted a “Sock-tober” campaign to collect new and gently used socks benefiting clients of the charity So Others Might Eat.
The youth ministry hosts grade 7-12 students for fellowship, food and fun on Sunday afternoons. Tutoring for students is available beforehand from Homework Hub volunteers.
How do you support the faith journey of particular cultures represented in your parish?
Since 1972, the Spanish-speaking community has been a pillar of the parish community. Most items in our weekly bulletin are printed in English and Spanish. The Sunday Spanish Mass is popular. We host a bilingual holy hour with song, prayer and meditation on the fourth Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. in the church.
What’s something we should know about your clergy?
Spiritan Father Timothy J. Hickey, longtime pastor, marked his silver jubilee earlier this year. A Bellevue, Ohio, native, he was ordained to the priesthood Aug. 14, 1999, by Spiritan Bishop Dennis Durning at the Chapel of the Holy Spirit at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. He once served two years in overseas ministry in Puerto Rico at an AIDS hospice facility in the mid-1990s.
Spiritan Father Martin Vu is associate pastor and Franciscan Father Joseph Nangle ministers to Spanish-speaking parishioners.
Quick facts
Our Lady Queen of Peace Church
2700 S. 19th St.
Arlington
703-979-5580
Website: ourladyqueenofpeace.org
Mass schedule: Sat. (vigil): 5:30 p.m.; Sun.: 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1 p.m. (Spanish), 6 p.m. (young adult); Mon.-Fri.: noon.
Confession: Sat.: 4:45 p.m.-5:15 p.m. in Fr. Ray Hall. And by appointment.
Pastor: Spiritan Fr. Timothy Hickey
Parochial vicar: Spiritan Fr. Martin Tu Quoc Vu
Ministerio Latino: Franciscan Fr. Joseph Nangle
In residence: Fr. Robert J. Richter
Deacon: Tony Remedios
Year established: 1945
Total parishioners: 5,510
